Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-19
Julia Flakes Startling
Story Results in Arrest
of Stepfather.
THOUGHT AN ACCIDENT
Mercer and Knox Counties Are
Aroused Over Sensation In
voIving Family.

Galesburg. Ill, Jan. 19.-Robert Hig
gins was arrested at Rio. near here
today. intensifying the sensa ion caus
ed yesterday when Higgins step
I daughter. Julia Flake, Is, told the
states attorneys of Knox and Mercer
counties the startling story of the
death of her mother, Mrs. Robert
Flake Higgins. Jan. 3 last. The coro-
ner's jury held that death was due to
! the accidental discharge of shotgun
Higgins was cleaning. II is said the
girl implicated herself and her male
relative in the conspiracy to kill Mrs.
Higgins.
GalesbUrg. Ill, Jan. 19.-Ju.ia Flake,
10 years of age. and a member of a
prominent Galesburg family, yester-
day made a statement under oath
concerning the death of her mother.
Mrs. Robert Flake Higgins of North
Henderson, which may result in an
Investigation OF that tragedy On the
theory that the woman was not killed
accidentally, as a coroner's jury de-
cided. but murdered as the result of a
conspiracy.
The girls statement was made in
the presence of States Attorneys A. J.
Boutelle and John VI. Wilson OF Knox
and Mercer counties, 1t is said to in
volve herself and a relative-a man.
II contains so many sensational fea-
,tures that Mr.. Boutelle and Mr.. Wilson
are accepting Il with caution. The
girl has been placed in the care OF an
uncle, C. w. Ernst OF lis North Farm
ham street, who has the confidence
nf the prosecutors.
Chicago Detective at Work.
Miss Flake was taken into custody
by Detective Hopper of the Mcguire
and White Detective agency of Chi
cago and States Attorney Wilson.
She was found at the home Of another
uncle. A. ]. Ernst at Hermon. Hopper
had been brought into the case Sat
urday when Mr.. Wilson went to Chi
cago and engaged his services.
The detention of the girl was
brought about by Mr.. Wilson after an
which was based upon
two letters and which covered the
greater part of last week These let
ters are said TO have been written by |
Miss Fake before the death of her |
mother. In them. az is said, she Of |
fered 10 pay her uncle, c. w. Ernst. 4
a part of a legacy OF $1,000 she was to |
receive when she was of age provided /
lc would help kill her mother.
The direct request to assist in MUIR
Ter Is said TO have been made in these
No motive was men
Toned. The girl uses the phrase Il
,sn't stand IL any longer" il is assert
ID, but her relatives supply the infor-
nation that she was in love with the
nan who is suspected OF participating
n the conspiracy. il there was one.
First Letter TO Cousin?
The first OF these two letters was
written last October. II was address
ID TO her cousin. a daughter of c. W.
Ernst. The second letter is said to
lave been written to Ernst himself.
II the first letter Miss Fake is said
o have asked her cousin 10 make the
ffer OF blood money to her uncle. In
lie second letter she is said 10 have
made the offer to Ernst direct.
Erns; did not place these. letters in
he hands of the authorities until last Z
eek. The death of Mrs. Higgins oc-
urred Jan. .. Ernst did not tes-
Ify before the coroner's jury. aid the
Nir'ence of the letters was not sus-
ected until Ernst suddenly appeared
4 the o%ice OF a local attorney with
nth them.
The KEox county authorities were
Snsulted and Erns: was finally re- ,
erred 20 States Attorney Wilson,
orth Henderson. where Mrs. Hig
ins died. being in Mercer county and
nder his jurisdiction.
Killed by Gunshot Wound.
Mrs. Higgins was shot TO death.
he LsaeGy occurred in her hous= at ,
time when she. her daughter. and the
rl's stepfather were there. Accord !
lg TO the stories told by Hisg-ns rnd
Iiss Flake before thescoro1er. His !
Ins was cleaning a shotgun when IT !
as accidentally discharged. Tie J
,ntents OF the gun took effect in the
oman's body and she died before a q
lysician reached her side. >
After his wife's death Higgins ap- =
cared TO be I'm great grief and threat II
led TO kill himseI He demanded Z
e gun with which he had shot his [
ife. but the neighbors. who had rush 2
In. kept him from getting II. a