Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-30

District Attorney Rice, in opening for the gov
ernment, explained the nature of the crime, the
distinction between murder aud manslauGhter
in their different degrees and the relative penal
ties attaching TO each. The tragedy in question
was enacted on the day or night preceding
Thanksgiving. The victim was an elderly man,
and defendants wife was his only daughter. He
had been at work on the land in connection with
the defendant, doing little jobs, saving wood, sc.
The victim had been seen at Groton Junction
for the last time, alive. What transpired be-
tween the time Of his return and the next moru-
ing, is known only 10 the Inmates Of the house.
A little boy, five years old, the only son of
Griffin, by former wife, was the only other in
mate of the house. 1t was very soon rumored
in the neighboriood that the old man had died
during the night. He lay dead on his bed bearing
marks of extreme violence, which were exam
ined by physicians at a post mortem eXamn-
alton. They were mortal wounds, as if in
1cted by blunt instrument, one more deadly
than the rest, which was the more immediate
cause ofdeaih. That wound, in the shape ola
half moon, had the appearance of being caused
by huge stick In that house the deceased
went at night, and there he was found dead
None but those three persons (Griffin and
wife and boy knew what occurred there
The government rests its case on the
improbable accounts given by the defendant
and his wife at different times, as to the trans
action, sometimes saying it was from the kick
| of a horse, at other times from other causes.
The wife had been discharged from arrest
| The district attorney closed by stating that it
| was his Intention if admissible to introduce the
testimony of the boy, in whose memory those
| scenes are indeby depicted, to the effect that
| the old man was set upon in the barn attached
| to the house with that club, (holding it up,)
and dragged into the house on to The bed, and
| the Stick and the club, 4 heavy stick four feet
| long and nearly two inches thick, afterwards
| put in the corn crib where it was found by the
| officer State Constable Rich, who made the ar
| rest.
| Some twenty witnesses for the government
| including many naighbors of Griffin, several
| physicians, and officers, were then sworn. The
| first witness was
VIM. Sprague. Harvad-Live next house to
| Griffin. On morning of Nov. 29th, between
| eight and nine hearing of the death, went 10
| Grltiin's house; converSed with the boy; went
| into the kitchen; found Mrs. Griffin and Mrs
| KevSer; saw Doyle in the bed room lying on the
| bed; there were two or three marks on the neck
| and breast; saw Griffin the next day; he said
| nothing then as to the cause Of the death, but
| said afterwards he was killed by the horse; said
| this in the barn. said to me he was sure lie was
| killed behind the horse; tnat he was down in
the woods pasture cutting brush; witness saw
| the old man 20 from the sitting room at ten A..
| NJ. of the day Of his death, Griffin and Doyle
| both going off together.
Nathanel Beverly, Groton junction Saw Grit
| fin in his billiard hall, the forenoon OF the 295h.
| Griffin asked witness if DIR. McCallester had
| been at his place, and wanted to know if they
| would do ANYTHING or make any fuss about
| the matter, il was the day after the tragedy |.
| G. said the old man got killed behind the horse;
| harness partly pulled off. He was engaged
drawing wood at time old man was killed. Grf
| fin told witness deceased went to "Louise's,
got "hi@h' or "hot." got behind his horse and
| got killed.
DIR. McCallester, Harvard-Lye 10 mile from
| Gr1in--knGwn him long. First heard of old
mans death at II A. of Nov. 80, and went
there; found Mrs. Griffin there and the boy;
did not see the defendant; saw body of deceased
in bed room bloody about chest and abdomen,
| lying on bis back. Examined wound on left
| side of abdomen and chest. There was nothing
on him bur those old garments, Ian old shirt and
| uudershirt, dirty, bloody and cut, which
were exhibited. The wound on the all
| domen was on level with the
| top Of the hip bone. The wound, by some solid
substance, penetrated the abdomen. There was
| another bruise on the right side. The bed
| clothes were stained with blood. There APP
| peared TO have been effort to wash the stains
| from the bed. The right side of the head was
| bloody. Witness saw defendant Wednesday
| evening and on Thanksgiving day, and he said
| he had no doubt the horse killed him.
| Doctors Benz. IL. Hartwell of Harvard and
John L. Parsons Of Aver, who made the post
| mortem examination, testified at some length
| as to the nature and extent Of the wounds, the
largest Of which, in the abdomen, rupturng the
| bowels and causing death, must have been
| made Inv a larpp stick something Of that kind
used end ways. The numbcllcss wounds and
| bruises on various portions Of the body and
| limbs were described.
John S. SanderSon, Groton-Saw Griffin at
| depot in GrotOn the day after the death; Griffin
told witness The old man died the day before
| that he had got liquor which was poisoned; said
| nothing TO me about any violence OF wounds as
| causing his death. Several persons were pres
| ent at this conversation. Witness said he and
| DOYLE were ut Grot0u junction together, the day
| before the death. Griffin said the Old man got
| liquor, and he supposed it was poisoned; did
not hear Griffin say anything about Doyle get
tin@ behind his horse and getting kicked
! Josiah Puilcr, HaIvard-Atier death of Doyle
convcrscd with Griffin at hotel in Harvard, the
week after Thanksgiving; Griffin was talking
about the death of the old man when witness
came in and said he had no idea the horse kicked
him; he invited witness to call and see him,
wife and child. Griffin was not intoxicated at
| this time.
State Constable P S. Rich, of Aver who made
the arrest testified to going TO Gritin'S house
| Thanksgiving morning, when he first heard of
the death. Saw Griffin. Went into the barn and
saw marks OF blood; picked up pieces of glass
| with blood on them. Griffin said the old man
| died while he was away cutting wood The wife
said she found Doyle behind the horse. Looked
| around the house and found this club in the
| grain box up stairs. Asked if the old man had
| any stick he beat the horse with, and he said no.
Asked if the horse was apt TO kick, and he said