Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-05
CRANK OR. CRIMINAL.
Alleged Confession of the
Pixley Train Robbery.
A Former Fresno Man Fathers
the Crime.
He ia Now Aboard q Whaler on the
Pacific Ocean.
Tho Confession Made to the American
Consul at Honolulu-Prominent
Citizens OF Fresno
Implicated.

cisco April 4.-John R. Griffith =, al
sailor on the whaling ship No, .thern
Light which left here today for r cruise
in the North Pacific ocean, ado '1r,ssed a
letter under date of Marc'n 18th to
United States Consul Sc yer ance, in
which ne confesses having, perpetrated,
in company with two companions, a
daring train robbery, W hicF. took place
near Pixley. California, February %,
1889. The three men bearded the cars
at that point and after the train had
left the station climbed over the bag
bage car and into the cab of the engine.
They ordered the engineer to stop the
train, but he did act obey quick enough,
and as consequence lost his life. A
passenger, who emerged from a coach
after the train cSme to a >standstill, Yves
also shot and killed.
The robbers then went through the
mail and express cars, taxing everything
they could lay their hands on, and
escaped.
Grif6th's letter in full Is as follows:
SHIP NORTHERN LIGHT,
March IL, 1892.
To the Right Honorsb American Consul,
Honolulu, Hawaiian Kingdom:
DEAR Sic: wish 70 give myself into
yoar hands here, a fugitive from Justice,
to be held a prisoner until the state
sauthorities OF California and the postal
sRuthorities of the nited States are no.
si6ed.
About O'Clock p. m., ON the ed of
February, 1889, the San Francisco and
Los Angeles local express train was
H. %h Il; ;rk,xx
town of Pixley, in Tulare county,
California, and Wells, Fargo s. Co. car
forced and robbed of $1,000 in gold. The
mail pouches were rifled and several
registered letters and other papers and
packages of minor value secured.
Two men were killed in the me-
lee, the fireman of the train
and passenger from the town of Mo-
.desto, California. There is large
standing reward for the apprehension OF
the parties who perpetrated this crime.
The state offers reward of $4,000 and
Wells, Fargo q Co. $500, besides two or
three smaller rewards offered by private
parties.
Myself and two other young men are
the perpetrators OF the deed, and were
the sole actors in the crime. The leader
in this is well-to-do insurance agent,
the present time. Myself and the other
fellow have been at sea together most Of
the time since then. have lived in
constant fear since then; every moment
of nv life / have been in terror, and
now believe the facts should be made
public before my ship reaches San Fran
cisco, hence this statement. The other
fellow shipped on the John P. West,
with the intention OF running away on
some remote islands near the equator,
and when he found out that the ship
would not put in at any OF those islands,
l have every reason to believe that he is
the man who set her on fire.
/ will turn states evidence and make
clean breast of the whole thing as soon
as l see you. l will make a written
statement of all know about the mat
ter and swear to it before notary.
1 am turning myself over to you be-
because | can't stand this wretched,
fearful existence any longer, and hope
to get off lighter by acting thus. If you
take me in charge, do it quickly, as my
ship will leave here at once. This must
be ended once and for good, even if it
ends in self-destruction.
My father is a wealthy business man
of Fresno, Cal. am 26 years of age,
light complexion and weigh 140 pounds.
Respectfully, JOHN r. GRIFFITH.
P. S.-March II, 8 a. m, 1892.
This is deliberate step am taking,
sir, after long deliberation, and stand
ready to make full and thorough
statement and swear to the same before
notary. 1t is my only chance for sal
walton, as l left proofs, by accident, in
Fresno, that will surely be found out be-
fore get to San Francisco. 1 am per-
fectly willing to await as prisoner, pend
ing investigation. Very respectfully,
JOHN R. GRIFFITH.
Griffith's letter became public before
reaching the American consul, and
Griffith was at once interviewed. He
was, however, non-communicative
Griffith was on the Sea Breeze, with
Captain Greene in 1889, shipping from
San Francisco. He is reported to have
embezzled money from that vessel at
the time. He is known to belong in
Fresno, California.
It is stated on good authority that
former cooper of the whaler John P.
West, which was burned here last
month, is willing to testify that the
West was set on fire. The parties who
are suspected are here on the islands,
and it is stated that McKinnon & Co..
owners OF the West, have been informed
of this and have sent a detective here.
The outcome of Griffith's letter is
awaited with interest," and it is expected
that the steamer Australia, which leaves
here subsequent to the sailing of the
bark Discovery, which carries this letter,
may convey further particulars.
Griffith left here on the Northern
Light to-day.