The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-04-15
A Strange Tragedy.

State in years, occurred at Norwich last
night Early this morning Mrs. Mary
E. Grifiing, wealthy widow, cousin
of Senator Conkling, was found upon
the floor of the hall in her mansion hor-
ribly burned When picked up she was
unconscious, and died in about an hour
AFTER
Living in the house were her son,
young man of %, her mother and Miss
Kate Conkling, another cousin of the
Senator. The family possess large
fortune, which Jasper r. Griffing, the
son, was expected to inherit. The
young man had already made a reputa
ton as criminal. Some years ago he
was arrested for an assault on an Off
Ger. The circumstances were against
Grifling, but through the intercession Of
influential friends he was punished by
confinement in the State Reformatory
at Emira. In December last an at
tempt was made to procure a pardon for
Grihing. Governor Robinson at first
declined to interfere, but pressure was
brought to bear, and few hours before
the Governors term of office expired he
signed pardon for Grifling.
The boy returned to Norwich, and at
once entered upon course of dissipa-
ton that caused great anxiety to his
friends. Obtaining large sums of money
from his mother, he has s9uandered them
in company with the depraved of
both sexes. A few days ago, having
1886 to his credit in Binghampton
bank, he went to Auburn on a spree.
Every dollar of the bank account was
soon exhausted. Grifiing continued to
draw ON the bank, and when the checks
came back protested the young rake re-
turned to his mother at Norwich Tor an
other installment. Mrs. Grim, again
supplied him with funds, but Looping to
put an end to his excuses, obliged him
to give her heavy mortgage on all the
property he owned. Yesterday Mrs.
Gritiing sent for her lawyer and instruct
ed him to draw up a codicil to her will
in which the son is released from the in
cumbrance of the mortgage. The coai-
cll was duly executed
Last night Mrs. Gritiing, her mother
and Miss Conkling retired at 9 o'clock.
The widow slept alone in spacious
chamber on the second floor. 1t was
her custom to leave lamp burning by
her bedside. This morning, about 4:3O,
Miss Conkling was aroused by strange
noise, and few minutes later the house.
hold were awakened by the agoniaing
scrosms of Mrs. Gritfing, Miss Conkling
and her mother gave the alarm, and as
sistance from without was promptly rem
dered, but without avail Mrs. Griffing
lived but short time. The oil from
the exploding lamp saturated the pillow
which supported the head of the victim.
Grasping the other pillow, with rare
presence Of mind, she attempted to
smother the flames. Failing in this, she
sprang from the bed and rushed into
the hall, where she was found as above
described She was burned beyond re-
cognition.
BY six o'clock this morning fully
three thousand persons had visited the
scene of the fire. The mansion was
Quilted. The theory of accidental ex-
plosion of the lamp was accepted until
the first excitement had partially sub
sided, when the absence of young
Jasper Grifling was commented upon
with dark hints. When it became
known that the son was missing, his
mysterious disappearance was coupled
with the codicil executed the day befors
and the swift following death of the un-
happy woman. Soon the conviction be-
came general that there was q tragedy
behind the flames and before long the
crime was openly charged to young
Jasper. Intense excitement prevailed
and coroner's jury was summoned to
begin an investigation. The sentiment
against the missing son increased hourly
in bitterness.
This afternoon at three o'clock Jasper
Grifiing walked into the Office of the
Utica Observer, and said: 81 hear
there has been fire at Norwich and
woman has been burned to death. What
are the particulars Upon being in
formed he burst into tears exclaiming:
"Great God My mother" CHANGING
at the dispatches from Norwich he saw
from their tenor that he vas suspected
of guilt and at once entered an indig-
nant denial. He says that at ! 2 o'clock
last night he was at Auburn, whittier he