The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-24
Passed Away at Five O'clock
This Morning At Cook
Hospital.
UNCONSCIOUS TILL END
TIME OF FUNERAL NOT YET AN.
NouNcEo BUT WILL BE HELD
FROM HIS HOME,

Constable William Ross Riggs, aged
AZ, of 221 Spring street. died this
morning at 5 o'clock in Cook Hospital
from injuries received In the strike
riot near Pennington last Saturday
afternoon.
An autopsy to reveal the exact ma.
ture OF the injuries which resulted in
his death was conducted today in
the county morgue by DR.. J. j. Dur
rett, Mr.. Riggs private physician,
and DR.. J. w. Mcdonald, superinten-
dent OF the Miners hospital. Many
other physicians Of Fairmont were
present and assisted In the autopsy.
From the time that he received his
injuries on Saturday afternoon, and
was taken to the hospital, very little
hope was had for his recovery. Flis
skull was crushed to such an extent
that several operations were neces-
sary to relieve the pressure from the
brain. Although these operations ap.
peared to be successful in removing
the blood clots, still the wounded man
never regained consciousness from the
time lie was found in the farmers
house near Pennington until his
death.
While the pulse and temperature Of
the officer were at times near normal,
hts many friends had some hope Of
his ultimate recovery, but late last
evening the word was sent from the
hospital that his condition had taken
a turn for the worse and very little
hope was entertained for his survival
until morning.
Mr.. Riggs was born In st. Clairs.
vile, Ohio, and was educated in tn.
public schools. He same to the Fair
mont district at an early age and at
first worked as conductor on the
Wheeling division OF the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, after which he
was promoted to yardmaster here. He
held this position for 16 years until he
was elected constable. He served one
term as constable and was elected for
second term. which he was serving
at the time Of his death.
Constable Riggs was conscientious
officer and always performed the du.
ties imposed upon him by the majesty
OF the law without respect to persons.
During the last few months since the
state went dry much OF his time has
been devoted in enforcing the prohi.
bition laws and the excellent condi.
tion OF Marion county at the present
time In being free Of bootleggers is
mostly due to his energetic efforts
in hunting down the law breakers
and bringing them before court OF
Justice.
Mr.. Riggs was a member Of the
following orders: Baltimore lodge,
No. 6. knights of Pythias, OF Wheel.
ing; Pythian Sisters, Hermann TEN.
Pile No. l, Wheeling: Order Of Rail-
road Conductors, at Fairmont; Royal
Arcanum of Fairmont, and grand
chaplain Of the state organization;
Ancient Order of United Workmen,
and the Order. Of Owls.
Surviving Mr.. Riggs are his wife,
Mrs. Mary A. Riggs one son, Sterling
Richard Riggs. aged 49, a student in
the University Of Pittsburgh: one
daughter, Mary Wilma, aged 2 years;
two sisters, Mrs. Francis Morris, OF
McMechem. ". Va, and Mrs. r. E.
stimmel, Of Cameron, W. Va, and
one brother, Charles H. Riggs, of
Cherokee, Iowa.
Both sisters and the son as we'll
as the wife have been constantly at
the bedside Of the wounded man and
the brother has been summoned from
Cherokee.
The funeral services will be held
from the residence. 221 Spring street.
The Rev. DR.. Il. @. stoetzer, pastor
Of the Presbyterian church, will con.
duct the services, assisted by the Rev.
DR.. Howard, pastor Of the First Meth.
odist Episcopal. Undertaken e. Il.
Cunningham is In charge OF the ar.
rangements.
The Weather