A West Texas gunfighter, Riggs originally hailed from Arkansas, where he was born on December 18, 1856. The second of seven children born to Thomas and Hannah Felton Riggs, the family moved to Texas shortly after his birth. There, the family would begin a history of violence that would last for decades. Not only would Barney grow up to be violent man, but, several of his brothers and descendants would as well.
1902
FRONTIER CHARACTER IS GONE
Barney Riggs, Feudist and Fighter is Killed at Fort Stockton.
El Paso, Tex., April 9, 1902 News has reached this city of the killing in Fort Stockton of Barney Riggs, frontiersman, feudist and killer. Riggs was a prominent cattleman of that section. He was shot five times and instantly killed. The killing is the outcome of a family quarrel.
Twenty years ago Riggs and his bride went to Arizona. There he became a, cowboy and during the intervals of his absence from the ranch owner's camp on round-ups Riggs' employer wronged him, and so it came about that Riggs, in good old Texas style, speedily killed the rancher.
Riggs was given a life sentence at Yuma. One day a half dozen convicts sought to kill the warden. Armed with knives, they made a murderous attack upon their keeper, but Riggs rushing unarmed into the thick of the fight, hurled a rioter to the floor. Grasping the man's knife, he fought until two desperadoes were killed. The guards rushing up, saw Riggs with the dagger upheld and fired but missed. Riggs was forthwith pardoned. Coming back to Texas he was married to Mrs. Johnson, a sister of Bud Frazer, who was then the Sheriff of Reeves County. He became a prominent rancher. Frazer had a deputy with whom he fell out, and then was become a prolonged, battle and celebrated feud. Twice their were duels on the Streets of Pecos, and the deputy was twice wounded, but in the meantime Con Gibson, a brother of the present District Clerk of Reeves County and a friend and deputy to Frazer, was killed by a cousin of Frazer's enemy, living at Eddy, N. M.
At an election was defeated and moved over into New Mexico. He came to El Paso, but went back to Reeves County and ran for office again. His former deputy hearing of this, went there and opening the door to a saloon, discharged both barrels of a shotgun into Frazer's body, killing him instantly. The circus came to Pecos, and so did Riggs; likewise John Denson and a friend bearing a reliable gun. Meeting Riggs in a saloon, one of them made a gun play, and so did Riggs, and when the smoke had cleared away a man named Earheart and Denson had bullets in their brains. Something bloodier would be doing at Pecos folks thought, with Frazer' deputy should meet Riggs, for both were good shots.
The meeting never came but in its stead was another, and Riggs, man-killer, hero of the Insurrection at the territorial prison, fearless, intrepid, met death at the hands of a heartless boy, with whom he was romantically related. (Unknown Source)
El Paso, Tex. April 9, The History of one of the worst feuds In western Texas was recalled last night when news was received here of the killing at Fort Stockton of Barney Riggs, a prominent cattleman, frontiersman, feudist and fighter. Riggs was shot five times and instantly killed by "Buck" Chadborn, also a cattleman, son of ex-Sheriff Chadborn of Jeff Davis county and son-in-law of Riggs. The killing is said to have been the outcome of a family quarrel. (Unknown Source)
(Contributed by WichitaFalls)
Legends of America - Barney Riggs
1902
FRONTIER CHARACTER IS GONE
Barney Riggs, Feudist and Fighter is Killed at Fort Stockton.
El Paso, Tex., April 9, 1902 News has reached this city of the killing in Fort Stockton of Barney Riggs, frontiersman, feudist and killer. Riggs was a prominent cattleman of that section. He was shot five times and instantly killed. The killing is the outcome of a family quarrel.
Twenty years ago Riggs and his bride went to Arizona. There he became a, cowboy and during the intervals of his absence from the ranch owner's camp on round-ups Riggs' employer wronged him, and so it came about that Riggs, in good old Texas style, speedily killed the rancher.
