Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1905-10-12
A VERY SAD DEATH.
Mr.. r. A. Riggs ends his Life by the
use of Gasoline.

About 9 o'clock Saturday evening
the people Of Audubon were suddenly
aroused by the ring of the fire bell,
and crowd were soon following the
fire department to the northeast part
of town where house was said to be
on fire. But the fire Is all out" was
soon heard and the people returned
to their homes wholly ignorant of the
fact that with the quenching of the
fire, the life of one of our citizens had
gone out" in most tragic death.
Mr.. Riggs and his son with whom
he was doing business in putting up
lightning rods, were out at Templeton
through the week and returned home
about noon on Saturday. He was
about through the afternoon as usual
spending some time at his own home
across the street from that of his son.
About o'clock as DR.. Brooks and
John Chapman were coming in from
the country they noticed the fire and
rapidly driving up joined Mr.. Gil
tillan and the sons of Mr.. Riggs with
others in their efforts to rescue him
from the flames, but by the time they
were able to reach him he was in the
throes of death and expired within ten
or fifteen minutes.
That he contemplated the act by
which he terminated his life is evil
denced by the fact that he seems to
have made preparation for it by put
ting his money and his watch in a
pair Of pants which he placed in the
buggy in the barn belonging to his
son. And it was there that he pro-
cured can of gasoline containing
about two and a half gallons, with
which he saturated his clothing,
especially the upper part of his body
Judging from the result of the fire.
The body was promptly removed to
the undertaking rooms of Nels Jensen
and prepared for burial. On Mon
day an inquest was held by Coroner
Jensen with Sam Gardner, Harry
PARROT and Sam Ulrich as Jurors
who returned verdict that he
came to his death by his own hand
by burning with gasoline.
1t seems pretty clear that Mr.. Riggs
was more or less unbalanced in mind
when he performed the deed, because
it is doubtful If any one in a normal
condition of mind would deliberately
saturate his clothes. with gasoline,
and make human torch of himself
in order to escape the troubles of life.
About a year ago he moved with
his wife and three younger children
to st. Joseph Missouri, but not find
ing business good he returned to Au-
dubOn, his family remaining in st.
Joe. Separated from his family,
with domestic relations more or less
strained, it is said that he had been
drinking heavily the past week, which
will probably account in some mea-
sure for the performance of the rash
act. 1t is sad ending of well-known
citizen, and brings grievOus burden
to his two sons who are respected
members of the community. Rev. A.
r. Grant who had charge of the
services kindly furnishes the follow
ing obituary.
+. A. Riggs was born Sept. II, 1852
in Mount Pleasant Ia, where he grew
up to manhood. He was married to
Bertha Bitterker in 1878 at Laclede,
Mo-, which union was blessed with
two children, Leo who was associated
with his father in business and Roy
who resides with his brother in this
city. After the death of his first wife,
he was married again to Crissie j.!
Trimmer in Salina, Kansas. Three
children were born to them, who with
their mother lives in st. Joe, Miss
Ouri, none of whom were present at
the funeral.
The funeral was held at the home of
Mr.. Anderson conducted by the Rev.
A. r. Grant the pastor of the Method,
list church, the NJ. E. choir furnishing
the music.
The friends of the family extend
their love and sympathy to the child
rem in this their sore affection.