Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-19
H[[D IHEPOSS[ At BBI
Marengo Farmer Resists Ar.
rest-Bullets Fly All
Night Long
ADJuDeED TO BE INSANE
He Barricaded Himself Upstairs in
Farm House Armed With s-caiIber
Revolver, Which He Used Freely
Posse of Ten Open Fire on Him-He
Gives Up.
to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Marengo, May 19.-Patrick Griffin
against whom information had been
sworn out, charging him to appear be-
fore the commissioners of insanity
caused more excitement Saturday night
and Sunday than has been seen in Ma
rengo for many years. Griffin, barri-
caded on the second floor of his moth
ers home. six miles northeast of the
city, held at bay Sheriff pieterich, Dep
uty Sheriff Butler and Il posse of ten
men for nearly twelve hours. He was
armed with Smith & Wesson 3S call
ibre revolver and used it freely, en-
dangering the lives of everyone who
came within his sight.
Griffin was formerly railroad con
ductor. About a year ago, he left his
work and went home to live with his
mother. He is 3S years old and is d
single man. He is "A large man. being
six feet one inch tall and built pro-
portionally. He has been acting queer
during the time he has been at home,
threatening at various times to shoot
the stock on the farm.
During the past week he had become
more troublesome to the members OF
the family, threatening to shoot them
as we'll as all the stock on the place.
Saturday morning, a brother of Grit
fin appeared at Marengo and swore out
information against Patrick, charging
him with insanity. Sheriff Dieterich,
armed with the warrant went out to
the Griffin home Saturday afternoon,
but he could not find his man. He had
disappeared. He then returned to town
and sent Deputy Sheriff d. S. Butler
out later in the afternoon.
In the meantime Griffin had return
ed home and told his sister that it
was good thing for the sheriff that
he was not there when he came or he
would have shot him.
He then prepared for siege. Bar
ricading the entrance to the second
floor. he provided himself with IS
calibre revolver and plenty Of ammuni-
ton. When the deputy sheriff came
with a couple of assistants to take
Griffin back to town. they found him
III a udUSeIouS 1ltoONl ApuihN, ASSio
the warrant to Griffin at the foot of
the stairs and charged him to come
down and give himself UP. This Grit
fin refused to, telling the officer to get
out of the way and make no attempt
to take him or there would be trouble.
He then began to shoot and the Off
GERS had to seek cover.
They sent to town for another posse
which arrived about midnight. The
men importuned Griffin to come and
give himself up. but he steadily re-
fused to do so and kept up a continu
Gus fire in the direction Of his assail-
ants. One man, Jim Griffin, but no
relative of Patrick, had close call, a
stray bullet knocking the dust into his
face, as he was lying on the ground In
the vicinity Of the home.
Up to this time the members of the
posse had fired no shots, but the dep
uty sheriff ordered his men to fire and
endeavor to hit Gritfin's hand SO that
he would be unable to shoot.
This was along towards daylight and
the close proximity of the bullets had
the effect of frightening Griffin. About
Z o'clock Sheriff Dieterich arrived with
some more men and a further parley
with the accused was begun. Griffin
still refused to come down at once, but