Albert Riggs, aged 35 years, 7 months and 14 days, was killed on last Sunday about 11 p.m. when his Ford car left the road, for some unknown reason, and plunged into a ditch by the roadside. He was caught under the car when it turned over and death was instantaneous.

Mr. and Mrs. Riggs and two children had been in Coldwater, coming to have the injured finger of their young child dressed. They left town about 10 p.m. for the Platt ranch, about 30 miles southeast of town, where Mr. Riggs had been working for several months.

The accident occurred when they were about a mile this side of the Fred Lenertz place. Mrs. Riggs suffered a broken arm, but the children were not hurt. Mrs. Riggs managed to walk to the Lenertz home, carrying her younger child and with the other clinging to her skirt.

Parties in Coldwater were notified and the Roberts-Phebus ambulance was at once sent to the scene of the accident. The body of Mr. Riggs was brought to the Roberts-Phebus funeral parlors, where it was kept until Tuesday afternoon, when funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church, the pastor, Rev. A. H. Shepard, being in charge. Burial was made in Crown Hill cemetery near this city.

Mr. Riggs had lived in this county for three years or more. He worked for nearly two years for Pete Cole and for a while for Karl G. Ehrlien, later working for Roy Platt. He was industrious and dependable and won friends wherever he was known. He had no near relatives, with the exception of a brother somewhere in Arkansas and a sister somewhere in Kentucky. Mr. Riggs' father lives somewhere in Arkansas.

Deceased was born in Lebanon, Ky., on September 19, 1895. In Jonesboro, Ark., in 1925, he was united in marriage with Miss Bessie Dunham, who survives him. He is also survived by two children - Sybil, aged three and one-half years, and Walter, aged 18 months. The sincere sympathy of all goes out to them in their sad bereavement.

Mr. Riggs enlisted for service in the World War on July 25, 1918, and was honorably discharged on December 24 of the same year. The local post of the American Legion had charge of the burial services. The firing squad fired a salute, and "Taps" was sounded at the grave.

On last Sunday night as Mr. Riggs, who has been employed at the Platt Ranch, was returning from Coldwater, accompanied by his wife and two children, the car which he was driving overturned, killing him instantly.

The accident occurred about a mile west of the Fred Lenertz place. It appears that the car was caused to leave the road by striking some deep ruts. It plunged over the embankment, overturned and pinned Mr. Riggs beneath it.

Death was instantaneous. Mrs. Riggs managed to extricate herself from the wreck and although she suffered a broken arm carried her 18 months old son and was followed by her three and one half year od daughter to the Lenertz home. The children were uninjured. Help was summoned from Coldwater and the body of the unfortunate man was taken to that place.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. A. B. Sheperd of the Coldwater Presbyterian church on Tuesday afternoon, and burial was in the Coldwater cemetery. The American Legion was in charge of the services at the cemetery and the body was laid to rest with full military honors.

Albert R. Riggs was born in Lebanon, Kentucky, September 19, 1895, and departed this life on May 3, 1931. At the time of his death he was 35 years, 7 months and 14 days of age.

Mr. Riggs enlisted for services in the World War on June 25, 1918, and received an honorable discharge on December 24 of the same year.

In 1925, he was married to Miss Bessie Dunham, who with two children survive him.

Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news articles to this web site!

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This page was created 06 August 2004 and last updated 28 January 2006.