The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-05-11
TRIPLE SLAYER
CHANGES TALE
(Continued from Paga I'D


bar. has been employed to fight
single handed the last desperate
fight of the confessed slayer.
Griffith was indicted on the very
day circuit court opened at Lebanon,
the seat of the county wherein
wholesale murder was committed on
the morning of March 20. It was
not necessary even to introduce the
confession as evidence to the grand
jury.
Plans Desperate Stand
The testimony of witnesses was
taken, and tomorrow a dazed and
simple-minded coal miner. the father
Of eight children, will make a des.
perate stand for his life.
Henry Griffith was born in Vir.
ginia-he grew up there, without
ever knowing what. the other kids
of his neighborhood did at the
weather-boarded school, three miles
distant from his fathers home.
Early in life he married one Of the
girls with whom he had played as
boy.
He became a coal miner, and when
God began to send children to the
Griffith home. Henry's life be-
came wrapt up in them. Down in
the bowels of the earth, Henry
worked by day to keep the ever
menacing wolf from his steadily
growing family OF tousel.headed
boys.
Griffith's uncouth boyhood and
the subsequent manifestation of a
certain religious code later in the
latter years of his uninteresting
career. supplies no answer to the
question
How could man with the un-
educated, uncultured background of
Henry Griffith execute the crime he
has confessed to?
Tryst With Suitor
Just after midnight on Sunday
morning in March, Henry Griffith
committed the crime. Mollie Crit
nth. the mother of the accused
slayer's eight children, and Mr.. and
Mrs. Matt Lawson, neighbor resi-
dents of the Griffith family, had
just passed through a deep railroad
cut, walking. They came to the
other side and halted. On that spot
they were to meet Mrs. Griffith's
paramour, John Blair, and togethe,.
the quartet was to leave the country.
The trio came to the designated
trysting place. They placed their
suitcases and personal effects they
carried in their hands, on the rail-
road track beside them.
Then out of the darkness, mum
bling family to himself, Henry
Griffith, tall, haggard, roughly
CARRIED in overalls. stumbled over the
railroad ties unon the waiting trio.
He faced the three. The bloodshot
eyes penetrated the gloom and he be-
came alert.
"MOllie. I've been huntin' all night
for you.. Wllar YOU gOin'. anyhOw?"
I'm leaving You right now, for
ever. Henry Griffith" came the
ready response from MOlIie. who
was hardly as tall as Henry's Shout
der. I'm just good and tired Of
your sorry ways, and besides i
don't love you any more and never
aMoIlie. think Of the children. .
Henry pleaded in his deep bass that
thrObbed with the appeal i'm his
soul. "What viii they dc without
your"
"I'm gOing,'s sail Mollie.
The three picked up their suit
cases from the railroad ties. and
started trudginR off through the
| gloom.
Gives Wife Chance
From the hip pocket OF his over.
alls the coal miner drew revol.
yer and fired.
With a sickening. deathlike thud,
Matt Lawson fell to the railroad
4 ties. Another shot. Lawson's wife
sank to her knees and from that
position to full length on the right
of.way. dead.
'sWill you tell it," Henry turned
savagely upon his wife.
Yes. I'll tell it," was the belliger.
e1t answer.
i Another shot and another the
wife dropped dead. It was Q o'clock
In the morning. Griffith toiled to
clear away the evidences Of his
crime. One by one the bodies were
carried down the sharp teclivity
OF the railroad track, to the river
land dumped into the water. The
suitcases followed.
At q few minutes after o'clock
Griffith climbed into bed.
Yes, ] went to sleep quickly.
was tired but didn't sleep good,
How could have slept good?''
Griffith told the authorities.
The following Tuesday, Henry
i became nervous q returned to the
iscene that was marked with q