The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-23
FORGERY CHARGES
 FREELY ADMITTED Young Man In BeSSemer Jail
 Makes Statement WILL GO BACK TO CHICAGO Griffenburg Denies That He Caused His Mother To Go To An Insane
 Asylum and Is Ready To
 Face His Accusers.
WILL GO BACK TO CHICAGO

Bessemer, March 22.-(Special.) )-Erle z. Grffenburg, who is being held at the city Jail on numerous forgery charges, made a statement to The Age-Herald represen- tative this evening in which he declared that he was perfectly willing to accom- l.any Officer Dugan back to Chicago with out waiting for acquisition papers, but it is thought that inasmuch as the pa pers have already been forwarded to Governor Conner for his signature that Dugan will not leave with his prisoner until they have been received.
 Griffenburg seemed to be very much wrought up over the fact that Elmer Hoyt had accused him of sending his mother to an insane asylum as the direct result of his misdeeds. He stated that his mother was sent to such an insti- tuition and later died there, but that this occurred before he had committed any serious offense of any kind.
 He stated that when he was quite young he had an attack of lockjaw and his mother nursed him through this spell, which lasted for several weeks. He states that his mother will have been dead four years on the 7th of next May, and the earliest charge that the authorities have against him is credited in November 1905.
 Griffenburg was born in Philadelphia and removed to Chicago with his mother and sister nearly r years ago. and he states that Hoyt did not know his mother before he was born as he, Hoyt, stated last evening.
 Griffenburg admits the forgery charges on the s60 and $3O0 papers, but he de- nies the other charges of which he is alleged to be guilty.
 He declares that he was only in Texas for one short hour and that that time was spent in waiting for train in El Faso.
 He admits having been in Courtlandt, Cal, but refuses to say anything about his actions while out there. He says he was in Frisco during the earthquake and up to that time had studio there and was doing well. He states that he travelled under his own name during the entire time, wrote to his sister, who holds a position in a railroad office in Chicago, twice a week and never changed his name until he came to Birmingham about three months ago He states that when he arrived in Birmingham he was strict ly up against it and was, in fact des- perate. He says that his refusal to rec ognize Hoyt last evening was caused from the fact that the last time he saw him, Hoyt, he had a mustache and weighed at least 50 pounds less than he weighs at the present time. Griffenburg claims that when he came to Bessemer he had fully made up his .x4s. He said he knew he was being bounded but he felt that if he could once get a new start he could make good and live an honest life.
 It seems to be the general impression that Griffenburg will have hard road to travel when he reaches Chicago, and to use his expression, Every day will look like Sunday to him when they get through with him." He stated, however. that he had one consolation, although it was a mighty grim one, and that was if the officials in, Chicago gave him all that was due him in that city there would not be much left for Texas and Caif- fornia He stated that there seemed to be only one state so far in which no one had come forward and said that he was ac- cused of forgery and that state was Mis- souri.
 He attributed this partially to the fact that every one in Missouri had ito be shown" and there were certain times when he could mot show them.'
 The case has attracted considerable at tention in this city from the fact that Griffenburg was an exceptionally good pen and ink artist. and this gift is pos sibly the cause of his being so easy to catch.
 Tomorrow will close his business as far as Bessemer is concerned, and there are good many people, who hope that the number of charges against him have been exaggerated.
 Books To Open.
 The registration books for the city dem ocratic primary will open tomorrow morn- ing at 8 o'clock, and 1t is thought that a good registration in the different wards will be recorded in the first few days.
 The following places have been deslg- mated for registrations: First ward, J. P. Renners store, Carolina avenue and Eighteenth street. Second ward, Grand hotel lobby on Nineteenth street. Third ward. Bessemer hotel office. Fourth ward, corner Twentieth street and Third avenue.
 The books will be opened at 8 o'clock and will close at o'clock each day. It is thought that this will give everyone a chance to get around and register.
 The books will be kept open until next Saturday evening.
 Rolling Mill To Open.
 The rolling mill opens up tomorrow morning, and it is believed that the .'opening" will be permanent this time.
 This will give employment to between 200 and 250 men, and the news that the mill would start up on Monday has been received with great deal of satisfaction from the fact that a good many of the raen who had worked over there prior to 1t, closing down have been out of position