The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-29
AS MAN AND OFFICER.
Everybody Who Knows McGraw
Speaks Well of Him.
HIS NEiGHeoRs AND HIS FOES.
Political Opponents Vie With Lifelong
Friends in Communication Of His
Life and Career.


ex-county commissioner OF snohomish county
and e. presen. one of the wealthiest farmers in
the state, was King county logger when John
II, MeGrsw was on the Seattle police force. lie
now resides at Tualeo. this county, where he
now has Que of the best cultivated farms in the
West PosT-IsTELLIGsScKg representative
saw him at his home yesterday, and the CONVEX
sation turning naturally on politics. Mr.. Phelps
was asked 70 tell what he knew about Mr.. Nc
Graw's history. He said:
have known John IT, McGraw over seven
teen years. I have noticed with indignation
the false charges against his character maize by
some papers, and could reiute them all with q
clear conscience. / never saw so many mis-
representations about man before, and when
you know that was right around where Nc
Graw was during the early period to which
these ISLANDERS relate. you can imagine how GER
tainly know them TO be untrue.
When frat knew Mr.. McGraw he was run
ming q small hotel called the American house
on Railroad avenue in Seattle This was il
1876 or Whereabouts. was then logging at ono-
qualmie, and used TO go TO Seattle every week
LOOKING after my numbering interests. During
these visits usually stopped AT Mr. MeGraws
hotel, aud so became well acquainted with him.
This story OF his running gambling house IS
ali wind, for was all through the house and
would have eeen such doings had they been
going on / believe there was a bartoom in the
house; but as far as that Is concerned, few we'll
regulated hotels are ever without these
apartments. Mr.. MeGraw gave the barroom
no personal attention, was not the bsrseeper
ana was, during tue years L knew UfEl kHefe,
one of the most respectable aud law-ab.ding
citizens ever saw. Several months afterwards
the American house was burned in the Yes or
mill fire. and Mr.. MeGraw went on the police
forcs at q very small salary. Bat even in this
position he proved his usual good faith IN tns
honest performance of his duties.
As TO the Chinese trouble OF 1885, bad occa-
sion personally 10 witness Mr.. McGraw's action
relative to it, As sheriff OF King county he did
Just what any other man in similar position
ought to do. Notwithstanding this. he thereby
ffr ffsts.a Fha n fax
the law In their own hands. l should think II
would be the last thing true, law abiding cisi-
zen would do 10 find fault with Mr. MeGraW's
Chinese record. This charge is as false as all
others are. Although am Republican, say
without party prejudice that John II. McGraw
il an ideal, upright and honest American
citizen.
Frank Hanford Is member of the insurance
firm of Hanford & Stewart, and is a brother OF
United States Judge Haniord
| consider Mctiraw one of the coolest, bravest
and most manly men ever knew. shall never
forget one awful scene when MeGraw showed
his mettle. lie was city marshal aud chief OF
police aud wyckoff was sheriff There had
been several assaults on the street. and young
Reynolds was killed by footpads The whole
town turned out to capture them. and Kellogg.
Billy Jones and Atkins caught him in the hay
lott OF Harrington Dc Smiths wharf They
turned him over to Mc6raw, but the v!giants
went up To the old courthouse to lynch him. In
the doorway stood McGraw, Wyckof and a
was there demanding the prisoner. 1t
was not a mob, but what were then
the best citizens OF the place; They, yelled
for tho murderer. but McGraw declared
that Seattle should not lie disgraced ii he could
prevent it. He promised them that in the morn
Ing the prisoner should be in court To stand
trial wonder Mcoiraw was not killed. the peo-
pie were so furious, but his cool bravery swed
them and on his promise to produce the man
next dav they withdrew. Now, many of these
men were leading citizens and their enmity 10
at.y ant mil k,1f bA
hiuched. You know that the mob afterward
captured the man In court and hanged him, but
not until conc .usive evidence against him had
placed his guilt beyond doubt.
Two weeks afterward sheriff Wyckof tuc-
cunbed to the strain of that awful night and
died. Notwithstanding McGraw's determined
stand. profound was the admiration Tor his
splendid conduct and confidence in his fidelity
tn the trust reposed in him as a sworn officer OF
the law, he was elected by the very people who
had how led at him Iii their momentary rage
There was a great demonstration on the night OF
his eeetion--it was one of the biggest displays
over man Seattle had ever known.
