The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1913-04-04
MGR. KLINE SHOOTS
SUPT. {. F. RIGGS
Unfortunate Affair Took Place Wednes-
Night-BeIieyed to Be Due to
Mental Worry

The shooting of F. c. Riggs, in the
Tumwater Savings Bank, Wednesday
evening, by F. ]. Kline, was most
unfortunate and universally regretted
affair. Regretted because of the promi-
nence OF the parties and because OF the
circumstances under which the shoot
ing occurred. That Mr.. Kline was suf-
fering from temporary dementia is the
generally accepted opinion of all those
who know him. They have the best OF
reasons for believing that there could
have been no other than fancied
wrong on the part Of Mr.. Kline. Mr..
Kline is general manager of the entire
interests of the Lamb-Davis Lumber
Co., coming here from Spokane some
time the fore part OF last summer. Mr.
Riggs is superintendent Of the manu-
featuring department. embracing the
large saw mill, planning mill and box
factory. In addition to these above
mentioned there is the bank, the Wen
atchee Valley & Northern railway and
large logging interests, seventy-odd
sections OF land and considerable town
property, all of which is under the di-
rection of Mr.. Kline. During January
and February the company had some
fifteen logging outfits, employing over
two hundred men in the woods, all OF
which caused endless worry because
weather conditions made logging very
expensive. During the three winter
months there was spent under his di-
rection some thirty-odd thousand dol
lars in making Improvements and
changes in the saw mill and box factory.
The plan of operation during this year
contemplated running the mill day and
night to its fullest capacity, All OF
this told on Mr.. Kline, who is nearing
sixty-four. He has at times complained
of not feeling well. He was, according
to the belief of all who would be ex-
pected to know, laboring under men
tai strain which brought on temporary
alteration.
He was in the bank Office about
1880 Wednesday evening in consulta-
ton with Geo. L. Gardner, the gen.
eral sales manager of the company
when Mr.. Riggs came to the door.
Mr.. Kline told him not to come in or
he would shoot him. Mr.. Riggs did
not take this remark seriously and Mr..
Kline, using 38 caliber revolver shot,
the ball taking effect near the point
and on top OF the left shoulder,
ploughing its way under the skin some
four inches, making a painful but not
serious flesh wound. He left the bank
and walked to the Overland hotel,
where he secured room and was at
tended by Doctors Judah and Elmer.
The bullet was located and removed in
a short time without much difficulty.
F. c. Riggs is man about AZ years
of age and came here from Minnea-
polls last fall to look over the plant,
returning about the first of January to
remain permanently. Mr.. Kline and
Mr.. Riggs have since occupied the
Petrol Davis residence, employing a
housekeeper, and if there ever has
been the slightest friction no one seems
to know anything about it. On the
morning of the day of the shooting
they had frequent business conferences
and were overheard making light, good
natured remarks to each other.
Mr.. Kline formerly lived at Spokane
and before coming here was manager
of the Mechanics Loan & Trust Co.
His family consists of wife and
daughter. Mr.. Riggs family is in
Minneapolis, and was to have been
here soon to spend the summer.