The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-07-20
The Next Act in the Tragic
Drama at minneapolis.
MRS. RIGGS FAITH UNS SHAKEN
Hennepin County Probate Court VIII
Be Called Upon to Settle the
Controversy.

Minneapolis, July l6.-Mrs. n. NJ.
Riggs has heroically declared her faith
in her husbands innocence. Unfinching-
| " she has faced the future, asserted
her right to the property he had left,
and insisted that she would fight to the
end to maintain that right.
1t was a sad home coming for the
wife of the murderer and the suicide
when she entered the family residence
at 3405 Pillsbury avenue Saturday aft
crnoOn. 1t was dramatic and pathetic
moment when she crossed that desolate
threshold, and the horror of it all must
have shaken even the stOical patience
of the woman who has passed through
a succession of ordeals since Wednesday
afternoon, when she first heard of Riggs
arrest on a charge of robbing and muir
dering Miss Mile Ellison in her room
at the National hotel.
The effect of the exterme strain was
apparent when Mrs. Riggs came to the
door in response to the summons of a
newspaper reporter. Her face bore an
expression of indescribable WEAKNESS
The drawn lines about her mouth and
eyes showed sorrow and suffering, and
her face seemed that of a much older
woman than of the one who calmly
heard the news of the last act of the
tragedy at Elroy Wednesday night
elf-control was still dominent, how
ever, and although Mrs. Riggs could not
entirely conceal the quaver of her voice,
her self-control was otherwise complete
and she was possessed of a quiet
strength and dignity that made a strong
appeal.
Florence, the seventeen year old
daughter, was busying herself about the
kitchen. A friend or relative of Mrs.
|
side the house, and a sweet -faced little
girl played on the floor, all unconscious
of the shadow that had fallen on the
lives of the people she loved.
Il have been home only short time.
My plans have not been made and |
have nothing to say" was Mrs. Riggs
plea when the reporter had made known
the purpose of his CALL She moved back
into the house and started to close the
door,
'Do you wish to make any statement
in regard to what you propose to do
about the money found in the safety
deposit vault?'
THAT money is mine. / think we
will have no trouble in proving that.
and | shall use every legitimate right
to retain it," And Mrs Riggs opened
wider the door, asserting her claim to
the money.
"Then you will retain an attorney
and fight for the possession of that
money!"
81 certainly shall"
"Have you retained lawyer?"
mo; but | have one in view"
did you know how much money.
there was in the vault?"
81 knew there was between $4,000
and $4,000, large part of which had
been there for seven or eight years"
"Did your husband give you the box
key when he went to see you Wednes-
day afternoon on the farm near FL
roy?"
about that key" said Mrs. Riggs.
Il would gladly have sent the authori
ties the key to Mr.. Riggs safety de-
post vault box if | had understood
what key they wanted and l intended
bringing it to them just as soon as L
could. Now | have said more than |
intended"
"But you were asked for that key?"
81 didn't understand what key L
knew the money was mine and was per-
fectly willing that the authorities should
see everything in that box"
"Then you had faith in your hus-
bands mocence?"
81 had, and have now. | cannot be-
lieve my husband guilty of the awful
crime with which he is charged" said