Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-06-16
WOMAN IS SLAIN;
ROBBED. KIN SAY
Fortune and Gems of Mrs. Ora
RidgIey Sought.
HOME AT ASSUMPTION, ILL
Her travelling Companion, a Chicago
Woman, Keeps Silent, but Faces
Quiz-Mrs. RidgIey Died at
Hot Springs, Ark.

Pana, H., June 13.-Private detec-
tives have been retained by relatives
of the late Mrs. Ora Belle Downs
Ridgley, formerly of this city. to in
vestigate circumstances surrounding
her death at Hot Springs, Ark. last
Tuesday.
The investigation, it was announced
here, has yielded evidence tending to-
show she was murdered for money and
jewelry. Mrs. Ridgley who died penni-
less" according to reports, was at one
time reputed to be one of the wealth.
lest women in central Illinois.
Search for Best Friend.
investigation of Mrs. Ridgley's
death has been started by E. w. Hight,
banker of Assumption, on behalf of
Mrs. A. p. Pockey of Assumption,
sister of Mrs. Ridgley. When the body
of Mrs. Ridgley was brought TO AS
sumption for burial, woman, who ans
nounced she was Mrs. Ridgley's best
friend, accompanied it. In order that
this friend may be questioned, detec-
tives have been hired to find her. 1t
is believed she is in Chicago.
Mrs. Ridgley at one time owned
much real estate and railroad stock,
Financial transactions in which she
was involved were proved illegal in
court. She gained considerable no.
toriety, and A. B. Donaldson, former
Assumption minister, who was in
volved in the same transactions, which
included the defrauding of Mrs,
Ridgleys father of $4,000, was SEM
fenced to prison in Missouri as a re-
suit.
A year ago Mrs. Ridgley was living
in Chicago Her relatives estimate she
had then about 100000. Induced to
go to Melbourne, Fla, she purchased
hotel for $4,000, toward which she
paid $4,000 on October I, last, her
relatives say. Then she moved to Hot
Springs, Ark.
The exact amount Of money she still
possessed when she arrived in Hot
Springs is problematical, her relatives
declare, but it is known, they say, that
she had diamonds valued at 81 800, be-
side some stocks and bonds.
Chicago Detectives Employed.
Chicago, June 13.-ThreatS of blackl
mail, involving two men and a wom-
an, are said by county authorities to
have preceded the mysterious death of
Mrs. Ora Ridgley in a lonely cottage
lat Hot Springs, Ark, after her fortune
'of 100000 had disappeared. Investiga-
tion has been begun.
A trail of investments by the widow.
Heading from Illinois to Florida, is be-
ing followed in an effort to determines
the cause of death. This trai' shows
that just prior to her journey to Hot
Springs Mrs. Ridgley purchased for al
price said to be $4,000 a 2S-room
hotel at Melbourne, Fla.
Mrs. Horn to Be Questioned
It is said that this hctei is now
being operated by a daughter of Mrs.
Alice Horn, formerly Of 1924 n. La
Sale street, companion Of Mrs.
Ridgley when she died
Authorities, it is known, plan to-
question Mrs. Horn, who operated al
rooming house at the La Sale street
address and who is now at the Pail
mer House. She is said to nave ac.
companied Mrs. Ridgley to Hot Springs
from Florida several weeks ago and to
have rented the cottage in which DEATH
occurred. Later she appeared in AS
sumption with the body.
Notwithstanding that Mrs Horn re-
ported to the family that 1t was the
dead woman's request that her cof-
fin be not opened, authorities plan TO
exhume the remains and to examine
the death certificate signed at Hot
Springs.