The Big Story
The Corn Cob Killer
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This episode of The Big Story recounts the case of Holly Griffith, a convicted murderer whose prison record and repeated attempts at parole drew attention. After escaping prison in 1920, Griffith killed Ira Rousch while trying to take his boat. He was convicted of the killing in 1921.
The account follows Griffith through years of imprisonment, including 17 unsuccessful parole applications. Though he was described as a model prisoner and started a tailoring business that made uniforms for state workers, a doctor warned in a local newspaper that he remained dangerous. Griffith was eventually released for medical reasons in 1967, but his supervision failed and he was recaptured. He died in a prison hospital in 1971.
The Big Story presents crime stories drawn from newspaper reporting, bringing the people and events behind a headline to radio through dramatic narration and reenactment. This episode’s focus on Griffith’s escapes, prison life, and eventual release gives the story a stark, unsettling portrait of a man whose apparent reform never erased the danger associated with his past.
This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.