Riggs was given a life sentence at Yuma. One day a half dozen convicts sought to kill the warden. Armed with knives, they made a murderous attack upon their keeper, but Riggs rushing unarmed into the thick of the fight, hurled a rioter to the floor. Grasping the man's knife, he fought until two desperadoes were killed. The guards rushing up, saw Riggs with the dagger upheld and fired but missed. Riggs was forthwith pardoned. Coming back to Texas he was married to Mrs. Johnson, a sister of Bud Frazer, who was then the Sheriff of Reeves County. He became a prominent rancher. Frazer had a deputy with whom he fell out, and then was become a prolonged, battle and celebrated feud. Twice their were duels on the Streets of Pecos, and the deputy was twice wounded, but in the meantime Con Gibson, a brother of the present District Clerk of Reeves County and a friend and deputy to Frazer, was killed by a cousin of Frazer's enemy, living at Eddy, N. M.
At an election was defeated and moved over into New Mexico. He came to El Paso, but went back to Reeves County and ran for office again. His former deputy hearing of this, went there and opening the door to a saloon, discharged both barrels of a shotgun into Frazer's body, killing him instantly. The circus came to Pecos, and so did Riggs; likewise John Denson and a friend bearing a reliable gun. Meeting Riggs in a saloon, one of them made a gun play, and so did Riggs, and when the smoke had cleared away a man named Earheart and Denson had bullets in their brains. Something bloodier would be doing at Pecos folks thought, with Frazer' deputy should meet Riggs, for both were good shots.
The meeting never came but in its stead was another, and Riggs, man-killer, hero of the Insurrection at the territorial prison, fearless, intrepid, met death at the hands of a heartless boy, with whom he was romantically related. (Unknown Source)
El Paso, Tex. April 9, The History of one of the worst feuds In western Texas was recalled last night when news was received here of the killing at Fort Stockton of Barney Riggs, a prominent cattleman, frontiersman, feudist and fighter. Riggs was shot five times and instantly killed by "Buck" Chadborn, also a cattleman, son of ex-Sheriff Chadborn of Jeff Davis county and son-in-law of Riggs. The killing is said to have been the outcome of a family quarrel. (Unknown Source)
(Contributed by WichitaFalls)
Legends of America - Barney Riggs
A West Texas gunfighter, Riggs originally hailed from Arkansas, where he was born on December 18, 1856. The second of seven children born to Thomas and Hannah Felton Riggs, the family moved to Texas shortly after his birth. There, the family would begin a history of violence that would last for decades. Not only would Barney grow up to be violent man, but, several of his brothers and descendants would as well.
1902
FRONTIER CHARACTER IS GONE
Barney Riggs, Feudist and Fighter is Killed at Fort Stockton.
El Paso, Tex., April 9, 1902 News has reached this city of the killing in Fort Stockton of Barney Riggs, frontiersman, feudist and killer. Riggs was a prominent cattleman of that section. He was shot five times and instantly killed. The killing is the outcome of a family quarrel.
Twenty years ago Riggs and his bride went to Arizona. There he became a, cowboy and during the intervals of his absence from the ranch owner's camp on round-ups Riggs' employer wronged him, and so it came about that Riggs, in good old Texas style, speedily killed the rancher.
Riggs was given a life sentence at Yuma. One day a half dozen convicts sought to kill the warden. Armed with knives, they made a murderous attack upon their keeper, but Riggs rushing unarmed into the thick of the fight, hurled a rioter to the floor. Grasping the man's knife, he fought until two desperadoes were killed. The guards rushing up, saw Riggs with the dagger upheld and fired but missed. Riggs was forthwith pardoned. Coming back to Texas he was married to Mrs. Johnson, a sister of Bud Frazer, who was then the Sheriff of Reeves County. He became a prominent rancher. Frazer had a deputy with whom he fell out, and then was become a prolonged, battle and celebrated feud. Twice their were duels on the Streets of Pecos, and the deputy was twice wounded, but in the meantime Con Gibson, a brother of the present District Clerk of Reeves County and a friend and deputy to Frazer, was killed by a cousin of Frazer's enemy, living at Eddy, N. M.
