Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-30
A PREY TO APATHY
THE CONDITION OF JUDGE RILEY
ss UNCHANGED,
For Years Has Been Prominent
Figure,on Newspaper Row and the
Avenue--His Official Career.

INQUIRIES al the Washington Asylum Hos
pital bring the information that the condi-
ton OF JudgefW. G. Riley is not improved.
Worn OUT disappointed at not being able
to obtain position under republican adj
ministration., realizing that the battle OF
life Is going against him, he makes no at
tempt to rally, his only request being that
he be taken away from the hospital.
Friends occasionally inquire about him. but
no relatives have been heard from.
Judge Riley has for years been the best
known character on Newspaper Row" and
the resorts on Pennsylvania avenue. HIS
good nature and wit brought him friends.
and the stories Of his earlier days always
hsa about them a sIamiloquence that was
Impressive.
where the phosphates of the Atlantic fur
nlsh the men with more brain than any
other set of men on earth. sir'-JudSe
Kiiey knew more people from that state
than any other Senators Daniel and Mar
tin. democrats George Bowden, republican
national committeeman. and Park Agnew,
the republican leaders Of the state, expect
Ell to meet him when they came to WASH
frgton. and they rarely failed in their ax-
pectations. Sauntering on Pennsylvania
avenue he watched for all those he knew
and stopped to talk with them.
According to his papers years ago put on
HIc III tIe ne was DOTu III
1890. and reared in Virginia. He was edu-
Gated at Washington College, Pa, and the
University of Virginia. He was attorney
Tor the commonwealth In the county of Ac-
comac. Va. for ten years. judge of the
fifth judicial circuit for five years. and at
one time was president of the district court
of appeals of Virginia. He was also
judge of the southern claims commission
for Virginia. In November, 1913. President
Grant appointed him United States consul
at La Guayra. Venezuela. and he remain
ed there a year, the Senate falling to con-
firm his nomination. year later he was
appointed United States consul at ZanZi-
bar, Africa and he resigned a year after
that because the death of member OF his
family required his immediate return to
this country
In 1890 President Harrison appointed
Judge Riley consul at Puerto Cabello. Ven
ezuela. and he remained there four years.
President Cleveland removed him and put
a democrat in his place Ever since the
republicans returned to power Judge Riley
has tried to get a consular appointment.
With patience unparalleled he visited the
White House day after day for years in
both the administrations of Mckinley and
Roosevelt, and 1t was only until a rev
announced his reputation Of republicanism
and his acceptance of the democracy OF
Parker and Davis
He told many mythical stories of himself
and many were told by others about him.
One of those, which he good humoredly ac-
copied as accurate, was that when he was
consul to Zanzibar he had shot the queen
of the island with salt and pepper because
she persisted in bathing In the garp OF ma
ture only In front of the American consul
late each afternoon Such action wouIo
have prevented his going into the consular
service later and he served four years In
Venezuela good many years after his Of
flee at Zanzibar.