The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1892-07-28

to know what they were doing up
there.
The gentleman refused absolutely
! to disclose the name of the young man
in the brown suit, but said that the
latter had once threatened to shoot
the girl Ellen Smith. He is supposed
to be DeGraff.
PETER DEGRAFF.
Peter DeGraff, who was undoubted-
ly the young man seen with Ellen
| Smith, Wednesday afternoon, the
| evening of her murder, is desperate
| character who has been bar tender
| in some of the small barrooms on the
outskirts of the town.
| DeGraff's father is a basket maker
living near town. He claims to be
| descended from Count De GraSse, the
| French admiral who figured in the
American revolution He said the
| name is spelled differently from the
famous Counts, but that the family is
| the same.
DEGRAFF AND ELLEN SMITH.
This young man, DeGraff, has known
Ellen Smith for a long time. OF late
| they seem to have quarreled frequent
ly. DeGraff is said to be the father
| of an illegimate child of Ellen Smith
which was born about three months
ago, and which died shortly after
birth. When Mr.. Rose found out the
condition the girl was in herefused to
let her stay at his house. She went to
Capt Stages and from whence DeGraff
took her to house on Liberty street
and from thence to her home in Yad-
kin county where her child was born
and died.
In the spring DeGraff and his broth
er went on a peddling expedition in
Virginia. In MayEllen Smith return
ed to cook for Mr.. Rose, and in June
DeGraff returned. He has been with
Ellen every day of her life since then.
Last Sunday they had a quarrel, which
apparently became more violent every
day since, and which probably result
ed in the girls death Wednesday
night.
LETTER IN EVIDENCE.
A note was found in the bosom of
the dead girl at the inquest Thursday.
1t was from DeGraff and made an ap-
pOintment with the girl to meet him
near the place where she was found
murdered.
DEGRAFF THREATENED TO SHOOT HER.
The girl and DeGraff were seen to-
gether one day last week. The girl
was fOndling him when he roughly
shook her off and threatened, with an
oath. to shoot her. He said I've
told you 1 would kill you and Ill do it
yet If you don't let me alone"
DeGraf was implicated in the Coin
murder case which occurred about
one year ago but the evidence was in
sufficient to bind him over to court on
the charge.
Friday afternoon Sheriff league
deputiZed several citizens to go in
search of DeGraff. The news was
that he was seen on the Atwood hill.
the house, but DeGraff was not there.
While making the search the party
was divided into two squads. Messrs.
John Penny, Sid Whitehart and Lind
say Lambeth composed the one which
went on out the road to Harrison
Pitts They ran up with DeGraff,
but refused to make an arrest on the
ground that Deputies Frazier, Stock
ton and others, who were at the Att
wood house, had the warrant. While
waiting DeGraff walked off and his
whereabouts are not now known.
STILL EvADING ARREST.
Peter DeGraff is still a free man,
Notwithstanding he has been seen
every day since the murder of Ellen
Smith.
town about DeGraff and his where
abouts, but one thing certain he
has evaded arrest.
Sheriff league received informa-
tion Saturday afternoon from DeGraff
through a colored man, that he, de
Craft wanted to see him. The Sher-
iff went out in company with his
deputy, but was unable to put his
eyes on DeGraff.
either the Sheriff or his deputies, but
that he don't propose to be taken by
an army of men if he can help it.
DeGraf is also quoted as saying
that the officers could burn the woods
and sift the ashes before he would be
taken. 1t is also said that DeGraff is
armed with several pistols and long
knife, and is wearing large breast
plate for protection.
Dave Brown, farmer who resides
few miles west of town, brought the
news to town on Monday that De-
Graft was seen Sunday night near his
home.
Another report was brought here
about noon Monday that DeGraff was
then out near Belo's pond. In res
ponse thereto Sheriff league in COM
pany with Policemen Thompson,
Adams, Haithcox and Martin went
out, and made search, but came
back reporting ''water-haul."
One of the officers who has been out
several days says that DeGraff has
caught on to the ''ropes'' and keeps too
near the woods or corn fields and
thereby manages to shun the officers.
The slow efforts that have been
made to arrest the man upon whom
there is pretty plain evidence that he
is guilty of murder, is still the subject
for general comment.
Several citizens remarked today
that Sheriff league would have done
nothing more than his duty had he
deputiZed large number of men to
go out in search of DeGraff as soon as
the murder was announced.
The foul deed was committed on the
outside of the corporation, hence the
police force of Winston have no juriS-
diction in the matter unless armed
with State warrant.
WHEN BOYER WAS SHERIFF..
How DeGraff Was Arrested by Depu-
ty Sheriff.