Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-30
(By Telegraph to virglnlan-Pilot.)


Lawrenceville, Va, May 29.--Rev. ].
h. Roane Riddick, q young Methodist
minister and son of Rev. Joseph
II. Riddick, n distinguished preacher
OF the same faith, was put on trial sre
here today for hislife. On March nth
he four times shot ana MORALLY wound
ed DR.. William II. Temple, who died q
week later.
Not until the prisoner had been ar
raiGned was it known what his de-
tense would be. 1t was thought justi-
iic@uion would be pleaded and that thu:
lawyers for Riddick would seek to
prove that Temple had insulted the
Wife of the prisoner. But this will not
be done. Insanity VII be THE defense
INSANITY EXPERTS TO TESTIFY.
The court was asked to summon the
ndksnts OF the various h eslitll;
for the insane in Virginia The stan.
witness for the defense will be Dr. j.
Allison Hodges, OF Richmond, the most
-eele1sSr9tsed authority iii the South on
mental diseases. Some of DR.. Rlddlck' S
old college mates will come from South
Carolina to tell of his early eccentrici-
ties. One OF them will relate how he
tried to cure ballky horse by building
a fire under him. notwithstanding
the case has attracted so much ntten-
ton, and Riddick was concealed in the
woods one night to prevent lynching,
a jury was secured in half ar hour.
The veniremen had not formed an
opinion because they had not heard
Kiddick's side of the story.
THE KILLING PROVED.
The Commonwealth proved that Rid
dick on Sunday. March 18th. about sun
rise, went to DIR. Temples before he
had arisen. The cook told the doctor
that Riddick was at the door The
physician put on his pants and socks
and went down to meet him. Riddicll
spoke not a word, but drew his pistol
and began firing. His aim was not
true. and the ball soaked itself in the
panel of the door. Temple ran around
to his back yard. pursued by Riddick.
The preacher fired three shots that took
effect. and Temple fell. The preacher
started away. Looking back he saw
Temple attempting to rise. Ridd!ck
went back and snapped the weapon in
the face of the man who appealed to
two negroes who had come up to hold
the preacher. When they attempted to
do SO Riddick placed the pistol upon the
chest of one of the men. but it failed
to fire. Temple was trying to get to
his house and Riddick ran after him
and fired the fourth bullet into his
body.
RIDDrCK SAID HE KILLED HIM.
After telling one of the negroes he
had killed n rascal and would kill an
other If any one attempted to trouble
him. he mounted his horse and rode
away.
Constable House, who made the ar
rest. testified that he overheard Mrs.
Riddick tell her husband he had no
cause whatever to shoot DR.. Temple.
The doctor visited Mrs. Riddick We'd
nesday before the shooting. She was
soon. to give birth to a child. and he
was expecting to be called again at any
time. lie had three times in the last
year attended her professionally, but on
his death bed said his acquaintance
with her was so Slight he would not
know her were he to meet her in the
road. Temple said Riddick must have
been insane. II it could be proven that
he was crazy he wanted him sent to an
insane asylum for life, but If he ehould
get off on any technicality he wanted
his friends to avenge the crime. There
will be n great battle between counsel
over the question of insanity.
TESTIMONY OF PROSECUTION.
The prosecution will offer expert tes-
tlmony to offset that OF the defence.
Riddick's wife. father and brother, who
is n Wholesale merchant In Richmond.
and his sister, wife of w. S. Poage, one
of his lawyers, were in court with him.
The bloody shirts removed from
Temple after the shooting were exhib-
tied in evidence.