Carin
Here is a brief of my family tree incident which became quite sensational
in the day and was heavily covered in the newspapers so I assume your case
will be as well. Someday I hope to obtain the actual court records of the
trial if available.
Doll Judah was driving a team at or near Smithville for a Mr. Sam Campbell.
He and his wife had had frequent quarrels, the last one resulting in Judah
leaving for Bloomington with intention of killing his wife on his return.
Mrs. Chloe Judah lived in dred of violence or murder for years and feared that
he would execute this threat upon his return and went to a neighbor's house
and spent the night there. At the time, it appears she had left Doll Judah
and she was living with her father Richard Wright and sister Era Wright Riddle
on the father's homestead.
Richard Wright and daughter Era Wright Riddle were awakened in the night by
Wright's son-in-law, Rodolphus (Doll) Judah, who fired a shot at the old man
as he opened the door. Era Wright Riddle ran into the house and secured an
axe and started towards Judah as a terrible struggle ensued. The old man was
shot three times, once in the head and twice in the neck. As Doll Judah lay
on Mr. Wright and fired the last shot he was struck a blow on the head with
an axe by Era Wright Riddle. Judah was killed instantly.
Era Wright Riddle immediately turned herself into authorities and a grand
jury was assembled. They ruled no prosecution against Era Wright Riddle as she
was protecting her father and she was completely vindicated.
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