The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-01
.RlDDlCK INSANE
WHEN AT COLLEGE
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he was n.cknamed .Dr. Starr" because
he would so often quote that preacher
on all sorts of subjects
ACTED QUEERLY.
& Mr. S. AZ Rice. a teacher in the Aiken
Institute, Aiken S. c.. next testified. He
roomed with Mr.. Riddick three years at
Spartanhurg. Riddick acted so oneery
that witness became convinced that the
prisoners mind was unbalanced. Very
often he had fits of melancholia and for
several days ne seemed 10 be in great dis
tress. Rices testimony was along the Tine
of that given by Moss. He recalled wildly
Riddick's disappearance from college one
day. a party went out to look for him
and met him coming home minus his hat
and wet from head 10 foot.
One day after Prof. Woodward had re-
proved him for neglect of duty. Riddick
lay face downward on his bed for hours
and cursed the Professor. Often he would
threaten To commit suicide. Riddick at
that time imagined that some of his reia-
Hves We're praying for him to become
preacher. He believed these prayers had
great power over him and this fact seemed
greatly to worry him.
VERY ECCENTRIC
< Mr.. C. C. Duncan, a cotton manufacturer
of Union. S. c.. son Of Bishop Duncan,
was school mate of Riddick's at Spartan
burg and they roomed together Riddck
was a very eccentric young man. Often
he would stand UP on his bed and BIAS
pheme without any apparent cause. He
would go sometimes for a week without
opening his text book. Witness had on
many occasions heard Riddck express a
wish that he had not been born. Some
times he would threaten to kill himself.
When the spells were not on him Riddick
was most companionab!e man.
The boys at school all looked upon the
accused as mentally unbalanced.
Witness said Riddicls was one of those
fellows who. when he blaspherned, one
could not ''piouss- him at all. He never
took any part in the college sports or
games.
DID MANY STRANGE THINGS.
Mr. Z. e NunnaMy. o! Eeanls Sta
ton, was the next witness. He was a
member OF MIR. Riddicks church when
the preacher was a pastor Oh tle Din'aid-
die circuit. He had known the prisoner
to do many strange things. On one oc-
casiona he kept the congregation gathered
at a funeral waiting for some time while
he went out to buy some corn. Once Mr.
Riddick forgot where Mr.. Nui,naliy lived,
though he had been there several times.
There were other things that caused Mr..
Nunnally to think Mr.. Riddich mentally
unbalanced. Witness knew prisoner well.
He was unwilling to express opinion as
to the sanity of the accused, but con-
sidered him extremely peculiar. His
reputation was the best witness had ever
known
Referring again to the funeral incident,
Mr.. Nunnally said accused left the road
and came across a plouShed hill to get
there. Once, according to witness. ac-
cused was due to preach at his church
and he had to hold the congregation to-
gether for more than an hour, and after
waiting in vain for the preacher he dis
missed the congregation.
FORGOT ENGAGEMENTS.
Later, witness said, accused came to
see him and claimed to have forgotten
about his employment at that church.
Witness recalled occasions when accused
forgot engagements al his home He
said he could not remember time when
the accused preached from manuscript,
and that he could always give impromptu
illustrations, quoting the Scripture.
Mr.. Nunnally said be never saw man
more interested In his work He denied
ever having heard of a display Of temper
on the part of accused, and could re-
call no fit Of melancholy.
Rev. T. II. Campbell. a member of the
Virginia Conference Methodist Church,
next testified. and said he had known
Roane Riddtck since accused was a boy,
but had known him better when at Reams
and in Sussex District, having been his
Presiding Elder at that time, and also
one year of his charge in South Bruins
wick.
He had never been impressed with the
idea that Riddick was insane, but thought
him morbid and eccentric. Witness was
often in his home and received every
courtesy q gentleman could extend. He
had known the father Of the accused
longer than the prisoner. They were in
innate friends, and he thought the elder
Riddick the finest character of his ac-
quaintance.
CHARGES AGAINST HIS FATHER.
Every visit witness paid to the home OF
the son he would hear the latter make
violent charges against the father, re-
garding the alleged partially shown him
father was Presiding Elder. He exhibited
the same antpathv when the two would
be riding together in the country.
He had heard accused say that since
his Illness al Wakefield he had been una
BILE to remember a text or sermon after
completing his discourse. Once when wit
ness vas in Sussex, holding a revival
with the accused, the latter preached q
doctrinal sermon, claiming that his father,
the witness, and others of the Methodist
ministry, failed to preach that doctrine,
MethodiSm.
PUBLICLY UPBRAIDED.
Witness publicly upbraided him in the
church. and the accused thanked him
publicly for the correction, saying that
he was glad 70 learn that others besides
himself did preach that doctrine. Witness
said that. Presiding Elder of his district.
it was his duty TO know the character Of
each man under him, and that .'Roane
Riddick was of the finest character ever
known He said that accused claimed
that his father lacked sufficient moral
courage to recommend him for assignment
of Importance commensurate With his ex-
perience and ability. Once. according to
witness. accused had an opportunity to
be transferred TO q district OF which Bishop
Duncan was then Presiding Elder, with
the understanding that he would be given
a very desirable assignment, but he re-
fused, and did without stating any
reason.
At P NJ. court adjourned until 10 A
Mt