The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-05-04
WAS JAIL FIRE
|NCEND|ARY?
And Was Motive Destruction of
Evidence of Murder, Are
Questions Raised.
LOWER VALLEY AROUSED
OVER GRIFFIN'S DEATH
Witnesses to Proceedings Tell
Strange Story of Matters Lead
ing Up to Fire Which Throw
Suspicion on Officials.

Following a rumor which has con-
stantly gained ground since tho ere
nation of young Patrick Griffin in the
city Jail at Granger, about a week
ago. relative to the fact that the lads
death might have been due to the
vicious beating alleged to have been
administered to him h. Deputy Sheriff
DE kraay, citizens mass meeting
was called at Sunnyside Saturday
night and the committee which was
appointed for the purpose of confer.
ing with the county coroner and prose
cutlnS attorney relative to an AUTOPSY
on the body have announced that the
investigation will take place this
week.
The committee which is responsible
FOR the calling OF the mass meeting
at Sinnyside was composed OF J ,hn
Brown. l.. O'Brien and Harry John
son and the second committee which
called on the coroner and prosecuting
attorney consisted of II. d. Jory, ].
H. McFadden and Harry johnson.
Beaten Inscnsiblc.
me rumor over which the lower
valley is so aroused is to the effect
that before being taken to the lookup
prior to his cremation Griffin was set
upon and beat Into insensibility hv
the officer who arrested him and, in
Solar rs it is possible, the citizens of
Granger are determined to find out
whether or not the lad was dead be-
fore t"o Jail caught fire.
Witnesses Of the encounter between
the deputy sheriff and Griffin are
quoted as stating that the lad was
beaten over the head with q pair of
handcuifs by Deputy De Kraay when
he objected to having the "bracelets''
put ON his wrists While being taken
to the Jail.
In speaking of the affair the
Sunrysile Forum in an editorial
says:
FLAMES Deputy Sheriff.
Tho death of Patrick Griffin oc-
Cured in Granger Saturday night.
under circumstances that cast a gloom
over the community here, where the
young man. who was about II wears
of age, was well known and univer-
cally liked
so near as can be learned, young
Griffin, in company with number
of Worllingmen and others q num-
Der of whom were from the North
Coast Railroad camps, together with
few .SunnySde boys and good
many prominent citizens" of Grang-
err. Those who were with the young
man. claim that early in the evening,
the young man had a friendly scufIie
with a fellow workman and was put
out of the saloon by the bartender
ir1,f 70
a saloon row. Later, he returned to
the saloon and offered to buy drinks
for himself and a fellow workm an,
throwing down 20 cents on the bar.
The bartender refused to Sell him a
drink and an argument ensued, the
bartender coming from behind the
bar and ordering him out of the sa-
loon at the point of a gun. The young
man refused to go out and Deputy
Sheriff De Kraay vas called to arrest
him.
Objected to Handouts.
The statements of those present
We're to the effect that young Griffin
said that he would accompany the
deputy, but objected to being hand
cuffed; whereupon the deputy began
striking him over the head with the
handouts the third blow behind
the ear with the manacles wrapped
around the fist. This blow, accord
ing to those present. WAS delivered
with terrific force, and the boy was
knocked out-his resting on the bar,
the blood gushing in a stream from
behind the ear.
He was then taken by the deputy
n
the city Jail, in an apparently daZed
condition, his head dropping When ne
left the saloon.
See Fire Break Out.
shortly afterwards, several OF the