Murder of Ada Clark

26-year-old Nicholas Foley was in love with Effie Riggs, the sister of Ada Clark. One day Effie had quarreled and rejected Nick and he was not happy about it. He had been living at the Clarks home in Elgin, Nebraska on and off for the last two years. Mr. Clark had to kick him off the property and told him to never return. Before leaving Nicholas stated he was going to kill Henry Riggs (Effie and Ada's father) before the week was through. He had for the last He borrowed a revolver intending to kill himself with it. Instead, he realized that it would not bother Effie and her family.

Around 11 p.m. on June 19, 1889, Mr. Clark gave one of his children some medicine and went back to bed. Around midnight He woke up with a sharp pain in his side. He had been shot. He woke up asking, "Who is striking me?" Ada exclaimed with "Someone shot you!"

Mr. Clark then rose out of his bed and heard someone downstairs. He then put his bed against the door to prevent the shooter from getting inside. Ada heard someone climbing up to the window. She moved the curtain to look out and met eye to eye with a pistol held by Nicholas. He shot her in the face and killed her. He then tried to shoot Effie. He shot 4 times and missed every shot. He then left on one of the horses on the property.

It wasn't until the next morning when the family got help. Neighbors had heard screaming at the time of the murder, but didn't come. It wasn't until Henry Duvall heard the cries and found them.  A search for him ensued.  On June 22,  after Ada's funeral organized themselves and dispersed to look for him. He was arrested in Petersburg by Sherrif Beckwith.

When they were four miles east of Elgin they stayed with A.H. Palmer who was friends with Sherrif Beckwith. A lynch mob surrounded the home and took Nicholas. They refused to let Sherrif Beckwith leave and stop the lynching.

Nicholas knew that he would be killed, but when it came closer to the end he began to breakdown. The mob brought him to a bridge 300 yards away. He was then hung from the bridge and his neck was broken and it killed him. He was left hanging there till 5 when the corner came.

SOURCES:
Fremont Tribune- June 20, 1889
Omaha Daily Bee- June 23, 1889
The Herndon Courant- June 28, 1889
Democratic Advocate - June 29, 1889
The Semi-Weekly New Era- June 29, 1889
Nebraska State Journal- Feb 11, 1891