The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-12-26
HE DIDN'T STEAL IT
HOWARD GRIFFIN PROVED HIM
SELF INNOCENT OF THEFT.
Of Peculiar Nature Almost
Landed Him in the Penitsntiary With
Other Innocent Men-He Was Accused
of Stealing q Bicycle and Was Subse-
uuently Arrested While Paving Christ
mas Visit to His Parents-He Proved .
Complete AIibl and Was Exonerated-
His Accuser Comedies His Innocence.

L.R. Griffin, B. A Fletcher and Will
lam Corzine of Caldwell, spent their
Christmas in Wichita yesterday. They
did not come to revel in in pathetic in
fiuence OF that great drama, Romeo and
Juliet, nor did they come TO indulge IN
tina Christmas pastirne OF ancient Calo-
we'll the decoration of the town in scar
let. On the contrary, they came here
for the purpose OF proving to the legal
and judicial authorities of this city that
one Howard Griffin was not bicycle
thief. but young man Of good morals.
good breeding, industrious habits and
commendable ambition.
Howard Griffin was raised down near
Caldwell in an atmosphere that knows
nothing but honesty and innocence. He
decided to go away from home and seek
MS own fortune and, accordingly, he
drifted towards Wichita, the great
source and fountain for ambition to
drink from. Times were dull here and
he made his way up to Wichita Heights.
where he found an opening with that
honest and industrious farmer, j. K.
Brown. He came there the last of No
vember and after few days he again re-
turned to Wichita and found employ
ment with Mr.. d. J. Tangney, of the To-
peka Avenue hotel. Mr.. Browns son
had a bicycle, and the next day after
Howard Griffin left the bicycle disappear
ed A bloody handkerchief. known TO
have been that of Mr.. Griffin was found
rcar where the bicycle was last seen.
1t was apparent that Howard Griffin had
taken it, at least il was reasonable to
think SO. Mr.. Brown and his son traced
the bicycle to 2 barber shop on North
Main street, where they found it The
barber had bought it from two young
men and the description Of one Of them
suited Mr. Griffin TO a dot.
On Christmas eve Mr.. Griffin went
down to Sumner county to spend the hol-
idGys with his parents, and there he was
arrested, Sheriff Cone brought him up
late the night before last and landed
him In Jail. His father and friends
came up yesterday, as stated.
Mr.. Brown. County Attorney Davis
and the sheriff met the gentlemen and
il very soon became apparent that How
ard Griffin was not the thief, but was the
victim of some peculiar circumstances.
The barber stated positively, upon see
ing him, that he was not any of the
young men who sold him the bicycle.
Besides that MIR. Griffin proved by Mr..
Tangney that he could not possibly have
stolen the bicycle, and in other respects
ana by other people proved a complete
abb The county attorney had. himself
good reasons for believing the young
mans innocence, and he was given his
liberty.
Mr. Brown called at the Eagle office
last night to do the boy justice by say
ing that he had positively ascertained
that Mr.. Griffin was innocent. County
Attorney Davis also said TO a reporter
for the Eagle that the young man is en-
tirely innocent Of the charge. There is
row positive Information as to who the
gully parties are