Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-05
SON OF WOMAN IN
CUSTODY, CHARGED
WITH THE KILLING
Cut Off in Fathers Will,
He Wreaks Vengeance OH
Stepfather, 1t Is Alleged.
SUFFOLK is STIRRED
AT NEWS OF TRAGEDY
Shot Six Times, Mrs. Peter p.
Knight Lays Blame
at Sons Door.
ACCUSED IS HELD WITHOUT BAIL
Courtney Griffin Declared Ia Have
brooded Over Fnct That Father
DfsfnhcrIted Him.
SUFFOLK is STIRRED
AT NEWS OF TRAGEDY
ACCUSED is HELD WITHOUT BAIL
Courtney GrImn Declared To HIVE
Brooded Over Fnct That Father
Disinhcrited Him.
Especial to The rimes-Dispatch.1

Especial TO The Times Dispatch
SUFFOLK. VA, March i.-Petcr r.
knight. prominent farmer OF Nanse-
rnond County. and native OF Gates
County. y. G.. is dead. and his wife.
Mrs. =. =. knight. formerly Mrs. q.
c. Griffin. OF the White Marsh Road.
Hansemond County. lies seriously.
wounded at 1.akcview Hospital. the
result OF bullets fired at them. i, ia
alleged. from gun in the hands
Of Mrs. knights son. Courtney
Griffin
The tragedy has Mortified The city
and county, and the prominence OF
al OF the persons connected with
the murder and shooting has made
II the subject of all street talk to-
day.
Courtney Grinn. son OF the late B,
G. Griffn. wellto-do farmer OF
Nansemond County, is now in Nanse-
mond County Jail, charged with the
murder Of Peter p. knight.
Mrs. Knight. with six bullet
wounds IN the lower limbs. made the
following statement, to n representa
tive OF The Times Dispatch, in the
presence OF Rev. DR.. w. w. Staley.
pastor of the SUFFOLK Christian
Church:
Mr.. knight. 10 whom was mar
ried on February. 2z. 1922, arose this
morning at our home on the White
Marsh Road at 5:l5 o'clock and made
fire in the Kitchen stove. IL was
pouring rain.
Cursed md Then Fired.
Il arose and dressed and went in 20
the kitchen at quarter OF G. and
Mr.. knight was sitting by the fire.
He waited minute and said. Well.
I'll go out and feed up
He opened the kitchen door. lead
ing out on our back porch. with a
lantern in his hand. AS he opened
the door. my son, Courtney Griffin.
!eveled n pistol at Mr. Knight and,
without word. except mumbled
curses. began to shoot.
Mr.. knight cried out one time.
Lord. help me- and then | ran
out on the porch. The kitchen was
in total darkness. as Courtney had
either shot out the light or blown
1t ont
''As | started out ne either pushed
49, " 81 VI S'o' me- ~ tndt lelt,
and when found myself was
lying on the floor OF the porch, snot
and bleeding
Mr. Knigh, was lying on tie
Kitchen floor. moaning for heir.
Courtney. when he had shot us both.
left
Crnwicd on Hands md Knees.
Il crawled out on my hands and
knees across the muddy yard into III.
lot and into the field. the rain falling
in deluges. and the darkness and pain
being something awful,
II tried to get TO the house or /,
colored man named Bullock, a tenant
on my farm. l could not make him
hear though I cried and cried. 1t
began To get light. looked down
In the corn row. and saw strcaks OF
my Own blood. staining the water as
1t flowed past mo. 'O..God.' though.
help me to get help
Finally Bullock came out. He sent
his boy. Luther, who works on my
place. for a. II. Hines and his sons.
my neishbors. They came quickly,
and put me in n wheelbarrow ami
carried me back TO my house and put
me on the lounge in my sitting
room
II thought surely would freeze.
1t was so cold and I was wringiny
wet. Mr.. Hines telephoned to Suffolk
for physicians. and the ambulance
Continued on Page G. Col .,