Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-29
SHOT FROM BEHIND.
Frank Burkett Attempts to
Murder &. J. Griffiths.
He Then Blows Out His Brains
With a Revolver.
Two Barrels of Shotgun Emptied
at the Capitalist.
A Tragedy Which Grew Out of a Boom
Thine Ostrich Farm-The Crime
Committed at a Cemetery-Mr.
Griffiths' Statement.

A desperate attempt was made yester-
day afternoon at 2:30 O'Clock by F.
Burkett to murder G. j. Griffith, the
owner of Los Feliz rancho and son-in-
law of Louis Mesmer, of this city. The
would-be murderer then blew out his
brains with bulldog revolver. The
report of the shooting spread lapidly
around the streets and caused consider
able excitement, owing to the prom
inence OF Mr.. Griffith, and there were
soon a number of versions OF the
tragedy.
The police patrol wagon was sent at
once to the scene of the shooting, i'll
front OF the Catholic cemetery on Buena
Vista street, where Burkett was found
sitting in buggy, his head fallen back
and blood and brains oozing from a
ragged hole in the right side of his head
behind his ear.
Death had evidently been instanta-
neous. Mr., Griffith had been removed
to the United States hotel, and the dead
man was taken to the morgue, where a
constant stream OF spectators viewed
the remains during the afternoon.
Mr.. Griffith and his wife left the
United States hotel about 2: 30 O'Clock,
and drove in buggy to the Catholic
cemetery with flowers to place upon the
grave of Mrs. Louis Mesmer, deceased,
who, if she had lived, would have been
So years old yesterday. When they ar
rived in front of the sexton's house they
stopped at the little gate. Mrs. Griffith
took the flowers and went to the Ber-
nard vault, where the casket has been
temporarily placed. This vault is be-
hind the Briswalter chapel vault, and
the lady could not see her husband as
he sat in the buggy just outside the gate
on Buena Vista street. Mr.. Burkett
drove up in buggy, and when he was
about fifteen feet from Mr.. Griffith, and
behind him, he deliberately aimed at
him with double-barreled shotgun and
discharged one barrel, the contents,
which were bird shot, taking effect in
Mr.. Grifith's right side, shoulder and
the back OF his head. He half fell, half
jumped out of the buggy, and ran
through the little gate, making for the
rear of the sexton's house, between the
house and the cemetery fence. Before
he got fifty feet away Burkett took aim
ing Mr.. Griffith again in the back.
A little baby, child OF Sexton V.
Roach was lying in a baby carriage at
the corner of the house, almost in the
line of the shot, and a number OF shot
lodged in the top of the carriage, al
though the baby was not hit.
Burkett, evidently thinking that his
purpose had been accomplished, drove
his horse and buggy diagonally across
the street slightly in advance of his for
mer position, pulled out revolver, and
placing it behind his right ear, fired a
shot that killed him almost instantly.
He settled back on the seat with his
head hanging back, and in this position
was found by the officers, who arrived
in very few minutes after the scene
had been enacted.
Mrs. Griffith was very much affected
bv the tragedy and was q witness to the
last shot. She said to reporter of the
HERALD during the afternoon, 81 was at
the grave praying when | was aroused
by shot and came at once around be-
hind the Briswalter chapel, where OBJ
tanned view OF the last shot. Just as
was passing through the gate into the
sextons yard l saw my husband run
ming to get behind the sections house.
/ saw the man in the buggy raise shot
gun, take aim and fire, the shot hitting
my husband in the back. There was
little baby carriage there, but | did not
see any baby in it. was so much ex-
cited that l could not remember it if
there had been 1 suppose"
Mr.. Griffith with great nerve got out
OF the buggy at the hotel, and pausing,
coolly asked that DR.. Newkirk be sent
for. Then he walked upstairs by him
self, and an examination revealed the
fact that his back, his right shoulder
and the back of his head we're literally
peppered with shot, of about No. 4 size.
A great many shot were removed, and
the physicians decided that he was not
dangerously wounded, although he is
suffering considerable pain, and the in
iuries are quite serious.
An investigation of the cause OF the
attempted murder was at once begun
and it soon developed that the desper-
ate course of deceased grew out of a
long standing land dispute between
himself and MIR. Griffith. Papers found
upon his person left no doubt that the
attack upon Mr.. Griffith was premedi-
tated. and that he had firmly resolved
to take his enemy's life. The prepara-
tions he made were correborative of this
fact, and he had evidently followed Mr..
and Mrs. Griffith from the time they
left the hotel until they reached the
cemetery. The attack was cold
blooded one and Burkett deliberately
fired on Griffith when the latter's back
was turned to him, and when he was
not thinking he was so near tragic end.
The following letter found upon the
dead man furnishes the motive for the
crime. While addressed as shown, it
was in blank, unsealed envelope.
TRop1co, Los Angeles Co., Oct, 25th.
DEAR JAMES / told you in my last
the decision was given in the supreme
court against me, as the complaint was
detective. Still not mentioning the
cause it was sent there for, any way 1t
was open to amendment. John Roberts
promised me faithfully two days before
the expiration of the time, that he
would appeal it, but he wilfully let it
pass over. He had been well paid for it
to carry it to the last appeal. Don't
Won think IL villainOus shame? lie