The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-11

Nathan M. Rlggs, 4SOo H1llSDury aV-
enue, Minneapolis, has been arrested In
Of Miss Mile Ellison Ills nl' Of Ellsworth,
Wis, at the National hotel yesterday.
Riggs expressed surprise at his ar
rest and asked why he should be- taken
in such connection. He denied having
been with Miss Ellison Tuesday.
}, Riggs is. openly accused by the fam
lily Of having brought the girl to Min
invest her money in land, at the close
Of which deal the two were to be mar
ried. Riggs is. the only man ever
known to have kept company with Mil
lie Ellison, and as he is known to have
met her frequently within the last few
days he must answer for all his actions
to the police.
Aside from the accusations of the
nfamily, the police say he exactly an
swers the description Of the man who
registered at the National as M. j.
from Miss Ellison g room few minutes
before her screams brought the per
sons woh extinguished the fire.
Asked to Arrest Murderer.
Riggs is a conductor on the North
Western line and his train left the
city last night at $50. He was on
duty as usual, but as he started to
step on the train messenger tapped
him on the shoulder and handed him
9 sealed message. This message was
his own description and asking that
any man of this description be held
until the Minneapolis police could be
notified.
The message told in brief the story
of the crime, and Riggs is said to have
known at that time who had been muir
dered. If his friend had been murdered
would have stepped off the train at
some station and wired back for fuller
information. This was not done, and
nothing more is known of his move
mcnts. ... 49,. ... 81 -
What Ellison Says.
Riggs relations with Miss Ellison
James Ellison, today. He said that his
sister was employed in a railroad res
taurant at Hudson, Wis, about ten
years ago and that while there she be-
came acquainted with Riggs. The two
became good friends and after she had
gone into the millinery business he
still called on her at her home In Ellis
worth. For long time he is said to
have represented himself as a single
man, altho he had wife and daughter
in Minneapolis. Later, however, he
ated from his wife and intended get
ting divorce.
Abotu year ago Mrs. Riggs went
to the home Of Miss Ellison and the
two had long conference, but the re-
suit Of 1t no one knows. It is sur
missed, however, that the two had
talked Of the divorce. Later in the
fall Riggs informed the relatives Of
Miss Ellison that he had obtained his
divorce papers, and intended to marry
| Miss Ellison as soon as he could ar
range his business affairs.
He said at the time that he had a
large farm in Washington and that he
proposed buying more land there. He
also persuaded the young woman to
invest her money in the scheme, as she
had plenty Of money on hand from her
millinery store sale. Accordingly she
sold some of the mortgages that she
had talAen as payment, at sacrifice.
She raised some money in this way and
with the intentiuon Of getting more
cash for the land scheme.
Met Girl at Hudson.
| Riggs met her In Hudson and the
two Came to Minneapolis together. and
shortly after arriving in the city they
| registered at the National hotel under
assumed names. It is still a mystery
to the relatives and police why the
| woman should take an assumed name,
as ample evidence had been obtained
showing that she had nothing to be
ashamed Of
Riggs had told her that they would
settle up the land deal Immediately
and that then she could go back to
The murderer eod have easx
lstolen the money. the police say. or