Year: 1873

Wife Murder in Wcchnwken-Tcrrfble


Treatment or His Spouse by an Ex-


Constable-A Bright BEGINNING OF Life


and . Mournful End.


Anastasia Ridgeway was beaten by her husband,
Peter Ridgeway, on Tuesday night on their way
home, In Weehawken, and SO terrible were the In
jures she received that she died on the following
evening. few years ago she had comfortable
home in Jersey City, living with her mother and
sister, When about twenty years Of age she mar
ried a wellto-do gentleman named Jordan, who.
seems to have treateu her well In every respect;
for she often told to her neighbors in Weehawken
artless stories OF how kind Jordan had been
to her, and how she used to dress and live in
the good days gone by. While she was thus lead
ing happy life with Jordan Peter Ridgeway
pushed his acquaintance upon her, and partly by
promises Of increased fortune, partly by calumny
and threats to murder her, induced her to abandon
her rightful husband and join hands with himself
Judging from Ridgeway's appearance 1t Is difiicut
to conceive the process through which he sue
ceeded In playing upon the affections Of Mrs.
Jordan for he IS low-sized repulsive looking in
dividua, thirty-seven years DID, with pale, hang
dog face, on which there is nothing very remarka-
BILE except tuit OF brown mustache. Those who
know him best aver that his appearance did not
belle his nature. From the abode OF Jordan ne
took the woman to rickety shanty in the bleak
reCeSSeS
came known as Mrs. Rtdgeway, and where she ex-
changed her wealth and contentment for


MISERY AND RAGS.


Peter however, was elected constable In that
region but as political oces are now dealt out IN
that quarter OF Jersey 1t would not be easy to say
mesned es BY the appointment T Suddenly t thrown
among the society there Mrs. Ridgeway was n0t
long in becoming victim to It's Influences. Her
husband drank freely, and she followed his exam
pie. On Tuesday night he and she went together
to gin house, kept by one Hughes near the foot
attempts to enticc him home, but he met her re-
quests with grows and threats At length they
set out sogesher qqarrelling & as the they staggered
lonely spot on Eighteenth street. near the Hacken-
sack plank road, he seized her and struck her
violent blow In the face. His uplifted arm swing
ing through the darkness was all that could be
seen Of


HIS BLOODY WORK.


It was, however. witnessed by o woman who
CHANGED to be looking through window OF her
house--the only dwelling near the place. Mrs.
shout for ald and when she sank into the sleep OF
death her husband lay down on the plank beside
rose r,o he shook the bruised and bTood-stained
woman to rouse her, He failed to elicit anything
from her but feeble groan. He then procured 9
wheelbarrOw. threw the dying woman into 1t and
took her to their dismal home. Then he threw her
IN heap on the bed, where she lay stretched In
in the evening" when she closed her eyes
forever upon the uniriendy surroundings Of
the Eysian Fields strqcS finally with
Coroner Parslow that his wife mad fallen on the
road and hurt herself 50 severely that she died.
The Coroner repaired to the death bed and there
found the woman weltering In blood and covered
with bruises. Her lace was black with wounds and
her caest, and legs presented similar appear
ances OF foul play. Ridgeway was arrested and
lodged In the Weenawken station house. There he
sat down and slept as soundly as on the night
previous. He denies having struck the woman
and persists In saying that her death was the re-
suit solely OF her FALLING on the way home. A jury
was empanelled by Coroner Parslow last evening
and the sad ceremony OF viewing the body was
gone through with. he inquisitiOn will be con-
tinued this evening and the result will probably be
arrived in time Tor the presentation OF the case
to the Grand Jury now In session.