Ever since that time McGrsw has been a con-
speuous figure in seattles history, and as
man, an officer, ana an ever loyal advocate Of
scattle's Interests, his reputation remains I'M
biemished.
When MeGraw kept tho American house. I
was book keeper for Harrington d smith, and
had dealings with him. know the character
OF the house. aud / know hcGraw's standing
even at that time. was often in the house,
ana must have known If there was any gambl-
Ing. Its too ridiculous to contradict
Charles T. Conover, of Crawford & Conover,
said yesterday:
No man has the temerity 10 stand up in Mr.
MeGraw's home city, among his Old friends and
neighbors. and say that he was ever guilty of a
dishonorable act. These charges inspired
by man of bad character who married for his
second wife an abandoned W man. and after his
second marriage kidnapped his two little
daughters by his fret marriage. who had been
adopted by prominent family in seattle, and
sought TO bring them under the influence of
his second wife.
This man has the same antipathy toward Mr.
McGraw that his satanic majesty is reputed to
have for holy water, and. like the coutempt bio
scrub be is. Ia trying to stab him in the back
Mr. MeGfaw is IL high minded gentleman. hon
est 10 the core, loyal Ia his friends and generous
TO fault. lie has risen 20 his present enviahe
position by his splendid abilities and manly
qualities aud Will make worthy successor to
Gov. Ferry No man in Seattle or the state
has so many aud such devoted friends His
impulses are Nil good and his deposition of the
klndtiest Every organization of philan-
t .hfon.e Or chari'ahls nature in seattle
unfortunate persons who have applied To him
in times OF sore distress, remember with deem
gratitude bis sympathy aud generosity. No
man In my acquaintance has So many demands
OF every sort made upon his friendship q, has
John H. hctfTaw. and he is always willing tn
make his friends affairs bus own. Why, several
years ago when Mr. Crawford and /! were news
paper workers on salaries aud had been talking
Tor soRie time OF going Into business together
but were doubtful about taking the risk. We
nnsliy sad. LETS 20 and see McGraw and
leave IL 10 him." sni We dit. since then when
ever We get stuck, We leave II Ia John AcIraw
aod / IA sure the state VIII never regret leaving
the administration oI Its affairs 10 hliu
J. Il. MeGrcgor, Il farmer of Sumner Pierce
county, and Democrat III politics, was in the
city yesterday. lie Is another Of the many who
knew John II. hoGEaw IN the East, and who has
known him ever since he came TO Seattle. He
expressed himself a. delighted to be able TO say
what lie Knew concerning the past Of the Re
publican candidate IL: governor lie said:
] knew John II. ncGraw when be MAS In
business in nauiorth. Me. lie was in thu cen
eral merchandise business, and did & large
credit trade. Rem The peopic whom he trusted
could not pay IL caused him 20 iaii. hut there
whs not man IN the community that ,,id
not sympsthlEo with him ills reputation
ies 'n cSgiB WI ~' one OF which any
he wa the most popular Young man in
the whole place. lived IN King county ,h,uf
tNrec years and Know # hCnAre IS ui instances
where Ac"rAw Las siic4 men from the pure
goodness OF heart Joseph Rutteructi tie SON
Of Francis kuiterGeld. 30 raised Mr,3fsw cot
hurt 81 Newcastle. SAD John H. NcoraTy ,.snr
Gp there. brought toe injured man down and
aspt him at his house ior ruanv lnonIhs "a
finally sent him hack hcme - Maine Although
/ ara Pierce county nan. ana opposed 70 tie
fxht which Nelson Bonnet t, .,e.fr,- ~
Mc6rSw. II j. shameful aui d.srrscsf.il ana
sontsi ns : mass q; assertions which can Dever
- proved because they are false In svery ,,srt,,.
ulsr. MI. Mct,faw vail get b1ia nv yo,s and
nv support
Hon. l. H. Andrews has lived in SEATTLE ,tnee
issa lie has held many important public nos.
sloas including that OF CLERK q the Vn,tat
states district court for ten years, seats "a hotb
territorial ana state legislatures. besides being
a member of the Naiia NallA eoast.tgttonaI
convention. No msu IN Seattle stands hishe,
than Judge Andrews, and his opinion e men