The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-13

Having Served His Term for Threaten
ing Dunsmuir-A Presbyterian Now.

Having Served His Term for Threaten
ing Dunsmuir-A Presbyterian Now.
New WESTMINSTER, Dec. l2-[Special. DIR.
GnsIavius Hamilton Griffin. of "black hand"
fame, has been released from the penitentiary
and is in the city under treatment OF physician
for his eyes, before leaving to join his wife in
Detroit He was released a week ago. but his
movements were kept profound secret except
from u few OF his most intimate friends. The
facts OF his case, which caused great sensation
at the time, not only on the Pacific coast, but in
Eastern Canada, where he was known in the
highest social circles, are as follows:
DR.. Griffin left Los Angeles after tie bursting
of the great real estate bubble and went 10 Vic
toria, where he established the Social World
weekly society paper, and practiced as physi-
elan. Presently he entered the field of speeula-
tion again and bonded s172 acres OF coal land
from certain crown grant owners near Nanaimo.
The sale of these lands was pending for a sum
running into millions OF dollars, when on No
vember 10. 1855. the late Hon. Robert Dunsmuir
swore out warrant against DR.. Griffin on
charge OF having written letters to HIM stating
that no was to be killed at certain time. The
letters were seven in number and were written
in Greek aud Castil!an Spanish, the signature to
each being a drawing of a black hand.
The trial took place in Victoria before
Chief Justice Sir NJ. B. Begbie and lasted
four days. Tho jury, after an absence
of fifteen minutes, brought in q verdict of
guilty. and on November &c, 1855, DR.. Griffin was
sentenced to Eve years in prison. The prosecu-
ton had six San Francisco detectives On the
case. while an expert named Hyde, of San Fran
cisco, was engaged to examine the handwriting
Prof MeGregor and Prot Lopateckt swore to
DR.. Grifin's ability TO speak the languages in
which the letters were written. Dunsmuir
spent So. 900 in the prosecution. After the SEN
tence DR.. Grimm applied for a new trial, re-
naming In Jail In Victoria for month, when
. new trial being refused, he was removed to
the penitsntiary here on January /, 1889 He
served four years in tho psnitentisry, having
gained one years time for good conduct, and
found himself again q free man on Thursday
last
Immediately on being released from the
penitentiary DR.. Griffin went over to Nanaimo
and had a meeting at midnight with his bond
holders, who TO a man granted him further
extension OF the bond on the coal lands, which
he will place on the English market within a
few mouthx
Your correspondent interviewed the doctor
today. He of course denies his guilt and speaks
very charitably OF those who assisted at the
trial tosend him to prison. He was converted
while in the penteniisry 10 the Presbyte terrain
church by Rev. Jameson. His Bible is re-
markahle sight Every blank page and space
round the edges of the pages Is covered with
notes in very minute letters, written In a dozen
krit These ere material for work on the
Bible which he intends publishing. He also
wrote book OF 100 pages of manuscript on his
travels In Egypt and the Holy Land, which will
also be published To his Bible work he devoted
eight hours daily for the last two and half
years. sleeping only six hours and working with
pics ana shovel the other ten. The prison Off
cials testify to the truth of this. Speaking
sbou. the peniteutiary, he said he was going TO
write a book about his life there, and the con
tents would astonish the Dominion.
His description OF how prisoners communi-
Gated secretly together is wonderful One
means he invented was by training mouse,
which carried notes tied around its neck
through the veutiistors TO the mex. call. six
times he refused pardon in four years, on the
ground that he was not guilty, and to accent a
pardon would be TO admit his guilt During
his imprisonment be received letters from many
of the mos; prominent men in public life IN
Canada ard sesersi IN the states, incl uding
Judge Waldhetmer. OF san francisco. all pro-
claiming their faith in his innocence.
Mr.. Grlftia is tai ani stoutly built, with black
hair and piercing eyes of the same color lie ID
native OF London, EnglsDd. ana about 50 Years
OF axe. The doctor speaks Spanish perfectly.
together with French. English, German. Greek
Hebrew, italian, Russian. Persian. Sapskrit aud
five other languages, in iact. he is one OF the
most perfect .inSustS OF the age. He praeticel
medicine in Eastern Canada from 1880 10 fS~s
ara then went IN reside in san Francisco for the
benefit OF his w,ie's health, pTscliclug In mart.
nsrship with DR.. \. J. spinner. The Los An.
gclss boom broke out in is>6. which iaduce,.
rr. Griffin 81 puli up stakes and settle III that
city. He opened an Office Is "a me iical speci
ist, bat soon gave no G.s practice and went into
land speculation. lie organised the Southern
California Land Bureau with = capital oI
s1NO0o, both himself sud Mrs. Griffin
owning many shares. some oi the best men d,
tic city were on tue board ~ directors, O! which
the doctor WAS president HIS operations eoou
became immense. His profits for zine VIZ,
enormous. &nd lie invested extensively ii rroD
eriy. lie uext organized q champagne mann
featuring company. Thea he laid out 8 town
which was nalaed Ggitauytije. ia was dsepl,
interested in other enterpr ses when the boom
collapsed and the doctors fortunes with 4;
After signing over all his and Mrs Griffin.
property - banks ana getting from chem Cles,
receipt he lett Los Angeles ana went 70 .ctorls
ia March. ISSS lie visited Mana mo and bonded
between 20>0 and 400 acres OF coal lands Al
- cents per moath psr acre. which meant sorae
thing over $50 per month walle the bono
lasted. Opening negotiations wlth the Oregon
Improvement Company, OF New York. he was {,
have concluded the sale some time IN Novera
be-. IsSS hut On tie lS;a oi thai month lie va.
arrested.