Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-31
superior CrimInaD Court Rockwell, >.

Superior (CriminaI) COUrt-tsOcisweII, ,.
TRIAL OF JOHN GRIFFIN OF HARVARD FOR
MANsLAuGHTER.
Tuesday, Jan. 3d. The court came in at 9 A..
NJ, when the testimony of the officer, Freeman
Hopkins, was continued, and he made the fol-
lowing statement in reference to the comvcrsa-
ton he overheard between the prisoner and his
wife in the Clinton lookup, on the evening after
being put in there to await examination before
the trial justice:
Witness said Griffin asked his wife "why the
devil she did not clear out, and yet out OF The
way2" She said if she had they would have
found her He said, no they wouldn't. Griffin
said, you be sure and tell the same story you
told me at the other place, and will do the
same. Mrs Griffin said, sit was Johnny that
brought you here" He said, "why" She
said, "did You not tell him not to say any
thing about it," He said, mo" He said,
Z" how the devil did the Doctor know
it was not the horse that killed the old
manp Griffin said, ooh my Godi if it had
not been for rum this would not have happened.
If ever | get out OF this ! never will drink
another drop Of liquor us long as live. We
will 90 where we are not known II don't get
clear tomorrow will kill myself" She says,
GLOW can YOUR He says, 81 know way"
He said "Mr Brown said if | would plead
II not, should be tried for murder" She said,
"why don't you?' He said, "If do they will
find it ali out" She said, "Oh my God, told
you not to hurt him, ! wish the old man mad
been rotten in his grave before it happened. .
Griffin said "YOu tell them it was after ten
O'Clock when got home" He asked about the
lawyer she was going to- have. She said she had
been to Lowell for one. She asked il they
should see the lawyer before they were taken
from there lie said eyes" She said "Shall
4h., al 1p' 10 sold No 1
not" She said if 1t was not for Tim and the
two women Ii would be all right. He said
"Are they coming over tomorrow She said,
81 hope not" He said he had not been out ex-
cept 10 empty slops. She said why, don't you
run2 lie said. can officer stands by with Il
revolver" Mr. Brown was with the witness.
1t was nearly seven p. NJ. The lookup was n
brick building in the upper part OF the engine
house. Witness took notes of the conversation
in the cell without light.
State Constable Abiiah Brown Of Clinton, one
of the officers who arrested the parties, testified
TO hearing the conversation TO the above effect
in the lookup where lie was with Hopkins at
the time, the prisoners not being aware OF their
presence.
junction, testified to hearing Griffin tell them
and others at their place about nine A. NJ. the
day before Thanksgiving that his lather.in-law
was dead--that he got and drank liquor which
was poisoned aud got among the cattle or with
Tue lOFSt WllbH hSth iilh 'ti tti' hiiiNh hlhl
Abiiah Farwell testified to defendant saying
at the Harvard hotel that the horse was very
pertle and would not kick-that the old man
must have fell under the horse. Griffin said his
wife found the old man under lhelhoise. Other
witnesses testified to similar effect.
Mrs. sarah j. Flet her, Aver, saw DOYLE pass
her house between and p. NJ. night oil Nov
2Slh. He was going toward home and appear
ed to be intoxicated.
John Griffin the defendant, testified that on
The return of himself and Doyle from town. that
morning, where Doyle got liquor and while
Doyle went into the house, defendant went TO
the barn to put up his horse, leaving the har'
ness on. went down into the lot for wood, and
ON returning TO the barn found the harness
thrown off one side, and the horse seemed fright
ened. Wife came out and said she found the
old man behind the horse Entering the house,
asked him II the horse had kicked and hurt
NM, nnd ne replied that the horse did kick him
nut nc dld not know ms he was hurt much He
wanted 10 90 TO bed. | went ont to The barn about
my work again, returning for supper al
ABOUT nine +. NJ, when Doyle had gone TO bed
In the middle OF the night the old man cot m
and asked me for drink of water, which my
wife gave nm. In the morning, Just before dav
Hight, he tod me he did not feel very we'll lie
was still in bed. No appearance Of blood or
disturbance Of clothes. / went out TO milk The
cows, &C., aud while was in the barn wife camp
out and told me the old man was CHANGING
went in and looked at him, and hitched INV
Rorsc to go for doctor but changed my mind