? @itry together. After holding up a Scranton Brug store, they went
/ to Wilkes Barre where they robbed a house of prostitution, Nelson :
}, was recognized by an acquatintance in Wilkes Barre and taken into cus-
tody and theother three young men returned to Scranton where, on the
night of April 1, Riggs and Skaw&hski borrowed Bader's car, leaving
him at the pool room, and drove around looking for a place to rob,
‘. They noticed that at the # and P Store at Prescott and Olive, only
~the manager and one customer were inside and they entered with pis-
tols drawn, Riggs covered the manager while Skaminski covered the
customer who turned out to be Detective Lt. Lewis Roberts, Roberts
rushed Skawinski and ams threw him to the floor, . While they stru-
ggled for the weapon, Riggs struck Roberts over the head twice and
this stunned him to the extent that Skawinski was able to rise to
his feet and he shot the detective through the abdomen inflicting a
wound from which he died the next dgy. Both men fled the store and
when Riggs reached the car first, he drove off leaving Skawinski who
fled on foot down an alley. Riggs returned to the pool room and
Bader took him out of town where he hopped a freight to New York and
his sister there gave him money for bus fare to Cleveland, Ohio,
where he checked into the WMCA, Skawinski returned to the pool room
later and Bader took him out of town where he caught a freight train
to Port Morris, N. Je, where he was arrested by a railroad detective.
While the detéctive was driving him to the station for investigation,
He
ditry tovether. After holding up a Scranton Brug store, they went |
to Wilkes Barre where they robbed a house of prostitution, Nelson
. was recognized by an acquatntance in Wilkes Barre and taken into cus-|
tody and theother three young men returned to Scranton where, on the
night of April 1, Riggs and SkawStski borrowed Bader's car, leaving
him at the pool room, and drove around looking for a place to rob.
. They noticed that at the # and P Store at Prescott and Olive, only
~the manager and one customer were inside and they entered with pis-
tols drawn. Riggs covered the manager while Skaminski covered the
customer who turned out to be Detective Lt. Lewis Roberts, Roberts
rushed Skawinski and axm threw him to the floor, . While they stru-
ggled for the weapon, Riggs struck Roberts over the head twice and
this stunned him to the extent that Skawinski was able to rise to
his feet and he shot the detective through the abdomen inflicting a
wound from which he died the next dgy. Both men fled the store and
when Riggs reached the-car first, he drove off leaving Skawinski who
fled on foot down an alley. Riggs returned to the pool room and
Bader took him out of town where he hopped a freight to New York and
his sister there gave him money for bus fare to Cleveland, Ohio,
where he checked into the WMCA, Skawinski returned to the pool room
later and Bader took him out of town where he caught a freight train
fo Port Morris, N. Je, where he was arrested by a railroad detective.
While the detéctive was driving him to the station for investigation,
” ditry together, After holding up a Scranton Brug store, they went |
7 to Wilkes Barre where they robbed a house of prostitution, Nelson
4, was Tecognized by an acquaintance in Wilkes Barre and taken into cus-|
tody and theother three young men returned to Scranton where, on the
night of April 1, Riggs and Skawaiski borrowed Bader's car, leaving
him ab the pool room, and drove around looking for 2 place to robs
They noticed thet at the # and P Store at Prescott and Olive, only
the manager and one customer were inside and they entered with pis-
tols dram. Riggs covered the manager while Skaminski covered the
customer who turned out to be Detective Lt, Lewis Roberts, Roberts
rushed Skewinski and mx threw him to the floor, . Vhile they stru-
geled for the weapon, Riggs struck Roberts over the head twice and
this stunned him to the extent that Skawinski was able to rise to
his feet and he shot the detective through the abdomen inflicting a
wound from which he died the next day. Both men fled the store and
when Riggs reached the-car first, he drove off leaving Skawinski who
fled on foot down an alley. Riggs returned to the pool room and
Bader took him out of ton vhere he hopped a freight to New York and
his sister there gave him money for bus fare to Cleveland, Ohio,
where he checked into the WMCA, Skawinski returned to the pool, roon
Jater and Bader took him out of town where he caught a freight train
£5 Bort Morris, Nv Js, where he was arrested by a railroad detective,
While the detéctive was driving him to the station for invest igation,|
RIGGS and SKAWVINSKI, Pennsylvania-continued,
he stopped at an automobile accident and Skawinski drove off in his
care The detective gave pursuit and took him into custody at aNet-
cong restaurant where he had stopped to eat, He was lodged in jail
on charges of stealing the car when the bulletin arrived from Scran+
