The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-10-28
AWFUL TRAGEDY In DEPOT
Woman Dies After Encounter With Rich
Mans Son.
SHE WAS TRACED BY A LETTER.
Mlssive Made Appointment With Young Mans
Father Whose Daughter Witnessed the
Affair-Died In Great Agony-A Sensation.
al Developement-Yo Young Higgins is "a Years
Old and His Sister 20.

Peoria. III. (SpeciaD.-Mrs. Nellie
Thomson, wife of a former promi-
nent real-estate dealer in this city, is
dead at her home in Lacon as a re-
suit OF injuries received in sensa-
tional encounter with Richard and
Jennie Higgins, son and daughter OF
John G. Higgins, a prominent MEM
Der of the Board of Supervisors OF
Peoria county Young Higgins is "a
years old, and his sister is 20. They
intercepted letter written to Hig-
gins, senior, by Mrs. Thomson, in
which she asked the elder Higgins to
meet her in the depot of the Rock
Island railroad in this city. Higgins
was at St. Louis, and his son opened
the letter. When Mrs. Thomson ar
rived she was confronted by young
Higgins and his sister. What took
place is mystery, as only the three
and an uncle of Higgins-Douglas:
Mcdonald, of Monica, lll.-were pres
woman asked c. A. Brant, the ticket
agent, to assist her to the train.
He did so, and when she was gone
he found blood on the floor OF the
waiting room. The woman fingered
in great agony at her home in Lacon
until she died.
Died in Great Agony.
Higgins is under arrest on a State
warrant charging him with murder.
The case has created sensation.
Mrs. Thomson has been in COM
atose condition since, rallying enough
at intervals to speak word or two
Her lip was severed, both eyes were:
blackened, one shoulder was displaced
and her back was covered with bruises
She was also suffering with interna
injuries. The attending physician was
unable to rouse the patient sufficiently
to get dying statement from her.
Higgins wept when placed in Jail.
Opened a Fatal Letter.
1--WE had been trying for years to
break up the relations between my
father and this woman" he said
when we got that letter my sister
and l went down there to see If we
could not make some arrangements
with her. We met her in the waiting
room. / went up to her and touched
her on the shoulder.
Mrs. Thomson, believe" said
She turned around quickly and said
oh, its you, is it?' and drew out her
hatpin. then pushed her sharply
against the side of the face and knock
ed her over a chair My sister then
pulled me away and told me that l
would be arrested; that we could not
do anything with her. That's all there
was to it."
In an additional statement young
Higgins says that his uncle, Douglas:
Mcdonald, arrived at the Rock Island
Station at the same time. he did and
stood by when the alleged assault took
place. Higgins says his uncle took
him by the arm, saying, Come away,
you will be arrested; you can't do
anything with her"
A Sensational Development.
That Detective William E. Murphy
who was murdered under sensational
circumstances in this city last June,
was connected with the Higgins
Thomson case was startling devel-
opment of the afternoon 1t seems
that on the night Murphy was killed
he was shadowing John II. Higgins
at the instance of the members of the
Higgins family Young Higgins says
that either on that night or on the
following night Mrs. Thomson called
UP the Higgins residence by telephone
and is alleged to have said:
Murphy was good friend of yours.
Well, he got his punishment tonight
Kierans (fellow-d detective OF Murphy
is your friend. too. He will get his
next"
Mrs. Higgins is wealthy. She mar
ried J. H. Higgins, 80 years ago and
had decided much of her property to
her husband.