The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-06-07
The Riddiok Trial.

trial at Lawrencegille OF Rev. j. Il.
Riddick for the murder Of DR.. Temple.
The defense rested their case and the
prosecution began their testimony. TIE
Commonwealth first put on the stand
d. IL Watts TO testify in rebuttal. Mr..
Watts said Mr.. RiddIck told him he
thought he was justified in shooting
Dr. Temple because the latter had
made an improper examination OF Mrs
Riddick and he'd used improper lang
uage in her presence. Riddick added
that he was not quite sure he had dope
right and would not be satisfied until
he had talked with his wife The wit.
ness said at the time Of the oonversa'
tion he saw no change in Riddicks
appearance or manner Mr.. Watts had
never seen Mr. Riddick do any act or
make any remark TO cause witness to
believe that he was insane.
Mr.. Robert d. Powell, who assisted In
making the arrest, said the prisoner
asked Constable House to suspend
Judgment until be had heard both sides.
After the arrest Riddick asked witness
TO 90 back to the parsonage and tell his
wife to say nothing about the case,
which he did. He heard Riddick tell
House that "a man with milk in his
veins would have resented that insult. "
Later the accused said he was insane
with anger when he did the shooting
Mr.. Powell regarded Riddick as q sane
man.
Mr.. Charles Harris. justice Of the
peace who officiated at the preliminary
examination Of Riddick, testified that
Riddick aokn nowledged the charge OF
shooting DR.. Temple and then asked to
be allowed to make a statement. and
privilege was granted. Riddick said
he thought when he shot DR.. Temple
that the Doctor had insulted Mrs. Rid
diok by both action and words, bat
that he might have done wrong, and II
so he would willingly give his life for
Temples. The Justice had never seen
him do anything to cause witness to
think he was crazy.
Mr.. ]. l.. Jones knew Riddick well
and had often heard him preach. He
regarded the prisoner as saue man
He heard Riddick preach on the Sun.
day before the shooting.
Mr.. ] d. Elan, 3 member Of one OF
the churches Of which Mr.. Riddick was
pastor, heard Riddick says at the pre-.
limiuAry examination that he had made
a mistake in shooting DR.. Temple and
regretted the act. He realized that he
bad brough great sorrow upon his aged
parents and wife and children. Rid
dick further stated: my ministry 10
at an end know ought to be de-
posed from the ministry. must have
been insane when committed the deed.
but that is the dodge Of thieves and
murderers. and will not avail myself
Of it," On the occasion Of the prelim-
mary examination Riddick took Mr.
ELAN aside and said I want you to
90 into the house and tell DR.. Temple
for me that fully exonerate him from
this affair and that will publicly ex-
onerate him be he dead or alive. " And
then. said the witness, Riddick's eyes
filling with tears, he added: Il have
committed q great sin, bat l believe
God will forgive me. "
DR.. ". H. Taylor, professor Of chem
istry and medical Jurisprudence in the
Medical College Of Virginia and
Richmond's Coroner. was called upon
to testify as to Mr.. Rlddick's insanity.
The witness proved more valuable &c
the defense than to the State. The
witness did not think that frequent
changes Of religious beliefs could any
more be regarded as indicative OF un'
sound mind than changes Of thought In
the scientific and other worlds coulc
be. The hypothetical questions cover
ing Riddick's career put to the Other
experts was read to Dr. Taylor, and III
was asked IL he thought such an imsg
iuary being was insane He replied In
the affirmative. The witness ther
was asked II an adequate human motive
could be shown for the killing would
he still think the man insane. He re-
piled that his only reason for thinking
such a person crazy II the motive were
shown would be that there was insanity
in his family.
DIR. r. r. Jones, Jr., thought the
prisoner was sane. Had never seer
any indication to the contrary. OonSid
cred the accused a man Of strong intel
lect.
DR.. s. H. Mosely, of Richmond. VIII
testified for the prosecution in the open
ing of It's case, was recalled. Witness
saw Riddlck just after the shooting ant
there was nothing then in his demean
or to indicate insanity and there Was
in his belief. nothing since. Moth
ing" " continued the witness, 'woult
make me believe Riddiok was no
sane. "
Messrs. Geo. ". Mitchell. Walker
Mosely, and E. B. Barker followed
They knew accused and knew Of moth
ing to Indicate to them his insanity
Walter P. Rawlings. steward Of Roo
Il Church, in Riddlck's circuit, and B
L. Taylor, who occupied simtlia
position in that church. believed th
anonsad sane. Mr.. W. II. Yalentin