ton concerning the murder of Roberts md he was returned there on
April 7. On that day, the police received a tip that Riggs was stay-
ing in the Cleveland YMCA under the name of John Scanlon and he was
arrested while sleepigg-in his room there, Both KEK#X men confessed
with each naming Skawinski as the triggermen and their request for a
vhange of venue was denied, Skawinski was tried first, convicted and
senterced to die and later that week Riggs was also convicted and
meted the death penalty. Bader, the owner of the car, was convicted
of second degree murder and sehtenced to 10-to-20 years imprisonmert,
Both Skawinski and Riggs unsuccessfully appealed to the Pennsylvania
Supreme Court and on March 5, 193h, they were electrocuted at the
Pennsylvania State Prison, Both men put up brave fronts, but it was
evidentig that they nervously awaited their e i ee
Bfeet pallywaleted 15) ao) the eimeior Tia erect, Tan ee Cay
following year he fell in weight to 100 pounds while the taller and
heavier Riggs who had weighed 165 pounds when arrested fropped to
ty
RIGGS and SKAWWINSKI, Pennsylvania-continued, ‘i
ee ‘
he stopped at an automobile accident and Skawinski drove.off in hiss. q
car. The detective gave pursuit and took him into custody at aNet-
cong restaurant where he had stopped to eat. He was lodged in jail
on charges of stealing the car when the bulletin arrived from Scran’
ton concerning the murder of Roberts md he was returned there on
April 7. On that day, the police received a tip that Riggs was stay-
ing in the Cleveland YMCA under the name of John Scanlon and he was
arrested while sleepipg-~in his room there, Both XKKAX men confessed
with each naming Skawinski as the triggermen and their request for a
whange of venue was denied, Skawinski was tried first, convicted and
senterced to die and later that week Riggs was also convicted and
meted the death penalty. Bader, the owner of the car, was convicted
of second degree murder and sehtenced to 10-to-20 years imprisonment.
Both Skawinski and Riggs unsuccessfully appealed to the Pennsylvania
Supreme Court and on March 5, 193, they were electrocuted at the
Pennsylvania State Prison, Both men put up brave fronts, but it was
evidentix: that they nervously awai: j .
5 feet Co gceren: 135 at one ey oe ee seed Sie va 3 ne ee
following year he fell in weight to 100 pounds while the taller and
heavier Riggs who had weighed 165 pounds when arrested fropped to
RIGGS and SKAWINSKI, Pennsylvania-continued,
hé stopped att an automobile accident and Scawinski drove off in hiss.
car, The detective gave pursuit and took him into custody at aNet-
cong restaurant where he had stopped to eat. He was lodged in jail
on charges of stealing the car when the bulletin arrived from Scran<
ton concerning the murder of Roberts ad he was returned there on
On that day, the police received a tip that Riggs was stay-
John Scanlon and he was
HEKAX men confessed
or 8
uhange of venue was denied, Skawinski was tried first, convicted and
senterced to die and later that week Riggs was also convicted and
meted the death penalty. :
of second degree mirder and settenced to 10=to~20 years imprisonment.
Both Skawinski and Riggs unsuccessfully appealed to the Pennsylvania
Supreme Court and on March §, 193i, they were electrocuted at the
Pennsylvania State Prison, Both men put up brave fronts, but it was
evidentix that they nervously ayaited their « :
G fect telljacighba 196 au tha tine er ROS OD, Gefen gee
following year he fell in weight to 100 pounds while the taller and
heavier Higgs who had weighed 165 pounds when arrested @ropped to
April 7.
ing in the Cleveland YMCA under the name of
ile sleepipg-in his room there. Both
ey eae Seer Eee
a seer Es aos rs
| 135 pounds. During the two days while they were in the death house
*’ at Rockview Prison, they ate little and on the last night of their
', Lives they were unable to sleep, tossing restlessly in their cots,
«7 okawinski, pale and nervous, entered the death chamber first at
. 7:01 AM and at 7:05, as his body was being rolled out, Riggs, ghastly
were entered and took his seat in the chair, nervously repeating
“the prayers of the chaplain, Both bodies were turned over to under-
takers and Riggs was buried at Scranton while Skawinski was buried
at Portland, Me,
SCRANTON TIMES, Scranton, Pas, 302, 3-3, 3-5-193l. (Photo of both
ment on page one, issue of 3-5)
169 artantte 895, 896
1
by oe
' 135 pounds. During the two days while they were in the death house
at Rockview Prison, they ate little and on the last night of their
., Lives they were unable to sleep, tossing restlessly in their cots,
Skawinski, pale and nervous, entered the death chamber first at
. 7:01 AM and at 7:05, as his body was being rolled out, Riggs, ghastly
4 Mattes entered and took his seat in the chair, nervously repeating
Sone prayers of the chaplain, Both bodies were turned over to under~
takers and Riggs was buried at Scranton while Skawinski was buried
at Portland, Me,
SCRANTON TIMES, Scranton, Pas, 302, 3-3, 325-193. (Photo of both
