The Glenwood post., 1910-11-26
William Griffith Smarting Under Con,
viCtion of Saloon Assault Shoots
Three Men and Kills Self
HEROIC MARSHAL IS KILLED

One of the worst tragedies that ever
came upon the little town of New Cas-
tie was that of Wednesday afternoon
when William Griffith, former saloon
keeper and ball player and better
known as "Colorow, - shot and NOR
tally wounded John Rennix, the town
marshal, shot and instantly killed vii
lin Davis, then shot Philip Carpenter
and later. seeing his chance of escape
cut of. pointed the muzzle of his rifle
toward his own brain and ended his
troublesome existence.
When it is said that this was one of
New Castle 5 worst tragedies the state
meut is made advisedIy and with full
heartachcs that have resulted from
mine and railroad accident in the little
camp causing a greater number If
deaths than resulted from Wednesday ;
event, but these, it seems, were acci-
dents for which no one was directly
responsible and which apparently could
not have been prevented. But Wed
ne day 5 tragedy was so ineXcusabIe
and SO thoroughly traceable to a con
dition which should never have been
allowed to exist that it will appeal to
many as the most dreadful thing that
has ever cast pail oi gloom and sor-
row over the little community.
Smarting under conviction by Il
jury in the district court Tuesday IN
charge of assault with intent to kill
John Pine, an old man who had been
one of the patrons of his saloon, Grit
fifth returned to New Castle but not
until he had threatened in public places
in Glenwood to kill at least two of the
witnesses who had testified against
him in the trial
The first thing he did was to sally
forth on the streets armed with a six
shooter. and meeting town marshal
Rcnnix and Frank Sample. the latter
the prosecuting witness against him
| y
informed Sample that since he had testi-
| fed against him he intended to "get
him. Sample, stating that he, Griffith.
had his gun and that Sample should 60
and get his as he did not care to take
advantage of a man who was unarmcd
RenniX stepped up to Griffith and. lay
ing hand on his shoulder, said, " Now,
Billie, just put up that gun, for We
are not going to have any trouble
here - Gritiith's reply was two shots
at Renuix, one of them taking effect
in the groin, the other going wild.
Rennix fell to the ground. but seeing
that Griffith was chasing Sample down
the street waving his gun in the air,
he raised himself on his left arm AMI
shot at Griffith, the bullet striking in
Griffith 5 left shoulder. Griffith fell to
the ground and lost his gun, but at once
regained his feet and retrcated to his
room. Soon afterwards William Davis
was passing down the street carrying
a Winchester rifle which he had used
| in a recent hunting trip and winch he
was now returning to the owner. Grit
| fifth. seeing him and evidently thinking
that Davis had armed himself for him,
raised his window and fired, Davis fail
| ing dead with the top of his head
blown off Immediately after shoot
inc Davis. Griffith fired at Philip Car
renter. Davis father-,n-law, the bullet
striking in the shoulder which was
badly broken.
As might be expected, terror reignel
supreme in New Castle for the next
few hours. Griffith had made threats
that no one could take him and besides
it is said had made numerous threats
against the lives of number of the
leading citizens of the town and the
desperate character of the man, coupled
with these threats and the terrible
protA lust furnished that he did not
hesitatc to take human life, naturally
struck terror to the hearts of the peo'
ple and made them much more cautious
than they had ever been.
For twnty or thirty minutes the
dead body of Davis lay in the street