Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-01-18
CAUSED BY A GIRL
A Married Man Killed by His
lnamorata.
MINNIE RIDDLES MAD CAREER
Beautiful and Tzlented She Chooses 8
Life Of Dissipation and Cnme--The
Stery Of Her Life.


most notorious woman IN southern ILL.,
nois 10 Minnie Riddle. now IN the Pull
ssks county jail al Mound City charged
with murder In the firsI degree. She
has been the heroine Of several start
ling escapades during the past slx
months which will follow her 10 her
grave and kesp her memory green in
the minds of the people hereabouts for
generations. The woman is probably
twenty-five years of age, a dashing
brunette with curly hair and regular
features possessed of = graceful torn.
good taste In dress and having man
ner that would cantivate most men OF
susceptible natures. And IN addition
TO tins she 10 we'll educated and ac-
com olished to degree. The daughter
OF DIR. Riddle, \ hlgh-strung Southern
gentleman, who went down with the
contederacy ana left that section OF
the country after the war 10 bury him.
self IN the woods of Pulaski county.
she inherited proud disposition
which emarted constantly under the
restraints which her fathers pecuniary
circumstances and her general sur.
roundings imposed.
Her Great Crime.
Her father died some fifteen years
ago and left the family little TO live
upon. Minnie soon saw herself COM
PEELED to do something for her own
and her mothers support. Teaching
music was out of the question IN the
community IN which her lot had been
cast. She was offered position in
the household of Geo. w. Higgins,
successful merchant and leading citi-
zen of the place, which she accepted.
and this was the beginning of her
downfall. An intimacy sprang up be
tween her and Higgins, which ended
for him in dishonored grave and
brought her under the shadow of the
gallOws.
Aside from his fatal weakness George
W. Higgins was a noble fellow. His
uniformly pleasant disposition in his
daily intercourse with the world made
him host Of warm personal friends
even outside of his own community.
Being the most prominent citizen IN
Oimstead, place OF probably $50 peo-
pic, there was no one In the village
who fel: privileged to remonstrate with
tltfi Will ICSptSt ~ ntS w ttit
little girl, and it went on between the
two; their conduct became open and
shameless, and its influence upon the
little community was SO demorAlizng
in every way that petty crimes Of every
description were of constant occur
renee and the law was paralyzed. In
other portion of the county, "cvery
81 <a v,,ala n,y,,~p of ni,n 4
looked upon as a thief, and every alter
nate woman as depraved."
A Terrible Tragedy.
But the end came last July. The
tragedy occurred in the handsome
home of Mr.. higgins Mrs. Higgins had
gone to solourn for the summer at one
of the popular resorts, and as was usual
on such occasions Minnie Riddle took
her place at the Higgins tiresids. spend
ing days and nights there in rictous
living with tho infatuated husband.
The night OF July 20 mad been spent in
drunken carousal, as was evident from
the condition OF the two when discoy-
cred and from the dozens OF beer and
champagne bottles which lay III con-
fusion about the rooms. An old negro
| employed on the premises heard voices,
and Immediately the report of pistol
was heard and sharp cry Of pain and
the frantic scream Of woman, and
when young Ben Higgins rushed into
the house he found his father lying on
the floor in pool OF blood and dying,
ard the woman writhing near her VIC
| tim in 1T of apparent madness. cry
ing and laughing by turns and beating
the floor with her hands. "She has
shot me-" said Higgins, at which young
Ben sprsng upon the woman and would
have chokcd her to death had not his
father. in An agonized effort, raised
himself from tie floor and commanded
him TO desist, adding "she's not TO
blame: she did't mean 10 do it." Al
10 o'clock the following morning
George Higgins died. his last request
being. BURY me with Mollle aud the
baby Ibis first wife and child and upon
my Tombstone write Caused by a wo-
man." She WAS arrested. arraigned
and placed under 5000 hail. Becom.
ing enamored of another man
she was hastily married and at
! tempted TO leave for California on a
wedding trip but was overtaken and re-
turned TO Mound City and lodged in
Jail where she will remain until April
when her trIal is to take place.