Chapter 24 - Kerrigan Moves To Virginia
Despite
his attempts to get a job via Gowen, Pleasants, and even Kaercher, James Kerrigan
found himself, “in a reduced condition at
present myself and family, and no prospect of any supper.” (Riffenburgh,
page 163). Franklin Gowen, the President of the Reading Railroad Company, had
offered a reward of ten thousand dollars (according to US Bureau of Labor
Statistics the equivalent of $240,000.00) for information leading to the
detection and conviction of the persons who committed crimes against his
company, and “so certain is it that the
informant would be murdered, that in addition to the reward, he offers
protection to his person, and safe transport and expenses to another country”
(Somerset Herald, Page 2). He and his family were eventually resettled in
Virginia, where he held a position as a fireman with a railroad. (Riffenburgh,
page 163). His residence was located at 15 East Third Street, Manchester (later
annexed to the City of Richmond), Virginia.
In
order to provide anonymity to his family and self, James Kerrigan changed his
last name to Higgins, his wife’s maiden name. James Higgins (Kerrigan) would
later add to his criminal record in Richmond, Virginia, in at least two
separate incidents. The newspapers reported, “J.W. Moody and James Higgins fighting in the street. Fined $5.00 each”
(Times, June 21, 1885). “James Higgins
was required to give bond to keep the peace and be of good behavior for sixty
days” (Times, September 1, 1892). James Higgins (Kerrigan) would later die,
peacefully, at home on October 1, 1898 and was buried in Maury Cemetery,
without a grave marker. His death would not have been known, except, that his
widow applied for a pension. An investigation started, and it was learned that Kerrigan
had been living in Virginia. He did all in his power to keep his past life a
secret, and his widow followed until want forced her to apply for a pension.
Kerrigan was a member of the Union Army during the Civil War (Denver Post,
October 18, 1903).
