Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-19
CHARLES w. RIGDoN, WEALTHY
CHICAGO REAL ESTATE MAN,
SHOOTS WIDOW AND SUI
cIDEs; AFFAIR A MYSTERY.
POLICE UNABLE TO
DISCOVER MOTIVE
WOMAN CLAIMING TO BE RIG
DON'S WIFE LOCATED IN IOWA
AND LEAVES FOR CHICAGO;
FETZER DENIES KNOWLEDGE.

MarshaIItown, July 16.-Mrs.
Annie Hawbecker said today she
was married to c. w. RIgdon on
January 4, 1893. at Chicago. She
says she never heard of Mrs.
Deufex and did not know her
husband knew any person Of that
name. Mrs. Rigdon left today for
Chicago.
Chicago, July 16.-The Inquest
over the body Of c. w. Rigdon
who committed suicide In John c.
Fetzer's office after seriously
woundlng Mrs. Emma Deufex, has
been postponed until July 20. Tho
police have accomplished prac-
ticalIy nothing as to the motives
and events leading to the tragedy.
Mrs: Deufex hovers between life
and death at local hospital and
as her mind is apparently blank,
she has been unable to shed any
light on the mystery.
Mrs. Anna Rigdon, the widow,
arrived today from LaGrand, la.
She did not reach the undertaking
rooms until the inquest had been
postponed. She refused to discuss
the tragedy and hurriedIy left the
undertaking rooms.
Chicago, July i6.-Charles w. Rig.
don, a wealthy real estate dealer, IS
years Of age, who had been living at
the DeJonghe Hotel, yesterday after.
noon shot and severely wounded a
handsome woman giving the name OF
Emma Deufex, in the Office of John
C. Fetzer and Edward H. Peters, on
the eighth floor Of the Bedford build
ing, 215 Dearborn street, and then
fired five shots into his own body, in.
flicting wounds from which he died al
most instantly.
Although detectives attached to In
spector LAWNS Office worked on the
case until late last night, so many mys.
terious features were developed that
even the motive for the crime could
not be definitely ascertained. Two let
ters found in Rigdon's pockets. how
ever, shed light on the affair.
IneSe persons InvoIveo.
These letters, together with other
facts that the police were able to
gather, indicated that the following
persons were involved in or, way or
another:
Fetzer, John c., former receiver for
the defunct Milwaukee avenue State
Bank, and prominent as flnancier.
Peters, Edward H., Mr.. Fetzer's part
ner and former member Of the West
Park board.
Emma Deufex, the woman who was
shot
Wilson, Miss Mary, friend Of the
Deufex woman.
Rigdon, Charles W., the man who
did the shooting.
The reticence of all these persons
baffled ali inquiry last night. Mr.. Fet.
ger denied that he knew anything
about the case.
Mr.. Peters declined to make any
statement.
Miss Wilson declared that she only
had met casually the woman who was
shot, and that she did not know either
Peters or Rigdon.
Rigdon's victim declared at st.
Luke's hospital, where she was oper-
ated upon, that she had never seen
Rigdon before and that she knew OF
no motive for his act.
Quarrel at Parting.
The letters found in the pockets Of
the dead man tend to show that he and
the woman had been living together
and had quarreled. With their parting
some sort of settlement seems to
have been attempted. AS part of the
settlement, 1t appears Rigdon was to
pay her 500 month and to give her
stipulated amount of stock
in a company in which he was inter.
ested. Their quarrel seems to have
grown out of the fact that Rigdon hau
refused to longer live with her.
One Of the letters found In Rgdon's
possession was unsigned, and evident
ly was written by the woman whom
Rigdon shot. l. was addressed to John
C. Fetzer and had been mailed in Chi.
cago. How Rigdon came to have 1t in
his possession cannot be explained. It
is this letter which is believed to have
led up to the tragedy. Rigdon, it is
thought, showed it to the woman, de-
nounced her for writing it, and then
shot her.
Fetzer Denies knowledge.
Mr.. Fetzer was last night informed
as to the contents of the letter and
denied all knowledge Of 1t.
81 never saw Mrs. Deufex more
than twice in my life," declared Mr..
Fet.er.
when did you see herr" was
asked.
time ago."
did you ever receive this letter
from herr"
mo. never have seen. received or
heard of such a letter"
did you ever have any business