Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-02-03
POLICEMEN SAVE
NEGRO BANDIT
FROM MOB
Gunman LootS Four Houses
and Is Threatened by Crowd
of His Own Race.

Shep Griffin, a negro with Grim
final record as long as his arm, includ-
ing charges Of murder, larceny and bur
glary, made a few more entries on the
list today when he broke in four houses,
STACKED their inmates, and sent ed
Redding. 81 Henry street, to the hos
pital with cracked skull all within
the space of a half hour.
Before Griffin was captured, four
officers chased him several blocks after
Rushing him under the house Of his
last victim. The negro showed hghI
and the policemen fired at him several
times. finally overpowering him only 20
heht in his behalf against a furious
mob Of negroes who wanted to lynch
him,
Arrafsned before Recorder Broyies
little later, Griffin was bound over un-
der the sum OF 5000 on three charges
of burglary and one charge OF assault
with intent to murder. and was sent 10
the Tower In default of ball.
should Get 90 Years, Says Court.
"You should get 60 years on this
4he recorder said, "and then maybe
youli feel that it's best 10 be good.
Last year Griffin came up on three
charges. Of theft, burglary, and muir
der. respectively, but escaped prosecu-
ton on each.
Early this morning he broke into the
house of John Weems a negro, at 30
Culver street, and then looting the
uiaee openly. Weems awoke, and Grlf-
nm threw a lighted lamp at him. Hurled
Al close range the lamp barely missed
weerns' head, and was shattered
awaanst the door Just beyond him. Grif-
An cooIIy continued his ransacking OF
the house. and then went next door.
Notwithstanding the fact that Weems
had given the alarm, Griffin entered the
house of Mark Kirk, negro woman, ~
fh,lyer street. The woman was awake
but Griffin kept her quiet by the threat
az shooting her, and she watched him
run ra uddly through her belongings
Naaroes Threaten to Lynch Him.
The alarm had been given to the po-
lice. but before they came. the des-
nerado entered two other houses OF the
neirhborhood Going into the home OF
I'D Redding. a negro 81 Henry street,
he began to loot. Redding attacked
him. and again Griffin resorted to the
use Of a lamp. He struck Redding in
the head with the vessel, knocking him
unconscious and infiicting wound that
sent his victim to the Grady hospital
in danger OF death From Readings
house he obtained revolver.
Armed. he broke into the house of
galie Wilson. at SO Henry street The
woman screamed. but he sienced her
with the menace of the pistol, and took
several small articles.
About this time, the neighborhood
aroused. and Griffin took alarm. He
ran outside and sought TO hide beneath
the house But four officers who had
responded to the call--Captain Poole
and Patrolmen Watson. Anderson and
McWilliams-were informed of his hid
ing place. They chased him out, and
followed him several blocks, shooting
as they ran. The negro finally was
cougllt and brought back to the neigh
borhood OF his depredations
More than a hundred half clad ne
gToes had formed a mob, threatening
Griffin. Some one shouted lynch him. -
and the negroes became violent, at
tenn pting to take Griffin from the Off 70
GERS II was necessary TO hustle him
through fighting mob TO the patrol,
and to rush him to safety.