The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-29

! ernable temper, might to-day be alive and
well instead of affording the gallows one
more victim. He loved as woman, who
flirted with dim. and thus she paid dearly
ter her play Griffen armed himself with
! a revolver and hunted UP his victim He
found her at lawn-party dancing with
; another young woman. He fired every bar
rel of his revolver at the two women,
after having first broken up the dance
and entered into an argument with them.
Virge King fell dying on the ground,
while her companion lay Weltering IT blood
beside her. tiriffen fed, but was quickly
| captured and incarcerated by the police.
He wa3 a { first Indifferent; then ne plead
drunkenness but after two trials by jury,
enc Of which was a disagreement, he was
| finally sentenced to death. The best legal
talent carried his case to the Governor
of the State. and for a time Grlffeu
! friends thought he would be saved from
/ tle death penalty but the Executive de-
| ciined to interfere in the case On Thanks
| sivins-day Griffen awaited the Governors
reply. and as others offered up prayers
Of thanksgiving, the Sheriff informed the
man of his fate and left him to his Woe
Griffen's nature seemed changed in 4 mo-
ment from that of an humble darkey into
Il man of fierceness. He tore the window
sash from his cell, breaking the glass, and
with the fragments OF the sash he pulled
brick; from the jail wall.
When the Sheriff would have entered the
Cell, Griffen, like an cnraged lion. fought
until the officer and two policemen over
powered him. He has been chained to
the floor from that time until he left the
cell for the last time 70 confront the
galloWs and his open coffin beside it. The
condemned man would not receive pity
from anyone, and even ministers of the
gospel feared to enter his cell. praying
with C,rjffaD from hpVOpI tila rlOSai cell
door. On one occasion Griffen threw a cup
of hot coffee, which the Sheriff hoped
would stimulate him, into the face of the
trusty who brought it to him. The case has
attracted unusual interest, and many have
awaited the outcome of the hanging with
nlisSlvlngs.
Ex-Congressman George c. Cabell. the
attorney in the case finally secured
communication of sentence, changing the
date of the hanging from Friday Deem
Der 18th to to-day. The attorneys plead
that Griffen was insane, and for Il second
time ,Ec pegro's friends thought his neck
would he saved. It was all to no pur-
pose, however for on Friday, a week from
the date of the execution, the Governor
declined to further interfere and arrange
ments for the execution We're Immediately
commenced.
On hearing that all hope was gone, Grit
fen's nature again seemed changed He
found delight in the presence Of ministers,
and declared the intention of dying brave
ly, with hope of q better world through
forgivness Of sin in Christ.
He requested that he be executed in a
gray suit of clothes, with patent leather
shoes, and this was granted him. His moth
e- with him Il large part OF the
time during his last hours in his Cell. On
Christmas-day Grffen,s cell was filled
with ministers and trends many of whom
sent in the finest of table Injuries. He ate
ana conversed with them as though the
thought Of the gallows had none OF It's
forne, dread.