The Minneapolis journal., 1906-07-12
not to arrest Riggs, and he was sus-
pended without salary for three
months
NE1GHBORs STUNNED
Hard for Minneapolis Friends to Credit
Murder Story.

Amazed and almost stunned by the
startling developments Of last night and
yesterday, the neighbors Of N. NJ. Riggs
heard early today the news that he had
shot himself. practically confessing to
the world his guilt. Until this news
was announced there was none who
ig belisved H that lat Rggs had lad AZ any T RnoWi
edge of the National hotel murder. - He;
had beer known as . pleasant, ioyial
man, He was apparently devoted ltot His
family, especially the daughter, Flor
ence, slight: sweet-faced girl Of about
II years. The family seemed to be
hal,Py,+ hapPPy and nd everything pleasant H and d
The Riggs home is the center Of a
little group Of three houses on the east
side Of Pillsbury avenue, Just beyond
Thirty-fourth street. The houses are
comfortable cottages of six or seven
rooms, and are close together, SO that
certain amount Of acquaintance with
one anoth her 8 affairs was common to the
community. The house at s4o1s Pills. H.
house on the other side Of the Riggs
home is occupied by o. q. Bates.
Seen at His Home. ~ .*
Riggs was seen about his, home on
Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, and
apparently everything was as usual. His
family left for a visit in Wisconsin on
July s., but, Riggs was in the habit
Of visiting the house to see that every
thing was all right and to water the
lawn.
When seen last evening the neighbors
refused to believe that Riggs was in
any way connected with the affair. ut
must be q mistake,' said Mrs. Bates.
"Mr. Riggs could never have done any
thing Of the sort. He and the daughter
esd prnSaa asa and sT seeS@ T@eT like o S
romp and play together like a. girl and
boy. Mrs. Riggs was a charming WON
an and we all liked her."
Mr.. Luker and DR.. John Sinclair, an
other neighbor, expressed the same opin-
| ion-that some mistake had been made
| and that Riggs could not possibly be
connected with the affair in any, man
TONS that seemed to exist and the COM
radeship between :; the daughter and
father. 4S
The announcement Of Riggs suicide
was overwhelming in its effect. in
the face Of it none expressed confidence
in Riggs or doubt Of his guilt. There
are only words Of sympathy for the
wife and daughter, who are held in the
highest regard. "Just think what 1t
| will mean to them,' said RS. l4uker
today, when told Of the affair. t6he
seemed like woman who was In poor
health and the daughter Is rather deli.
cate. I am sorry for them. We all
are, and yesterday we could not have
! believed It possible.'' ,... .....s.
Last Visit to His Home.
Riggs was seen by the neighbors
Tuesday afternoon on his last visit to
the house and seemed the same as
usual. His dog, which has been cared
for by Mrs. Lukel, ran barking to him
and was cheerfully greeted and play.
fully petted for moment. He made 8
short trip about the house outside, then
went in, and when he came out wore
different clothes. AS he always car
ried grip, coming and going on his
trips, no particular notice was paid te
whatever he may have carried.
! Monday he was about the house fo1
a short time in the latter { ut of the
afternoon, but had no conversation with
any Of the neighbors. He was seen or
Saturday and asked one Of the neigh
had left in tho icebox, that they might
ferent was noticed on any Of the three
occasions, Saturday, Monday or Tues
day, except that one Of the neighbors
thought he wore new hat Tuesday
afternoon. The Tuesday afternoon. tril
was after 4. o clock and after the, mur
der, but his nerve was apparently
steady and no change in his mannel
was noticeable to his 'neighbors.