Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-12-20
"ONLY RICH MAN
TN STATES PRISON.

LIN OlAlE D PRlOUN
Griffith J. Griffith, of Los Angeles,
Cal, has served his sentence of two
years for shooting his wife and once
more is free man. Griffith J. Griffith
enjoyed the distinction of being the
only rich man in States prison." but
what will interest our readers more in
his checkered career is the fact that
he grew to manhood in DanViIle, has
many friends among our citizens and
at least once in recent years paid our
town a visit
There is scarcely a man in his early
fifties who spent his boyhood in the
third ward of Danville but remembers
Griffith J. Griffith. Several of these
were talking Tuesday, who were the
first to meet him, when q boy of some
fourteen years. he came strolling into
Danville, lie was sorely in need of
friendship and help and he found both
of these in Danville, a fact which in
later and more prosperous years he
held in grateful remembrance.
Grifiith's parents died when he was
very young. He was born in the coal
region, in the vicinity of Pottsville,
and when he came to Danville he made
the journey over the mountains on
foot.
The boys of the third ward on his
arrival took him in hand, procured
something for him to eat and furnish
ed him with temporary quarters. In
this way he was brought to the atten-
tion of Benjamin Mowrey, a black
smith whose shop was located at the
corner Of Mill and Chambers street.
Mr.. Mowrey liked the roy and gave
him a home in his family. When he
came here Griffith could neither read
nor write, but through the kindness of
Mr.. MOwrey and others he acquired a
fair education in Danville.
In early life Griffith drifted west.
Then came the news that he had ac-
quired wealth and had distinguished
himself among philanthropist by pre-
senting the city of Los Angles with a
magnificent park of 5000 acres. Later
came his visit to this city, which re-
suited in the erection of monument
in the Lutheran cemetery at this place
TO the memory of Benjamin Mowrey,
his former friend and benefactor. Next
came the story of the dark tragedy
which cast blot upon his name, and
now we have the news that he has ex-
plated his crime and is ready to begin
life anew.
The Los Angeles Times in dwell
ling on this dark episode of Griffith J.
Griffith's career says:
His sentence of two years has been
reduced to twenty months by the good
conduct rule. He is about to change
his occupation from that of laundry
girl to that of capitalist. Griffith went
into prison in Strengthened circumst-
ances he is coming out rich again.
His property has been working for
him while he sorted laundry in the
penitentiary.
After giving his wife $65, 600 cash
Griffith had little except the Los Feliz
rancho comprising between 700 and 800
acres, now worth $1,000 per acre. Part
of the rancho lies in the Fernando
Valley, surrounding the 5000 acres,
that compose Griffith park his gift to
the city.
Griffith says he feels that his term
in the penitentiary is the best thing
that ever happened him, as it has brok-
en- him of the drink habit.
I'm spite of Mr.. Griffith's protesta-
tlons of reform it Is said there is no
prospect of a reconciliation with his
wife, from whom he is divorced.
His wife was a rich Miss Mesmer
-heiress of an old Los Angeles pione-
er They were married fifteen years
ago. After their marriage Griffith be-
came a frequent tourist down the
cocktail route. Two years ago the
community was thunder struck to learn
that he had shot his wife.
"He had gone to their room at the
Arcadia hotel at Santa Monica with
a loaded revolver, commanding his
wife to fall on her knees and answer
lot of maudlin questions.
"She was too much frightened to do
more than plead piteously. So he shot
her Wounded she rushed to the win
dow and threw herself to a porch. a
full story below, escaping death some
hnNu -