The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-06-05
Mrs. Riadick TestiAos that Her Hus-
band Is Insane.

friday Mrs. j. u. IL hiuulCk gave
her evidence in the case Of her husband,
Rev. ]. e. Roane Riddiok. charged
with the murder Of DR.. William Ii.
Temple.
Mrs. Riddick was followed by Mrs.
w S. Poage, Of Wytheville. Va, sis.
ter OF the accused and the two ladies
testified to much which they would un.
doubtedly rather not have told. They
revealed secrets which had long been
looked within their bosoms.
Mrs. Riddick's testimony was Of a
highly interesting character. While
she was on the stand tho courtroom was
cleared OF spectators. She detailed the
circumstances which apparently led up
90 the tragedy, and started with the
visit paid her by DR.. Temple on the
Wednesday night preceding the murder.
The physician was called in, because
she was expecting confinement. lie
made an examination, which was neces.
sary, while her husband stood by. The
latter was too deaf. however. to hear
what the physician said, and when Dr.
Temple left, questioned her as to what
the physician said.
On Friday night he again questioned
her, and on the iateful Sunday morn.
ing, Just before day, he aroused her, and
once more asked her what the doctor had
said and done. She told him DR.. Tenn.
pie had by neither word nor deed
transoended the ethics Of his profession.
but snch was the morbid tendency OF
the accused that he asserted with come
vehemence that the physician had gross.
ly insulted her. After she had lspsed
into slumber, he arose and left the house
TO kill DR.. Temple
Witness told of the return Of her hus.
band from the scene Of the murder and
described him as appearing like q wild
man. She denied having told him on
the Monday following that he had acted
without cause, and then told of her hus-
bands many eccentricitles. He often
imagined that burglars we're after him.
The testimony Of Mrs Poage the sis
ter, was partially along this line. She
related that her brother had shown evi.
dences Of insanity from earliest child
hood and testified that they had o sister
who was afflicted with suicidal mania.
witness recital Of her sisters misfor.
tune was pitiable in the extreme.
She told Of the girls sunny tempera.
ment as q child, and then testified that
when she budded into beautiful young
womanhood. her mind had become i'm
paired and she had on three occasions
attempted TO take her life. Once she
drank bltters which she had been told
would produce death II taken In sufii.
cient quantity. Again she took poison,
and when thwarted, disrobed in an out.
house during extremely cold weather and
poured ice water over herself In the hope
OF freezing to death.
Witness reluctantly told these details.
and only consented to give them in the
hope that by proving hereditary in.
sanity her brothers. life might be saved.
Col. Stephen Tillman, a prominent octo
genarian citizen Of Brunswick county,
who was steward in the church over
which the accused presided as pastor,
testified to having long since become
convinced that accused was suffering
from insanity, and quoted him as hav.
ing frequently said that if any man
should insult lady In whom he was
interested he would kill that man.
Minerva Davis, who nursed Mrs Rid
dick at the time Of her illness. was put
on the stand and contradicted what had
been said by Mr.. House and Mr.. Reed
These gentlemen testified that they had
stood at the door Of Mrs. Riddick's room
while accused was within, rfter his ar
rest. Witness testified that no such
words as they attributed to Mrs Riddick
were hes-d.
Saturday the defense introduced Dr.
]. Allison Hodges, the nerve and brain
,~oogoffot &c Dfohr,ord ord M 70 n
Drewry. superintendent Of the State
Hospital for the insane.
They submitted statement to the
jury in writing, declaring it as their
opinion that Riddiok was Insane
when he killed DR.. Temple, was still
insane and would be menace to so.
ciety throughout the remainder of his
life. Afterwards they were placed on
the stand, and the entire day was de-
voted to their examination. Both
were put to the severest oross-exsmina-
ton, but maintained absolutely the
correctness Of their diagnosis.
During the course Of DR.. Hodges
testimony he testified that if Riddick
were released from custody he had o
fixed determination on his mind which
he would put into execution in "a
hours. After the adjournment of the
court, in response to private questions,
as to what he meant, he replied tibet
when he examined Riddick in ja!l he
found that he had harbored murderous
designs against Mr.. ]. d. House, one
Of the witnesses for the prosecution.
The preacher was incensed because, he
alleged, Mr.. House, after holding q
stewardship in his church and profess.
ing friendship for him, had charged
his wife with using words which she
had not. The accused in his talk with
DR.. Hodges said ''Dr. Temple was an
incarnate devil. and House the con-
stable who was steward in my church.
and who was q near friend. is the near.
est thing to q devil and should be put
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