The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-01-07
Mike Griffin, Convicted Of Setting
Fire to Four Corners, Given
Seven Years in Waupun
STILL FIGHTS FOR LIBERTY
Judge Belden Gives Griffin Sentence
With Dying Of the Old Year But
Will Sign Petition for
Parole Later

Mike Griffin, the alleged scape goat
of the band who burned the notorious
resort the Four Corners, just west of
the city several months ago, got a
gruesome New Years present from
Judge Belden Thursday night for just
as the old year was going out Griffin
who had been convicted on charges of
arson several weeks ago, was summoned
before the court and sentenced to a
term Of seven years in the state prison
at Waupun. Before the sentence was
imposed Judge Belden announced that
the motion to set aside the verdict and
the motion for new trial, had been de
MED. Griffin had been hopeful to the
last that he would get a, new trial and
the decision Of the court found him
broken in spirits When he was called
upon to make some statement before
sentence was imposed he simply insist
ed that he was innocent of the charge
Of which he had been convicted
In pronouncing sentence Judge Beld-
en- told Griffin that he was giving him
the minimum sentence under the laws
of Wisconsin and that he realized that
the sentence was a, hard one under the
circumstances. He stated that he
would be pleased to sign a petition for
the parole of the prisoner after he had
served half of the sentence. There. was
none Of the friends Of Griffin in court
when sentence was imposed, but his at
torneys had telephoned the sheriff and
asked that he be kept in Kenosha for
several days until they could have
chance to seek a stay of execution from
the Supreme Court pending the appeal
Of the case and Griffin will not be taken
to prison until the first of next week.
He is stin hopeful that the powerful
friends who took care of his defense
will find some way to prevent his being
taken to prison between now and next
Tuesday 1t was thought possible that
Griffin would make a clean breast Of
the story of the fire after he had been
sentenced, but when he was being taken
back to prison all he would say was,
''Wel [ guess that Jew put up good
job on me that time. - Griffin insists
that he is innocent of the charges and
his statements have led the officials to
believe that Ashman, the man arrested
with him, was equally guilty in the
matter. Ashman made a pretense of
turning states evidence at the trial of
Griffin, but the district attorney is con
vinced that he never told the whole
story Of the case. Ashman gained his
freedom after the conviction Of Griffin
and he has left Kenosha and it is proba-
BILE that he would be very difficult to
find even if an information should
be filed against him.
The district attorney and officials of
the court seem to believe that Griffin
was the stool pigeon Of the other mem
bers Of the gang interested in the burn
ing of the old road house, but it is pref
ty certain that he is too good a sport
to squeal on the others and he will
probably take his punishment.
The sentenced man was at one time
a well known teaming contractor in
Milwaukee and was we'll known to
certain coterie Of politicians in Milwau-
kee. Since he has been in jail these
people have done everything in their
power to secure his release The most
expensive attorneys have been secured
and Griffin has received many presents
of fruit and flowers at his cell in the
county Jail. The district attorney has
by no means given up the investigation
of the case and it is not impossible
that other arrests may yet be made.