ment on page one, issue of 3-5)
169 artanric 895, 896
‘135 pounds. During the two days while they were in the death house
at Rockview Prison, they ate little and on the last night of their
) Lives thay were unable to sleep, tossing restlesely in their cots,
» pale and Bowens, entered the death chamber first at
F 5 s his body was being rolled out, Riggs, ghast
white, entered and oe his seat in the chair, nervously, repeating
“the prayers of the chaplain, Both bodies @eve turned over to under-
takers and Rigs was buried at Scranton while Skawinski was buried
at Portland,
SCRANTON TIMES, Scranton,. “Pals 302, 3-3, 3-5-1931. (Photo of both
3-8)
meni on page one, issue o
169 artantic 895, 896
55, 056
RIGGS, John Joseph and SKAWINSKI, Waldace (shorty m\ fs ), 97! ri
Riggs, 2B-years-old, was a white native of Scranton, Pa., whose pa-, a
rents moved with their ten children to a farm near Moscow when he —
was XH S-years-old, When he was li, his parents separated and his
mother took the ten children to New York City where he quit school «#
at 18 and worked as a street car conductor, in a factory and finally
in a store, In 1931 he and a companion held up a laundry truck in
Jamiaca and he was sentenced to a term of 7 to 1h years in prison and
sent to Sing Sing, . There he met Skawinski, born in New York City on
Sept. 16, 1910, whose parents had moved to a farmat Colchester, Conn,,
HMXXEXWA when he was 8-years-old. At 15, Skawinski quit school and
went to work with a construction crew. He then ran away from home
and worked ina Hartford factary before pees to New York City
where he was arrested and sentenced to 5-to-10 years in prison after
holding up a taxi driver in Westchester County. Both men were trans-
ferred to the Comstock Prison Farm after serving less than a year in
Sing Sing and on March 1, 1933, they were again transferred to Wal-
kill Farms near Highland, an honor institution with neither walls nor
bars, On March 29, while on a hike with other prisoners, they and a
third convict, John Nelson, ace and made their way t6 Scranton
where they mef a man named’Paul Bader in a pool room, Bader owned an
automobile and the four young men decided to enter a career of ban-~
RIGGS, John Joseph and SKAWINSKI, Walaace ("Shorty") YS/ 174 4
»
Riggs, 2B-years-old, was a white native of Scranton, Pa., whose pa-
rents moved with their ten children to a farm near Moscow when he
was XH 5-years-old, When he was li, his parents separated and his
mother took the ten children to New York City where he ouit school #
at 18 and worked as a street car conductor, in a factory and finally
in a store, In 1931 he and a companion held up a laundry truck in
Jamiaca and he was sentenced to a term of 7 to 1h years in prison and
sent to Sing Sing. . There he met Skawinski, born in New York City on
Sept. 16, 1910, whose parents had moved to a farmat Colchester, Conn,
WHXXEXKA when he was 8B-years-old, At 15, Skawinski quit school and
went to work with a construction crew. He then ran away from home
and worked ina Hartford factory before returning to New York City
where he was arrested and sentenced to 5-to-10 years in prison after
holding up a taxi driver in Westchester County. Both men were trans-
ferred to the Comstock Prison Farm after serving less than a year in
Sing Sing and on March 1, 1933, they were again transferred to Wal-
kill Farms near Highland, an honor institution with neither walls nor
bars, On March 29, while on a hike with other prisoners, they and a
third convict, John Nelson, escaped and made their way t8 Scranton
where they mef a man named’Paul Bader in a pool room, Bader owned an
automobile and the four young men decided to enter a career of ban~
RIGGS, John Joseph and SKAWINSKI, Waldace ("Shorty") YS 1, a
Rigge, 2Beyears-old, was 2 white native of Scranton, Pa., whose po-,',
ts moved with their ten children to a farm near Moscow when he
arents separated and his
y vhere he cuit school +
ee WW Seyears-old, When he was li, his
mother took the ten children to New York
at 18 and worked as a street car conductor, in a factory and finally
store, In 1931 he and a companion held up a laundry truck in
8 's in prison and|
There he met Skawinski, born in New York City on
d to a farmat Colchester, Conn,
sent to Sing Sing,
Sept, 16, 1910, whose parents had mover
SMO HXMH when he was 8-years-old. itt 15, Skawinski quit school and
went to work with a construction crew. He then ran away from home
and worked ina Hartford factory before returning to New York City
where he was arrested and stntenced to 5-to-10 years in prison aft
HOR boli Goel iis Benno acne, a ee
ferred to the Comstock Prison Farm after serving less than a year in
Sing Sing and on March 1933, they were again transferred to Wal-
Kil] Farms near Highland, an honor institution with neither
On March 29, ybile on a hike with other prisoners
Johh Nelson, escaped an ie th a
named’ Pail Bader ina Bool Toot, an
automobile and the four young men decided to enter a career of ban-
