New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-20
KILLED BY HIS BROTHER.
A CHARGE OF MURDER AGAINST
TwELvE-YEAR-OLD BOY.

FATAL RESULT OF A TUssLE BETWEEN TWO LADs
FOR THE POSSESSION OF A BASEBALL. MASK.
James Griffin. twelve years old, is under the
care OF the Gerry Society, prisoner charged
with the murder Of his sixteen-year-old brother.
Joseph Joseph was stabbed yesterday in the
region Of the heart with penknfe In the hands
Of James in the course OF a tussle for the pos
session Of a baseball mask About O'Clock
Yesterday afternoon James and his brother
Joseph left their home. No. 81 East Eighty.
eighth-st TO go to Central Park 10 play ball
When the boys got TO Eishty-sixth-st. and SEQ
ond-ave. the two brothers began TO quarre! for
the possession Of baseball mask which Joseph
was carrying together with a bat and CATCH
er's glove. In the struggle which followed
Joseph was fatal stabbed in the left breast.
and It is believed at the penknife which James
used in striking the blow pierced Joseph's heart
After Joseph felt the knife blade sink into his
flesh he released his hold Of the mask and the
bat and the glove and started across the street
to Meyers drugstore at Second-ave. and Eighty
sxth-st, and asked the clerk. Frank Sense. who
was In the store. TO treat him AS there was no
physician in the drugstore. Sense led the boy
around the corner to Dr. Miller's ONCE. at No.
242 East Eighty-sixth-st. about two doors east
Of the drugstore DR.. Miller at a glance
that the lad had been fatally injured. He placed
him upon and was in the act OF getting the
boy tell him how he had been injured when
the lad expired Or. Miller then informed the
Coroner's office and also sent word 10 the East
Eighty-eighth-st station that he had the dead
body Of boy who had been stabbed.
THE POLICE INVESTIGATE.
Captain Dean and Policemen John Nilon and
James Liston Immediately started out TO In
vestigate the James Griffin had left the
scene Of the struggle and gone post haste to
his home. but upon reaching there did not tell
any member OF the family what had happened.
He merely said that Joseph had been hurt and
was at Meyers drugstore. The knife with which
James had done the stabbng he carried to his
home, and when he reached there threw II out
of the window into the yard Of the adjoining
house
The Griffin family consisted OF James. three
sisters all grown; Joseph who was killed, ana
the mother. who is widow, her husband having
been killed while at work at his trade as
stonemason eight years ago After James had
told Of the injury Joseph. one or the sisters
went 10 the drugstore and thence 70 Or. Miller's
office and rhere found her brother dead
couch. She then returned home 10 break the
Of Josephs death and subsequently 10 tell
that James had killed him. Meanwhile Captain
Dean and his officers arrived AT the house ana
took James 20 the station. There the boy pris-
oner made the following statement 10 Captain
Dean who had much trouble In getting him to
tell the truth:
II left the house with my brother 70 go to
Central Park to play ball. When We got to
Eighty-sixth-st and Second-ave my brother
Joseph had a baseball mask in his hand which
I wanted him to give to me had penknife
open in my hand at the time and made grab
for the mask and while was struggling 70 get
It he knocked my arm up and then my brother
was stabbed with the knife. Then my brother
started TO go to a drugstore and got scared
and home. and then threw the knife out
Of the window"
HARD TO Mako THE PRISONER TALK
Captain Dean says that in getting the boy to
make the statement he had 10 all sorts OF
threats but finally. the lad. after telling several
contradictory yarns. and upon being threatened
with a whipping by the Captain. told the story
given
Coroner Hoeber presently went 10 the station
and committed the boy 70 the care Of the Gerry
Society and took the knife TO his Office.
The police say that all they know OF the oc-
currence is given in the prisoners statement
They have been yet unable to secure any wit
ness TO the stabbing. They believe that the
stabbing done The impulse OF the moment
and ere OF the opinion that the boy had no in
tenton Of hurting his brother The knife blade
sank between the ribs over the heart Had the
blade struck rib Joseph's life would have been
spared. His vitality must have been wonderful.
he walked unassisted about two hundred
yards 10 the drugstore and thence 10 the doctors
office. The boy had been employed by II. r.
Williams. a photographer in Broadway near
Third-st
The mother Of the boys extremely calm In
her grief The prisoner was badly frightened.
but did not weep when he learned that his
brother was dead