The Topeka state journal., 1905-10-07
FEAR OF A MOB.
Preliminary Hearing Of Riggin
Trials Postponed.
Officials VIII Not Take the
Prisoners to Fort Scott.
THE BOYS GRATITUDE.
Thanks Hospital Nurses for a
Glass Of Milk.
Riggin Wept Bitterly While
Telling His Story.
THE BOYS GRATITUDE

Fort Scott. Kan, Oct 1T was de-
cided last night that the preliminary
trial Of George Riggin and his wife and
stepdaughter. charged with numbering
Higgins 6-year-old son by starving him,
shall not be held Saturday as was con
templated. The county prosecutor, Mr..
Humphrey, and the sheriff thought best
to wait until public feeling subsided
somewhat before bringing the prison
ers back from Girard. Little Gertrude
Riggin, the 3-year-old daughter. alleg-
ed to have been starved and badly
bruised by her stepmother, still is very
low at Mercy hospital, but the doctors
think she has a chance oP recovery.
The nurses at the hospital were deep
Iy touched by the suffering of the chill
dren and they tell how, when food was
offered them. they seized it and ate it
ravenOusly. The boys dying words
were of gratitude to the sisters for a
glass of milk which he drank just be
fore lapsing into unconsciousness Judge
Hudson OF the juvenile court has made
application for the admission of the
living child to the COodlander home,
in case of her recovery, and she will be
received there.
The stepdaughter, Clarissa Shaw. one
of the accused prisoners, is only II years
old. She is large and seems older. The
authorities are somewhat puzzled as to
what course to pursue in the prosecu-
tiOn of her. They have about decided
that her preliminary hearing must be
before the juvenile court, instead of in
a Justice court.
c. b. Griffith, an ex-county attorney,
had been employed by Riggin to de-
feud the woman and girl, but Riggin
says the developments have so enlight-
ened him concerning their alleged con-
duct toward his children that he will
not assist at all in their defense. If
the present plans are not changed the
preliminary hearings will be held Tues
day.
Higgins version.
Riggin. the father was seen in his
cell at the jail. When the death of
his boy was mentioned he went bit
taxlv.
"Here I am in Jail, entirely innocent.
while the funeral Of the little fellow is
going on and I am not permitted to
see him." he said, between sobs- AS
far as I knew my wife always treated
my children the same as she did her
own. never saw her whip them out
of reason and I never did. I have whip
ped the boy as a father ought to-
When I first heard the stories told
about my wife I naturally wouldn't
believe them because she had been
kind TO them in my presence, but when
investigated the case and asked all
the neiEhbOrs about it I couldn't help
believing their stories.
II intend to help mete out the pun
ishment that is due this woman and
her daughter. You see, was never
at home When I got up in the morn
ing and went to work, all were in bed
and sometimes when I came home in
the evening the children would be in
bed. told my wife to whip the chill
Cren if they needed it, but not unmer-
cifullT as the neighbors tell me she did.
/ retained a lawyer to defend them at
drst, but III never spend another cent
in their behalf"
Did Not Pay Bills.
Mrs. Riggin says Riggin told her to
whip the children until the blood ran.
Asked about this he said: 1T is not
so. ] never thought OF such a thing.
I wouldn't treat a dog that way. No
body can say that they ever saw me
whip my children unreasOnably. The
women might say SO now to clear
themselves, but it viii be lie. I no
ticed that Herbert was sickly lately
and had bruises on his face I would
ask him what caused it and he would
say he fell down stairs or that the dog
the children were mistreated or I
would not have stood it. AS far as
being starved is concerned both got
plenty to eat when I was around NV
wife paid the bills I turned all my
money over to her and it was enough
to keep two families of moderately
spent, but I find since this matter has
come up that she was too extravagant
Month before last found that she
didn't pay hardly any of the bills. For
the last month and a half the grocery
bills are almost S100 and I don't know