East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-02-01
TAD'S T|Db|TS :
WHEN GRIFEO TURNED
DESPERATE
lBy I. n. So


"reminiscences for a San Francisco
newspaper. mailed us copy OF his
story about Griffo, the great Austral-
ian 'featherweight of days gone by.
Here it is:
''The hangout for the fighters and
their associates in New York ir Grit.
fo's days, was Martin Dowling's sa-
loon, Twenty eighth street and Sixth
avenue. On the way there one night
Griffo told me of great scheme he
had for both of us TO make money.
Naturally was interested, and
Griffo then confided in me his scheme,
1t was simply that we rob bank.
"Griffo explained that he had oe-
>come friendly with some of the great
est men in the country in that line of
business,' and that he knew just how
to do it.
He was still explaining when we
entered Dowling's ana ran into Billy
Delaney.
Il asked Griffo if he didn't think
We ought to let Delaney in on our
| plan.
He looked Delaney overland asked
me ii l thought he was all right.
vouched for Delaney.
I BILLY. who was a great joker, seem
ed to think we'll of the idea, so wei
that. he Immediately picked out the
bank to rob-the Amsterdam Bank a
Forty first and Broadway.
Then Delaney became confidentia
with Griffo. He told him that he hat
been in on one or two other bank rob
berries and that was no novice at tn
business myself. @
"'Alll right, said Griffo, when d.
we work.?
Tonight said Delaney the soon
er the better !,
Il was detailed to get the tools. w
then separated to meet again at !
o'clock that night. !,
Delaney and l hired a cab and W
picked up Griffo at the appointe
place.
Il had gunny sack full Of old scra
iron, which, told Griffo, were tn
tools 70 be used in cracking the safe.
Il handed him, too, an old rusty si'
| shooter. But be careful how you Us
, it, warned him; no bloodshed III
less II becomes necessary
: 1--WE drove up to the side of IL
dbank asd got out. had the sack
scrap iron over my shoulder and Gri
TO had the six-shooter. Delaney w;
the master mind --+the director of II
| robbery
"He tapped me on the shoulde
You stand here he. said while Gri
70 looks around. II the coast is clea
go in, crack the safe and get I'll
money. I'll be waiting with the car. I
''Then he motioned to Griffo. 'G'
started he whispered, but remembt
no bloodshedi
"Griffo started. But he had gor
only few steps when he was startls
out of his boots.
II had let the sack of old irof
slip out of my hand and it struck II
cement sidewalk with u clash and
jangle that could be heard for mi
! up and down Broadway.
"Griffo jumped back toward Il
] cab, and, in the light Of a nearl
Z street light, dim as il was whereA v
Z stood, we could see his Adant's app
jerking up and down.
when he finished suffering al
swallowing he gave me the devil +
having been so careless
you'll have policeman down
u.s. he said.
delaney, too, gave me fits for n
carelessness. and, of course, apol
gized and seemed to feel very bad
over the accident and promised that
would not happen again.
eve waited awhile to see tn
everything was all right, and then ?
laney pointed at the side door OF 4
bank. 4a
"That way he said get the waite
Y man, g
'Griffo started for the doorw;
: rusty and unloaded six-shooter
. hand, and he was just about to put
Il foot on the stone step when
husky stepped out and grabbed h
by the coat collar
THE husky was Con McVey,
sparring partner of Jim Corbett. a
whom Delaney, Of course. had plant
in the doorway,
Many years have passed since
last saw Griffo. But I'll bet he s
shivers when he thinks of the sc;
he got when McVey grabbed him.
He was so frightened that he
tually cried. I'm no bank robber,
officer' he walled; honest. I'm \
I'm fighter; look at me bloody
given me by Dan Creeden in Owstr
la
delaney never got over Laughing
the spectacle of Griffo pointing at
cauliflower ear and pleading with
fake officer to let him go.
"The joke, Of course, was a Ri
piece OF business, as | said. 1t mi
easily have landed us all in jail
iii tho nipht a taaqt