The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-07-09
witnesses to the Crime Were
The II Year Old Son of Mrs.
GriswoId and Sister, Miss
Gilmore.
SLAYER IN RICHMOND
YESTERDAY MORNING
Whik Here He Drank Some,
8ut Acquaintances Say He
Was Not Drunk Murderer
Mill Not Talk.
(staff corrsspondent.)

Eaton, o., July 9.-Exasperated to
the point of desperation by his unre-
,quitAd love for her. his flimpid cour-
age timulated by drink. Harry Rife.
81. an Electrician. shot and killed Mrs.
,Iida Griswold In the reading room of
ahe public library yesterday afternoon
iabout o'clock. Turning the smok-
ing weapon upon himself, he placed
the muzzle at his left breast and fred
again. The bullet merely grazed the
sskin, but believing he had accom-
plished his purpose. the assassin
reeled and fell heavily to the floor by
the side Of the dying victim OF his
Anfatuation.
The shots attracted the attention of
other persons in the building and on
the street. Patrolman A. M. Runyon
was among the first to reach the room.
Just as he entered Rife rallied from
his slight shock and arose to his knees.
Runyon grabbed him and was about to
man demonstrated saying he would go
to jail peaceably.
Her Son Nearby.
Only q few feet distant from his
t1nother. when she received the fatal
kshot over her heart. was Cloyd; the
Twelve year old son Of Mrs. Griswold.
Slightly farther away was Miss Grace
Gilmore. sister. Both were almost
prostrated by the scene and last night
the little boy was under the constant
care Of physician. The boy was the
only actual eye witness, as his aunt
,had turned to the top OF the stairway
ito call assistance, after being scared
by the foreboding attitude OF Rife.
Mrs. Griswold was one Of the best
known and highest respected women
LOT Eaton. She was the eldest daugh-
tier Of Judge and Mrs. James Gilmore.
Her father formerly presided in the
|common pleas court. She has been
librarian at the public institution ever
since its organization and through her
position became acquainted with near.
ly every resident Of the town. She
has borne a splendid reputation in ev.
cry way. She has been prominent in
:church and social affairs. She was di.
vorced from Donald Griswold. whose
whereabouts are unknown to the fam
lily and local friends. She made her
tur street. She was thirty-seven years
.Old.
Was Booze Fighter.
Rife is an electrician, whose home
until recently has been at Boston.
Ind. For q few months he resided in
Richmond. and was but recent resi-.
dent Of Eaton. He has been addicted
to the use Of intoxicants and has been
regarded as OF rather nondescript
character. He was employed at the
electric light plant. He had been
morose recently and his friends be
lieved he was brooding upon some
matter. The night before he had spent
in carousal with friends and had drank
freely. He is the son OF Mrs. Mary
Rife who resides near Boston.
Yesterday morning was spent by
Rife in Richmond. He imbibed in in
toxicants but acQuaintances who rode
from Richmond here on the same car
with him say he was not drunk. He
spent the afternoon In various places
about the city and just previous to
going to the library was chatting with
acqnaintances at tailor shop. He
appeared In good spirits and to none
did he intimate that he contemplated
any rash act.
Went e Library.
After leaving the shop he went to
khe library and to the reading room.
Alrs. Griswold was ct her accustomed
If