Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-31

One of his characteristics was that he
never wished to play with other boys
but showed he wanted to be alone. Dur
ing the war Roane had n severe attack
OF St Vitus' dance. The family were
living then at Clarksville. Va. After
that he had seasons of depression.
AIR. Riddick told of a severe attack of
typhoid his son had several years ago
In LesSburg; he became deaf several
years ago while at Spartanburg. S. c.
The witness said his son entered the
Virginia Conference eighteen years ago.
lie told of his various appointments.
The son was sent to the South Bruins
WICK circuit in November, 1898.
HIS MIND UNBALANCED.
Mr.. Riddick. in reply to Mr.. Davis
questions, said he had long thought
that his CRoanes) mind was I'M
balanced. He first became convinced Of
this when he ascertained that his son
was holding strange religious views. He
and Roane had a long correspondence
ana koane agreed to hold his views in
allegiance. and. finally. IL he should be-
come unsatisfied with the Methodist
Church he would leave it. The sons
memory was greatly affected. He could
not remember his appointments, and
rode all of one day looking for the place
at which he was to preach. He could
preaching it
The son some years ago became an
advocate of the doctrine of annihiia-
ton. He believed the Bible taught that
there would be no eternal Punishment
OF the wicked. Not very iCTIg ago he
ana the son had long talk in Rich
mond. Roane tried to convince him that
the whole Methodist Church was wrong
in the doctrines it teaches, and that he
alone was right. Roane became very
much interested in the Swedenborglau
teachogs and literature of that Church
was found i'll his library.
WAS HEREDITARY.
Mr.. Riddick was questioned as to any
insanity of disposition to drink to cX-
cess that had existed among his ances-
tors lie said his grandfather often
drank too much and sometimes acted
almost like mad man. His uncle, for
Whom ne was named, was adjudgcd in
sane IN brunswick county His inSan-
fty was brought on by drinking His
father often drank to excess and some
times acted very strangely and on those
occasions was regarded as a dangerous
man. When sober he was as tender and
loving towards his wife and children
us husband and father could be- lie
often reformed and for years stopped
drinking. and then would fall back into
his old ways.
Mr.. Riddick testified another of his
children had at various times been sub
ject to melancholy spells. This was a
daughter before her marriage. After
marriage she recovered. and is the
mother of five children. Another
daughter. now deceased. showed symp-
toms OF insanity, and had to be taken
from school. The witness stated that
on the occasion of his first visit to his
son after the arrest he was struck by
his changed appearance. HIS eyes
were unnatural MIR. Poagc was with
witness at that time. On entering the
jail, Roane said:
Walter. l am glad you have come.
they tell me am crazy. but 1 am not"
Roane, witness said showed every
symptom OF insanity. He wrote letter
to his father. in which he said that God
had commissioned him to Kill the
wretch: that he owed 1t to his God, to
his wife and society; and that DR..
Temple had grossly and outrageously
insulted his wife. He further stated
that God had raised him up and COM
mssioned him to do the act He ex-
pressed no regret.