The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-11-12
Mike Griffin. Charged With Set.
ting Fire to Old "Four Cor
ners" is Found Guilty
MAY TRY ED. STUHLFELDT
Griffin S Attorneys Move for an Arrest
in Judgment When Defendant is
Convicted on First Ballot
Taken by the Jury

Mike Griffin, who just "dropped
in" at the "Four Corners" on the
night the notorious resort was com,
pletely destroyed by fire a few weeks
ago, will probably be the scape-goat
of the gang connected with the burn.
ing of the resort as late Thursday af,
ternoon a jury in the Circuit Court re-
turned a verdict finding Griffin "Guil-
ty" of arson. The jury had been out
less than a, half hour when the verdict
was reached and it is said by members
of the jury that they were "agreed"
when the first ballot as to the guilt
or innocence of the defendant was
taken. Attorney Thomas M. Kearney
of Racine who had made a. powerful
argument in defense of Griffin, was
greatly surprised by the verdict rem
dered on such short consideration and
at once moved for an arrest of Judgment
and sentence was not passed on Griffin.
He was taken back to Jail and viii
probably be brought before the court
early next week. At that time the
motion will be argued and if the court
overrules it, as it is expected he VIII,
Griffin will be sentenced. The crime
Of which Griffin has been convicted
by the jury is one that carries with it
a long term of Imprisonment in the
state prison and he cannot be released
with a fine. Griffin had expected to be
acquitted and he was greatly depressed
at the finding Of the jury refusing to
discuss the case with even his fellow
prisoners in the county Jail.
The conviction of Griffin is but the
first chapter in the story of solving
the mystery and cTookedness of the de-
structiOn of the resort, but it has come
as great victory for the district at
torney and for the men connected with
the Office of the state fire marshal.
Assistant State Fire Marshal w. G.
End Of Milwaukee and District Attor-
ney Baker have worked in conjunction
to get the evidence in the case and
notwithstanding the fact that most
powerful influences have been at work
to save Griffin from conviction the two
men fought the case to a bitter and
successful end The outcome Of the
case shows the value Of the new state
department.
District Attorney Baker was asked
last night in regard to the further ac-
tion in the case, but stated that he
could not say at this time just what
would be DONE Ed. Stuhlfeldt who
was the principal witness in the Griffin
case for the state, is still in jail and
it is not improbable that he will be
tried on the same charge as ummn.
Stuhlfeldt is alleged by the district
attorney to have withheld many Iacts
in connection with the case and during
the trial of Griffin every possible eff
fort was made by the defense to put
the blame for the fire on Stuhlfeldt.
"We will now see what Griffin has to
say in regard to Sthulfedlt," said the
district attorney last night. 'ENow
that Mike has been convicted it is
possible that he will be willing to be
interviewed and that he will show that
he is able to tell just as much as the
other people in regard to the fire,
There is no doubt in my mind but that
there is decidedly interesting story
behind this whole thing and that it will
ultimately come out. l do not think
that Mike Griffin will be willing to
stand for the role of scape-goat for a
minute and he may tell the whole
story"
It is certain that the district attor-
ney will be willing to follow any lead
that may be handed out in TINS matter
and several arrests may be made with
N a short time,