The Minneapolis journal., 1906-07-12

stood not more than ten feet away. The
startled officer rushed to the toilet
room to find limp, ifeless body on the
floor. This was what Detectives How
ard and Passolt and Assistant County
Attorney Bernhagen found when they
reached town half an hour later.
Never before has the little town Of
casioned by the arrest Of Riggs at !
pm. yesterday, followed by the tragic
closing Of the chapter early today. The
whole town was seething and the ma
iority Of the inhabitant did not sleep
last night.
AL Hroy with Riggs.
Riggs arrest aroused public sympa-
thy. Not man in town would admit
a belief in the guilt Of the accused. His
suicide with its mute admission
stunned, it turned public sentiment. No
rible import Of the fatal shot. It was
an hour before the townspeople, who
thronged the hotel, the platforms and
adjoining streets, reluctantly admitted
that "Riggs must have been guilty."
Nathan Riggs began running into
ElrSy twenty-five years ago, as 9
O'Rourke, whose family still lives on
farm about four miles from town. Ell
roy has been his home good share Of
quaintances number almost the entire
population Of the town. Riggs was
popular in Elroy and this accounts for
the surprise and indignation apparent
everywhere when the townspeopIe first
heard that he was accused Of commit
ting deliberate and brutal murder.
That sentiment is responsible for the
suicide.
When arrested shortly after pm.
Riggs was sitting on the station plat
form. He manifested the appearance
peatedly that he could not understand
how such an accusation could be made
against him. He showed remarkably
little concern, however, and, as he met
his friends and heard their expressions
Of confidence and sympathy he showed
not the slightest sign Of desperation or
despondency. - -. =.
r. Feared to Lock Him Up.
He was taken in charge by Deputy
Searles. but was not locked up, because,
as City Attorney Diethmann explained
later. in the first place, we have no
jail. ft to lock human being in, and
IN the second place, there would have
been riot and the officers would have
been mobbed if they had attempted to
lock up Nathan Riggs
On this same theory, Riggs was al.
lowed to drive to the o O'Rourke farm,
where his wife and 17-year.old daugh.
ter were visiting. During that trip and
sfter g. the return to town. the deputy
failed to notice any suspicious move
ments and Riggs at no time said any
thing to indicate but that he was pre-
pared to prove his entire innocence.
Shortly after the return from the
farm the prisoner said he wanted to set
tie his accounts with the Omaha Rail
way company, and he made out his
papers and turned in to the company
all that he owed, $20.24. This left him
on his person at the time Of his arrest,
which he was allowed to retain. This
money was not found on the body after
the suicide, and Riggs is believed to
have given it to his family.
Wrote Six Letters.
After the money transaction, Riggs
said he wanted to write some letters,
and with his guard he went to his own
rooms in c. NJ. Millard g home. Mrs.
Riggs and her daughter were there to
meet the husband and father. whom
they believed unjustly accused, they
having left the farm shortly after
Riggs departure. Riggs greeted them
a half dozen letters which he sealed
and, with one exception, had mailed.
The Zone exception was found on
his body after the suicide, and was
seized by the village Justice. who re-
fused to show it to the Minneapolis
officers.
he visited with his family and the
rao of% Inso ~
said he wanted to be up and ready to
receive the Minneapolis officers when
they arrived on the 1856 am. train.
About 1880 Riggs suggested that he
and his guard go down to the depot.
When Mrs. Millard bade him good bye
she told him that she believed in his
innocence and that when he came back
his room would be ready for him.
Never Come Back Alive.
"Irl never come back here alive"
was Riggs prophetic response. Mrs.
Millard SAYS she did not think much of
the remark at the time, as she sup
posed he meant the trouble and worry
would kill him. In the light of what
happened it is seen that the prisoner
| had then made his plans to end it all.
When the two men reached the sta
tion. Riggs asked to go upstairs to
wash. Deputy Searles accompanied him
and stood outside the door. A few mo-
ments later the fatal shot was fired.
| q The revolver found beside the life
less hand from which it had dropped
was 30-caliber automatic Lugert.
It was the property of the dead man.
| and the empty holster found in Riggs
bedroom indicated that he took 1t when
on his visit in the evening.
The BODY was taken from the hotel
to the undertaker's on an improvised
stretcher carried by former friends Of
the dead man and followed by great
crowd of curious. gaping, gabbling peo-
pie. A post-mortem and probably an
inquest were to be held today.
The Riggs rooms were searched by
the Minneapolis officers, but nothing
was discovered tending to throw any
light on the whereabouts of the money
! Continued on I'd Page. LIST Column.