The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-16
With the Long Bo,D
Study in Circurnstantial Evidence-Letter Written
by "a Tramp Who Tells How He Killed Miss
Ellison-Riggs Caught in the Net of Circumstances
and Unable to Escape. s. This is Fake

tt~HE people of this community believe sNate'
a Riggs, the murderer of Mile Ellison, was
insane. He born farm three miles
west of town. and all his boyhood days spent here
He was general favorite because of his sunny
ture and his many friends here refusing to believe
that in his right mind would have committed
such crime, turned out generally to attend the
funeral alma Center, Wis. Dispatch to The Jour
nal.
Some people still hesitate, tho the evidence is SO
overwhelming, to believe that Riggs committed this
murder.
Is there any possible mistake about it,
Probably not. But man signing himself "a
Tramp might have written the following letter to
it, but he didn't. The letter is ''made up simply
to show how the killing might have happened, sup
posing for moment that Riggs is not guilty. The
"Dear sir-Riggs did not kill the Ellison girl
did the deed myself. And didn 7 to, either
OF you don't believe this, for the evidence
tsfn 1905 was stealing ride on Riggs train
He caught me on the back platform, slowed up the
saids All right old man. it, your turn Next
time play T saw Riggs in st. Paul afterwards
but didn't get any chance at him, tho. would like
to have caved his head with scantling. His wife
was with him then the way to Wisconsin.
''The other day saw Riggs again He was going
into the National hotel with woman. saw at
she was not his wife. said to myself, 'I'n fix you
now followed them around all day waiting to
find out what his game was In the afternoon got
tined waiting outside and walked into the hotel Up
on the third floor piped Riggs going into room.
There was and I listened at the door, I
heard some talk and woman's voice said, ssYou I'll
put the money in your safety deposit box, then
Yes said Riggs and we better destroy all evidences
Of Mile Elison's identity, too. Give me the ring
and watch to go with 1t. Then TIL take your grip
and burn the contents in the furnace when 90 home
for change of Clothes
II said to myself, these people are planning to
skip out together I'll spoil their game I waited
out Of sight on the stairs till Riggs out with the
grips and hurried away. Then stepped inside The
woman had just laid down the couch, but she
started up and asked what wanted. I says, Mrs.
Riggs sent me to ask you something The woman
elenched her teeth and flew at me like tigress I
saw I couldn It handle her, My eye caught hammer
the bureau and grabbed it. Her rush bore me
to the floor and I broke bottle of liquid and I
struck at her-once, twice. I didn't mean to hit
so hard, but was excited. She lay STILL AS jumped
up stepped a match and in moment the room,
was afre: There was nothing to do but for it
and did till got outside, when closed the door
and walked easily out of the hotel. I was hardly
the street when noticed the connection.
II walked to the depot, sat down and tried to
think what had happened. Suddenly it came over
that had got Riggs into bad fix. How could
he explain his actions9 And if he for it when he
found out what had happened that would be taken
proof against him. Evidently Riggs was
''Now wanted to do him a hurt, but didn y
want to get him hanged. Neither did want to get
hanged either. I thought I'd lay low and await
results.
Things moved off quickly tho, that Riggs
killed himself before T knew what to do. It's ne
use saying anything now Riggs guilty of al
kinds Of meanness, and he couldn't explain that
anyhow, but know that he didn't do that murder
He couldn't explain that either to save his life an6
he saw he couldn IT, He had to act quick just as
did and he did just what twenty out Of twenty
i've would have done A Tramp
The above letter is fsfake, - but is it any mor
improbable than the murder as it actually hap
peneds
SA
John and Ethel were married at Winchester Mass
Tuesday, July 10, and the affair resulted in such
rumpus that riot call drew all the police to tn
station to quiet disturbance which will doubles
down into the t1uild inl4