At an election was defeated and moved over into New Mexico. He came to El Paso, but went back to Reeves County and ran for office again. His former deputy hearing of this, went there and opening the door to a saloon, discharged both barrels of a shotgun into Frazer's body, killing him instantly. The circus came to Pecos, and so did Riggs; likewise John Denson and a friend bearing a reliable gun. Meeting Riggs in a saloon, one of them made a gun play, and so did Riggs, and when the smoke had cleared away a man named Earheart and Denson had bullets in their brains. Something bloodier would be doing at Pecos folks thought, with Frazer' deputy should meet Riggs, for both were good shots.
The meeting never came but in its stead was another, and Riggs, man-killer, hero of the Insurrection at the territorial prison, fearless, intrepid, met death at the hands of a heartless boy, with whom he was romantically related. (Unknown Source)
El Paso, Tex. April 9, The History of one of the worst feuds In western Texas was recalled last night when news was received here of the killing at Fort Stockton of Barney Riggs, a prominent cattleman, frontiersman, feudist and fighter. Riggs was shot five times and instantly killed by "Buck" Chadborn, also a cattleman, son of ex-Sheriff Chadborn of Jeff Davis county and son-in-law of Riggs. The killing is said to have been the outcome of a family quarrel. (Unknown Source)
(Contributed by WichitaFalls)
Legends of America - Barney Riggs
1902
FRONTIER CHARACTER IS GONE
Barney Riggs, Feudist and Fighter is Killed at Fort Stockton.
El Paso, Tex., April 9, 1902 News has reached this city of the killing in Fort Stockton of Barney Riggs, frontiersman, feudist and killer. Riggs was a prominent cattleman of that section. He was shot five times and instantly killed. The killing is the outcome of a family quarrel.
Twenty years ago Riggs and his bride went to Arizona. There he became a, cowboy and during the intervals of his absence from the ranch owner's camp on round-ups Riggs' employer wronged him, and so it came about that Riggs, in good old Texas style, speedily killed the rancher.
Riggs was given a life sentence at Yuma. One day a half dozen convicts sought to kill the warden. Armed with knives, they made a murderous attack upon their keeper, but Riggs rushing unarmed into the thick of the fight, hurled a rioter to the floor. Grasping the man's knife, he fought until two desperadoes were killed. The guards rushing up, saw Riggs with the dagger upheld and fired but missed. Riggs was forthwith pardoned. Coming back to Texas he was married to Mrs. Johnson, a sister of Bud Frazer, who was then the Sheriff of Reeves County. He became a prominent rancher. Frazer had a deputy with whom he fell out, and then was become a prolonged, battle and celebrated feud. Twice their were duels on the Streets of Pecos, and the deputy was twice wounded, but in the meantime Con Gibson, a brother of the present District Clerk of Reeves County and a friend and deputy to Frazer, was killed by a cousin of Frazer's enemy, living at Eddy, N. M.
At an election was defeated and moved over into New Mexico. He came to El Paso, but went back to Reeves County and ran for office again. His former deputy hearing of this, went there and opening the door to a saloon, discharged both barrels of a shotgun into Frazer's body, killing him instantly. The circus came to Pecos, and so did Riggs; likewise John Denson and a friend bearing a reliable gun. Meeting Riggs in a saloon, one of them made a gun play, and so did Riggs, and when the smoke had cleared away a man named Earheart and Denson had bullets in their brains. Something bloodier would be doing at Pecos folks thought, with Frazer' deputy should meet Riggs, for both were good shots.
The meeting never came but in its stead was another, and Riggs, man-killer, hero of the Insurrection at the territorial prison, fearless, intrepid, met death at the hands of a heartless boy, with whom he was romantically related. (Unknown Source)
El Paso, Tex. April 9, The History of one of the worst feuds In western Texas was recalled last night when news was received here of the killing at Fort Stockton of Barney Riggs, a prominent cattleman, frontiersman, feudist and fighter. Riggs was shot five times and instantly killed by "Buck" Chadborn, also a cattleman, son of ex-Sheriff Chadborn of Jeff Davis county and son-in-law of Riggs. The killing is said to have been the outcome of a family quarrel. (Unknown Source)
(Contributed by WichitaFalls)
Legends of America - Barney Riggs
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