The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-06-29
PETER DeGRAFF'S TRIAL.
The Evidence Against Him More Dam
aging Than Was Expected.
THE PRISONER SENT BACK TO JAIL
To Await the Next Term of Courteous
Iy Few Witnesses Examined-Re-
view of the Evidence--An Old
Darkey Swears that DeGraff Told
Him He Killed Ellen Smith

preliminary hearing, but he missed
generation.
The examination come off on Tues
day afternoon.
Instead of coming clear, as he and
many of his friends intimated that he
would, he was sent back to jail to
await the next term of court. The
evidence brought out against him was
much stronger and more damaging
than was expected.
The trial was held in the court
house and at least five hundred peo-
pie gathered there to see the prisoner
and hear the evidence. The court
room was crowded.
1t was two minutes past o'clock
when Sheriff Macarthur and Police
man Adams walked in with the pris-
oner. The latter was given a chair
and he sat down near the stove. De-
Crafts countenance was bright, his
hair combed smoothly, shoes BACKED
and he looked dignited and smiled
frequently at his friends.
Esquire Pegram arrived several min
utes before the prisoner and took his
seat at the table. After the sheriff
announced that peace and quietude"
must reign in the courtroom he call
ed over the names of about fifteen
witnesses, nearly all Of whom ans
Wered to the roll-call.
At the conclusion of this part of
the program Justice Pegram said
Peter DeGratf, stand up. You are
charged here with the murder of Ell
len Smith. / VIII read you the war
rant" After reading it the Justice,
addressing the prisoner, said Are
you guilty or not guilty" Not gull
ty," responded DeGratf quickly. Il
never done it and know nothing about
it.
The witnesses were next sworn.
Drs Galloway and Dalton were the
first witnesses examined. Both tcsti-
| fed that they remembered the killing
| and Furthermore examined the wound
that caused the Wsman'S death. 1t
| was a mortal wound, said both. Dr.
| Galloway said the ball passed through
| the heart.
Mrs. Pink McCanless said: - re-
| member the time Of the murder. L
| live at the Hanes place west of town.
| | had no conversation With DcGrdH
and never heard him say anything be-
| fore or after the crime about it, About
3 o'clock on the evening the murder
| was said to have been committed |
| came over to town. In passing along
J below the ZinZendorf Hotel spring /
| saw a man and woman lying down in
the bushes. The man had his head
lying in the wOman's lap. The woman
laughed. The man had his arms
| thrown up on the shoulders OF the
the spring. Did nOt.knoW VINO it was
Probably could have told had | looked
back again, but l went on home
| Could not tell whether it was old OF
Young man. His face was hid from
me while lying down Wore light
looking suit and broad brimmed hat.
Albert Van Eaton, colorcd, was mex
called and in response to the question:
| prOpOunded by Justice Pegrdm said
II know DeGraff and remember til,
murder. He spoke to me something
about it. We were above Zinzendor
when the conversation took place
DeGraff said his girl had gone bacl
on him and he proposed to shoot he
d heart out. He told me this,
think, on Saturday before the murder
We were at spring on tn
big road, near where | live, when II
told me | drank with DeGraff bu
bottle of whisky. Never saw hiI
with the Smith girl
Mike Davis, an old colored mar
, gave the most damaging evidence {
any of the witnesses called. Whe
asked he said: Il live on the AtwoO
place west of town. | know DeGra
= and know when the girl was killed.
: saw DeGratf that night after the xii
= ing. He had umbrella and cap,
think, with him. He said somethin
: about going after medicine. | sa
> him next morning. He told me TIL;
= woman was dead over yonder.
y had not heard of the death befor
DeGraff said he killed her and had
great mind to drag the body and thrO
it in Brindell's old we'll
Up to this time the priSOnar man
= tested little interest in the testimOI
and declined to ask any of the 9th
witnesses any questions. The o
l. darkey's statements were too seyc
t. for him and he. tried to get the 0
+, | man to contradict his statemen
g made before the court. The prison
10 asked Davis: Ibid | not tell you TIL
;, the people accused me of the murder
e Looking somewhat excited Day
n replied: maybe that is the way but
A. thought you said you killed her,
4 Didn't | tell y0u," continued /
n Graft, addressing Davis, Ito go to +
=. well and get some water and we won
# take a drink, wasn't that all that W
r said about a well:'
y Davis reply was 4 believe So"
~ Esquire Pegram again question
y the old negro who told the same stO
~ as first related to the court. His e.
~ | dence was recorded.
~ A, Fogle said: II was coroner
- the time of the murder and held
~ inquest over the body. y note W
~ | found in the bosom of the woman.
q read it but l don't remember t
~ | date or its contents in full. Son
/ L.; n in
in meeting DeGraff at certain pia'
ri The verdict of the coroner's jury W
I'd that DeGraff was guilty"
~ Kennie Rose said: Il was prese
20 at the coroner's inquest but did L
NJ read the note. ! know TIE girl, 5
n lived at my house. / never wrote a
fe notes for her and tried to keep L
1y from writing them. If DeGrah Cal
q to my house to see her L don't kn'
it,
Mike Davis, the old colored MI
was recalled. He said that he 5;
DeGraff again the next day aft
a. their conversation lat Brindle's.
(DeGraff) was not lodging from
90 officers.
DIS Chief-of-PoIice Bradford said:
10 remember the murder. Was at
ID coroner's inquest, saw and read
T. note found on the-dead woman. DO
de | remember 1.-THE contents in full:
said meet me in the woods beyond
n hotel. 1t was signed Peter DeGrf
mp / have seen other notes written by
ty prisoner. The handwriting OF
lis note found on the woman and oth
ad seen compare as well as if MIR: we
ST. twho was taking down eyidence) shol
100 write one line and another one riG
ZOO under it,"
The court asked the prisoner if
had any witnesses. The latter repi
that he did not; that his only wltnt
Il. Mr.. Brindle, was sick.
MS DeGraff was then asked If he
of sired to go on the witness stand
nv: make a statement. He replied Il