A Los Angeles robbery that seemed daring enough on its own became even stranger when the culprit turned out to be one of the city’s own policemen.
In 1918, A.J. Griffith, a plainclothes officer, confessed to holding up a Wells Fargo Express messenger and stealing nearly $20,000 from a money wagon. The crime had all the makings of a sensational newspaper story: a revolver, a handful of pepper thrown into the victim’s face, gold coins, returned checks, and one very suspicious automobile purchase.
What began as a bold street robbery quickly unraveled when Griffith’s sudden spending drew attention. His explanation was simple, desperate, and damning: he had been sick, broke, and watching the wagon for days. Then, when the chance came, he took it.
Police Confesses He is $20,000 Bandit
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The mystery of one of the boldest robberies in this city was solved the other day when A.J. Griffith, policeman, confessed that he was the man who held up Herman Rosenblum, Well Fargo Express messenger, and stole $19,900 from him on the Principal Street.
Griffith climbed up on Rosenblum’s wagon and compelled Rosenblum, at the point of a revolver, to open a money box. Then he threw a handful of pepper into the messenger’s face and escaped.
Checks and drafts worth $13,750, part of the loot, were received by mail at the First National Bank the day following. Of the sum stolen, $6,150 was in gold coin.
Suspicious was directed against Griffith, who is a “plain clothes man,” when he bought an automobile the day after the robbery, paying for it in gold coin.
“I had been sick and up against it,” Griffith said. “I followed the wagon around for three days. Then I saw my opportunity and took it. After buying the automobile, I deposited the rest of the money and mailed the checks back to the First National Bank. Then I took the empty bags out to the edge of the town and threw them away.”
Source: Charlevoix County Herald. East Jordan, Mich. October 25, 1918.
