Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-02

gone into the woods with a view TO
committing suicide. but had changed
his purpose. The witness said il fire.
quently happened on PRAYER meeting
nights that the congregation had TO
wait half an hour for the pastor. Then
some one would so out and look for Mr..
Riddick and find him in the house OF
an old negro man. listening TO the beat
ing of tin can. Once on the eve of the
assembling of the Conference. Roanc
came to her home TO bid her gQod-by
She remarked to him: II suppose YOU
will be OF to Conference in the morn
ing?" NO he replied. II am not go
ing 10 the Conference"
~ FINE PREACHER.
Mrs. Best remarked to him: .;Why.
Rosne. this is very strange talk You
must be crazy Why are you not CO.
inS? Because l WAS never called to
prc&ch" was the reply. When l was
boy father stuffed me with all sorts
of things about entering the ministry.
but l was never called
1t turned out. however, that Riddick
did go TO the conference next day.
Five or six years ago. when Riddick
lived at Reams' Station. he came one
day to Mrs. Eests house with a load OF
wood. having brought 1t nine miles No
one had asked him for the wood, and
witness was greatly surprised. She
his finger at her and told her to so
back in the house. which witness did
She thought. of course, Riddick would
come into the house but after throwing
the wood into the back yard Riddicl<
drove off. Mrs. Best said Rldiick,when
speaking of his troubles used to cry
like baby.
On cross examinati ton. Mrs. Best said
Riddick was IL splendid preacher He
never preached from manuscript His
sermons were purely scriptural. He
preached the Bible. and lived up to
what he taught others.
Mrs Best said the accused was, when
residing in Petersburg. very fond of
young company, ana often would come
10 her house TO play croquet with the
girls When in his moody spells he
would not eat.
COLONEL TILLMAN TESTIFIDS.
Colonel Stephen Tillman. of Bruins.
wick county, and member of the
church Of which Ri1dtek was pastor at
the time of the shooting, was next
sworn. He was frequently at the par
sonage, and the preacher often visited
his house. Not long ago Riddick said
to him:
IF had u lady under my charge anu
man We're to insult here. / don't
know what l would 90, hut I think
would kill him."
Often after that Rlddick used to make
similar statements.
Colonel Tillman said Riddicll had an
appointment to preach in the afternoon,
The congregation waited for him an
hour. lie did not come 1t turned out
that the preacher lost his way. and had
gone miles along the wrong road before
II occurred to him that he was not go
ing toward the church. On another oc-
casion he got lost, though he was FER
fectly familiar with the country. Mr..
II h,1, ~
vices At his church. He invited another
preacher To assist him. Ii was n sub
eel OF much comment in the neighbour
mood that Mr.. Riddick never asked the
visiting minister To preach but deliv-
cred all the sermons himself.
HEREDITARY INSANITY
ON the last day of the meeting Rid
dick kept the congregation waiting an
hour, though he had spent the night in
sight of the church. When he came
he made no apology, and seemed
oblivioua of the fact that he WAS late.
Col. Tillman said Mr. Riddick preach
ed too long, and he did not seem Ia
know when to end prayers. The
preacher one sunday borrowed a watch
and carried it With him into the pulpit.
He held the time-piece in hand during
the entire discourse and never once
thought TO open it. One of Rlddick's
sisters taught school at Col. rillman's.
While there her mind became unbal-
anccd. Having knowledge or this fact,
Col. Tillman early became convinced
thdt MI. Riddick was mentally unbal-
anced.
TURNED OFF OTHER PATIENTS.
Col Tillman was at DR. Temples
house the day of the shooting and talk
ed with the wounded man. Dr. Temple
told him he had done nothing to cause
the act committed by Mr.. Riddlck. He
mad been requested by the preacher to
remain about home. so as to be in place
when needed to attend Mrs. Riddick.
lie mad turned off good-paying patients
in order to comply with the minister's
request. DR.. Temple expressed the
opinion that Mr.. T,iddick was deranged.
After Riddick's arrest he stated to
Mr. Tiliman that he was willing to
leave the matter 10 three prominent
gentlemen of the neighborhood, and II
they would decide that ne was not jus
titled in what he had done he would
make 10 defense. When Colonel Till
man told Riddick that he was crazy,
the preacher replied: 1T may be. but
that is subterfugc taken by most peo-
PIE when they get into trouble" Rid
dick resented the charge that he was
insane, ana Colonel Tillman said he had
never seen crazy person VINO would
admit it.
Colonel Tillman expressed the opinion
that Mr.. iiddick was crazy on the sub
ject OF protection OF women, and his
mind was weak in other points.
Colonel Tillman is a typical old Vlr-
g1nia gentleman. and he furnished
much amusement by talking 10 the
lawyers and answering their questions
in his own unique way.
RfDDICK'S SISTER TFSTIFIES.
After Col. Tllman's testimony Was In
me me court room WAS cleared and Mrs.