he carried and, in the presence of her S-year-old child, shot her to
-death_as_she was_talking over_the telephone,_He-was—drivine—around —_
looking for his rival for Miss Willaams' affections when he was spottec
by the police at Woodland Hills Park, When they attempted HXkXtoxm
force him_to the side of the road, he drove-over the curb and into the
park where he abandoned the car anden off into the woods, He was
overtaken and captured shortly afterwards and, having discarded the gur
in-the woods, he-offered-no-resistance, —At- fie trial, his-defense was
that he had overheard the Benjamins, MissWilliams and. her new friend
all plotting to kill him and that he decided to kill them first, His
attorneys unsuccessfully sought to prove alcoholic insanity, but their
_strategy failed when one of their alienists testified under cross-exsams
ination that he believed Griffin had known right from wrong at the time
of the murders, Tried for Mrs, Benjamin's murder first, he was con=
victed and sentenced to life imprisonment, He was then tried for Miss.
Williams! murder,: convicted and received the death sentence which was
urisuccessfully appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court, Griffin was elec-
trocuted at the Ohio State Prison onFebruary 15, 1963.6.
180 NORTHEASTERN (2nd) 92h
THE CALL AND POST, Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 2h, 1960-
| he carried and, in the presence of her 5~year-old child, shot her to
death _as_she was_talking over the telephone He—was—drivine around
S ° Saas
leoking for his rival for Miss Willaams' affections when he was spotted
by the police at Woodland Hills Park, When they attempted HXHXtoxm
force him to the-side of the road, he-drove-over the curb and into the
park where he abandoned the car and ran off into the woods, He was
overtaken and captured shortly afterwards and, having discarded the guy]
in-the woods, he offered-no- resistance. At his trial, his defense was
that he had overheard the Benjamins, MissWilliams and her new friend
all plotting to kill him and that he decided to kill them first, His
attorneys unsuccessfully sought to prove alcoholic insanity, but their
strategy failed when one of their alienists testified under cross-exam#
ination that he believed Griffin had known right from wrong at the timed
of the murders, Tried for Mrs, Benjamin's murder first, he was con=
victed and sentenced to life imprisonment, He was then tried for Miss
Williams' murder,* convicted and received the death sentence which was
unsuccessfully appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court, Griffin was elec-
trocuted at the Ohio State Prison onFebruary 15, 19636
180 NORTHEASTERN (2nd) 92h,
THE CALL AND POST, Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 2hy 1960
he carried and, in the presence of her S-year-old child, shot her to
| death as_she eth h ing_around —
fe oe eal for Miss wanisane" nineties a he was spotted
the police at Woodland Hills Park, When they attempted MiiXtoxmx
force him to the side of the road, he drove over the curb and into the
park where he abandoned the car and ran off into the woods, He vas
overtaken and captured shortly afterwards and, having discarded the ¢
th his-trial, his defense was
sililliams and her new friend
in the woods, he offered-no-resisbance.
that he had overheard the Benjamins, Mi
attorneys unsuccessfully sought to prove alcoholic. insai
y failed when one of their alienists :
ination that Hs eae Griffin had known right from wrong at the tim¢
of the mrders, Tried for Mrs, Benjamin's murder first
victed ati eet eee imprisonne
Williams
testified under cross-exa
> he was con=
nt, He was then tried for Miss
murder,: convicted and received the death sentence which was
unsuccessfully appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court, Griffin was elec-
trocuted at the Ohio State Prison onFebruary 15, 19630
"ERN (2nd) 92h,
ND POST, Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 2h, 1960
GRIFFIN , Robert
Griffin, a l?-year-old black man who lived at 1720 East 90th St.,
Cleveland, Ohio, was a garbage truck driver, He married in 1939 but
shortly thereafter left his wife and started living with another w-
man by whom he sired four children, In 195, he met Mary Lee Williams
and they began having an affair during the course of which he contin-
ued to support the woman with whom he had previously lived and their
children, In 1960 Miss Williams began seeing another man and Griffin
became jealous and believed that her friends, Mr. and Mrs, Willie Ben-
jamin who lived in the Essex House Apartments at 2062 East 77th St,
were encouraging her in her new relationship. After he got off work
on the afternoon of Sept, 16, he began drinking ahd shortly before
midnight he went to his own apartment where he got his double barrel
shotgun, He then drove to the Essex House Apartments and went to the
rear door of the Benjamin Apartment and knoeked. Mr, Benjamin opened
the door, but when he saw the gun, he slammed it shut and bolted it.
Griffin fired two charges through the door, injuring Benjamin and a
woman who was inside, He then walked around to the front of the build-
ing where he encountered Mrs,, Benjamin talking with a lady. Te shot
her in the back of the head, killine her instantly, and some of the
shot wounded her friend, Griffin then drove to Miss™illiams' apart-
ment, located at 1833 East 79th Ste, opened the door with a key which
GRIFFIN , Robert
Griffin, a l?-year-old black man who lived at 1720 Hast 90th St.,
Cleveland, Ohio, was a garbage truck driver, He married in 1939 but
shortly thereafter left his wife and started living with another w-
man by whom he sired four children, In 195, he met Mary Lee Williams
and they began having an affair during the course of which he contin-
ued to support the woman with whom he had previously lived and their
children, In 1960 Miss Williams began seeing another man and Griffin
became jealous and believed that her friends, Mr, and Mrs, ‘Willie Ben-
jamin who lived in the Essex House Apartments at 2062 East 77th St,
were encouraging her in her new relationship. After he got off work
on the afternoon of Sept. 16, he began drinking ahd shortly before
midnight he went to his own apartment where he got his double barrel
shotgun, He then drove to the Essex House Apartments and went to the
rear door of the Benjamin Apartment and knogked. Mr, Benjamin opened
the door, but when he saw the gun, he slammed it shut and bolted it.
Griffin fired two charges through the door, injuring Benjamin and a
woman tho was inside. He then walked around to the front of the build-
ing where he encountered Mrs., Benjamin talking with a lady, He shot
her in the back of the head, killing her instantly, and some of the
shot wounded her friend, Griffin then drove to Miss‘illiams! apart -
ment, located at 1833 East 79th St., opened the door with a key which
GRIFFIN , Robert
Griffin, a l\2-year-old black man who lived at 1720 Fast 90th St.
Cleveland, Ohio, was a garbage truck driver, He married in 1939 but
shortly thereafter left his wife and started living with another w-
man by whom he sired four children, In 195i, he met Mary Lee ‘All:
and they began having an affair during the cours e i
ued to support the woman with whom he had previously een Ailes
children, In 1960 Miss Williams began seeing anctee man and Grif;
became jealous and believed that her friends, Mr, and Mrs, ‘Millie Ben-
jamin who lived in the Essex House Apartments at 2062 East 77th Sts
were eee her in her new relationship, After he got off work
he afternoon of Sept. 16, he began drinking ahd shortly before
arate he went to his own apartment where he ae his double barrel |
shotgun, He then drove to the Essex House Apart
rear door of is pene Apartment and knoeked.
the door, but
Griffin Fired es hee through the door, injuring Be
wonan tho was insides He then walked around to the front of th
ing yhere he encourt ere fenjanin tallcing with a Ladys |
her in the ye nstantly, and som
shot wounded her fi n drove to Miss” Utiens!
ment, located at 1 a
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