The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-31


Read as to the exact woruS used by Mrs.
=Riddick. and Mr.. Davis made the most of
it. The substance of what the witnesses
stated was the same, and they were
simply disagreed as to the exact words
used.
Read said after the preacher came out
of his wife's room ne told the officers
that he had asked his wife certain ques-
tons. and had ascertained that he had
done wrong in shooting DR.. Temple
At the close of Mr.. Reads testimony
the Commonwealth rested i IS case.
Counsel for the defense requested a brief
recess, which was granted.
When court reconvened, counsel for the
defense recalled Mr.. J. J. Lynch. He
was asked if he had not told a Mr.. Green
at Brodnax Station that that crazy
preacher. Riddick had shot DR.. Temple
He denied that he had used the word
crazy"
THE FATHER RECALLED.
Rev. Joseph II. Riddick. the father Of
the accused, was next called. He testi-
fed that he had been since he left college
an itinerant Methodist preacher. He
entered the Conference forty-six years
ago, and is now sixty-nine years of age
His son Roane was born in 1860. Mr.
Davis questioned the witness as to the
condition of his health, and that of his
wife about the period of the birth of the
prisoner Mr.. Riddick said a that time
his health was thoroughly broken down,
and he had to give up work. On one
occasion a doctor thought he would die
His wifes health then was good, but
she was slightly deaf. Her hearing is
now so much impaired that she cannot
hear the thunder or music in church.
Mr. Riddick was next questioned as to
his sons early disposition. He said
Roane in childhood was moody boy
He was very obedient to his parents.
One OF his characteristics was that he
never wished to play with other boys. but
showed he wanted to be alone. During
the war Roane had a severe attack of
St Vitus dance. The family We're living
then at GAINESVILLE, Va. After that he
had seasons of depression
HAD TYPHOID FEVER.
Mr.. Riddck told of q severe attack OF
typhoid his son had several years ago IN
Leesburg; he became deaf several years
ago while at Spartanburg, S. c.
The witness said his son entered the
Virginia Conference eighteen years ago.
He told of his various appointments The
son was sent to the South brunswick cir
cult in November, 1898.
Mr. Rddlck, in reply to Mr.. Davis ques-
TONS said he had long thought that his
(Roanes) mind was unbalanced. He first
became convinced OF this when he ascer-
tanned that his son was holding strange
religious views. He and ROane had a long
correspondence and Roane agreed to hold
his Views in allegiance, and finally, IL he
should become unsatistied with the Meth
odist Church, he would leave It, The SON
memory was greatly affected. He couid
not remember his appointments, and rode
all of one day looking Tor the place al
which he was to preach. He could not re-
member a sermon after once preaching 1t.
ADVOCATED ANNIHILATION-
The son some years ago became an ad-
vocate of the doctrine of humiliation. lie
believed the Bible taught that there would
be no eternal punishment for the wicked.
Not very long ago he and the son had
long talk in Richmond. Roane tried to
convince him that the whole Methodist
Church was wrong in the doctrines 1t
teaches, and that he alone was right
Roane became very much interested III
the Swedenborgian teachings and litera-
ture of that Church was found in his IL
brary.
Mr.. Riddick was questioned as to any
insanity of disposition to drink to ex-
cess that had existed among his ances-
tors He said his grandfather often drank
too much and sometimes acted almost like
a mad man His uncle, for whom he was
named, was adjudsed insane in Brunswick
county. His insanity was brought on by
drinking His father often drank to eX-
cess and sometimes acted very strangely
and on those occasions was regarded as
dangerous man. When sober he was as
tender and loving towards his wife and
children as a husband and father could
be. He often reformed and for years stop
ned drinking, and then would fall back
into his old ways.
INSANITY IN FAMILY.
Mr.. Riddick testified another OF his
children had at various times oeen SUP
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 symptoms 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 ne
was struck by his changed appearance
His eyes were unnatural. Mr.. Poage
was with witness at that time On
entering the jail, Roane said:
waiter, I am glad you have come.
They tell me I am crazy. but 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 lnsuiteo MS
wife He further stated that God had
raised him up and commissioned him to
do the act. He expressed no regret
LETTER DESTROYED.
This letter Mr.. Riddick destroyed be-
cause he did not want his wife, who was
so terribly distressed to read it.. On the
4th Of May Mr.. Riddick said he visited
his son in jail with Mr.. Poage- The son
acted very strangely. He said he saw
two Poages and two Davises in the Court
house while they were speaking on the
question of continuing the case. He was
asked if he heard the speeches, and re-
Piled that he did not, but heard the people
singing GLORY, Glory, Glory" On the
same occasion Roane mounted his trunk
and gave an limitation of how horses
run At P. NJ. court took a recess until
2 P. NJ.
COMMISSION FROM GOD.
Rev. Joseph H. Riddick was recalled
when the court reconvened.
A letter written by the prisoner soon
after his incarceration, to his wife, was
offered fh evidence and read. The sub
stance of this was that God had COM
missioned him to kill DR.. Temple. and
that the same Divine Being would. in
His own good time. use him again to
serve His good purposes. In this letter
refarraf5 4ft, mr. Tom a e a n