Frances Williamson

Lady Murdered at Wheatland Sister of Local People

Mrs. Frances Williamson, 53-year-old motel operator of Wheatland, who with Walt Ackerblade, 55, was murdered at a Wheatland cafe Saturday night, was a sister of three Lusk people, D R. McCullough, Mrs. Edith Traphagan and Mrs. Lenora Cordell.

Clay (Tricky) Riggles, 53-year-old alleged killer of the two, was apprehended late Monday, ending a two-day search by Platte County sheriff's officers and volunteer posse members.

Funeral services were being held at Laramie at 2:00 o'clock Wednesday afternoon with burial there.

Mrs. Williamson and Ackerblade were riddled by seven of nine shots from a .22 caliber automatic rifle in the hands of Riggles, witnesses said. He walked into the quiet lunch room and up to the couple where he was quoted as saying, "Okay, I told you you were going to get it, now here it is."

Nine rapid shots interrupted any possible answers. Two of them struck Mrs. Williamson, one in the heart, and five hit Ackerblade.

After Riggles fled in a car, road blocks were thrown up even in the Lusk area. Word was received here at 8:20 and while Sheriff Ben Brown manned the county radio two road blocks were set up. Highway Patrolman R. E. Magee and Deputy Sheriff T. L. Cantwell went to the Meadows store in the Flattop area, and Patrolman M. S. Jordan and Deputy Game Warden I.B. Bartels formed a block at Lost Spring. Constant radio contact was maintained with Torrington, Douglas and Wheatland as well as Cheyenne and Laramie over the new radio hookup. The blocks were maintained until 4:00 a.m.

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