The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-08-19
PINK GRIFFIN TO
BE ELECTROCUTED
SLAYER OF DR.. /. c. LIPSCOMB
FOUND GUILTY.
Trial Consumed Two Hours After
First Juror Was Drawn-Negro
Wanted to Plead Guilty.
Greenwood IndexJournal, 18th.

Greenwood IndexJournal, 18th.
With mirthless smile, Pink
Griffin, convicted of the murder of
DIR. Lawton C. Lipscomb, received
at 1890 today, the sentence to die
by electrocution between the hours
of l a. m. and II p. m. on Friday,
September 2. AS soon as Judge r.
B. Gary, presiding over the special
term of court of general sessions, or
dered by Governor Cooper, had pro-
nounced the sentence on Griffin, the
negro leaned slightly over the dock
rail and muttered to Rural Police
man ]. T. Mcdowell, standing near
him, that he had made his peace with
God. Taking testimony was conclud-
ed at 1855 and the jury retired. At
1905, exactly ten minutes after
ward, they returned a verdict OF
guilty of murder in the first degree.
No. Sign of Disorder.
In the vast throng that jostled and
rushed for place to stand inside the
court house this morning, not sign
of disorder could be seen. When the
prisoner was brought into court,
there was not sound and the SEN
tence was received with death like
silence. Judge Gary before adjourn
ing court expressed his appreciation
of the good order and declared that
the people of Greenwood county de-
served great credit for their forbear-
ance in allowing the law to take It's
course. He also paid tribute to the
efficiency of the officers of the law in
maintaining order.
The crowd that filed the court
house today was the largest since
Greenwood has been a county, at
torneys VINO have practiced here
since the county was organized, de-
clared. A seething mass OF human
ity showed and pushed for standing
room in the sweltering heat of the
court room, from which every YES
tiee of breeze was excluded by the
men-filled windows. Seats were made
for women inside the railing and
standing men almost blocked the
indee's view of the grand jury. Men
crouched around the judges desk, sat
on edge of tables, iniprovised bottoms
for broken chairs, sat in the witness
stand until that was cleared by the
sheriff, and occupied every inch OF
standing room in the building. Only a
handful of negroes was present, Sit
ting far back in the rear of the court
room. The figures Of men could
dfmly be outlined in the cavellke
balcony on the south side of the
building. So great was the heat that
one was almost overcome and had to
be led through the throng by the
sheriff to the open air outside.
Prisoner Admits Guilt.
After the order for the court sign
ed by Chief Justice Eugene B. Gary,
had beea read, and grand and petit
iuross polled, the accused man was
led into the court room. His ap-
pearance was greeted with silence.
Nothing but the whirr of the elec-
tric fan on the judges desk broke the
stiffness for a moment and then a
suppressed whisper passing over the
curious crowd caused the sheriff to
rap for order. The Indictment was
handed over to the grand jury and in
a few minutes they returned after
finding a true bill. On arraignment,
the prisoner pleaded guilty, but his
plea was overruled by Judge Gary,
who told the clerk that plea OF
guilty could net be accepted to a cap
ital offense and that plea OF not
guilty must be recorded. When ad-
mitting his guilt, Griffin smiled.
Throughout the trial, the only emo
ton he displayed was an occasional
smile and a nervous swapping of his
finger nails. At other times he mere
ly looked at the witness with
slight scowl:
No New Evidence.
The evidence brought out in the
trial this morning differed only in
minor details from that at the coro-
ner's inquest. Lloyd B. Harrison was
appointed by the judge to represent
Griffin. When the negro was asked
whether he had an attorney, he ans
wered, s'No, SIR" in clear, firm
voice. When he was asked if ne was
fo,. trial the ScoWl on his face