The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-06-29
DeGRAFF CAUGHT !!
Arrested Near Ills Old Stamping
GrOlnd,
PORSYTH'S PLUcKY SHERIFF
Goes After Him With Two Fearless
Policemen.
HOW THE ARREST WAS EFFECTED.

West of Winston-An Interview
With the Prisoner-He Tells
Where He Has Been Since He Left
Winston-He Stayed Here One
Month After the NTurder-De-1ies
the Crime-In the Cell With Andy
Stevenson. Another Accused Eur
derer-The Crime.
Col. Peter DeGraf, the accused
murderer of Ellen Smith, is in For
syth Jail.
He was arrested at midnight
June 23rd by Sheriff Macarthur and
Policeman Adams at the residence of
Gideon Russell, near Pitts bar-rOOm,
West of Winston.
AS will be remembered, DeGratf
won the title of Colonel during his Sc
journ around Winston after the muir
der was committed. This title
has been removed by Forsyth's
sheriff and Winston's brave officers.
The first information as to Peters
whereabouts came to Sheriff Near
thur Thursday afternoon from tele-
gram sent him by friend, stating
that DeGraff got off the train at Rural
Hall about two o'clock. The sheriff
was inclined to dlsbelieye the report
at first, but about dark he met a gen
tleman who informed him that De-
Graft passed Old Town late in the
evening.
Three horses were "rigged up" for
the trip and in company with Officers
Adams and Cofer the sheriff went in
search of the man whom Sheriff
league and his deputies failed to ar
rest.
The officers went to Charles Rus
sells first. Mr.. Russell said that he
had talk with DeGraff about six
O'Clock. Petcf was with John Rus
sell and the two went to old man De
CRAFTS TO see Peters parents. De-
Graft didn't tell Charles Russell where
he expected to stay the night, but
said he would be back during the
night.
The officers proceeded to the house
of old man Russell. Adams knocked
at the door The house was dark.
Russell asked who was at the door.
"McArthur," said Adams, 'come to
said the sheriff. After fumbling
around for some time the old man
arose and made light. AT this
time Adams peeped through win
dow and saw DeGraff lying on the
floor. The latter jumped up and ran
into another room and Secreted him
self in a bed, by covering himself
up with feather .'tick."
Old man Russell called upon his
two sons to come out. At first they
did not comply with his request.
The officers Informed the old man
that if he and his sons did not come !
out every one of them would be dr. |
rested. "We have come here after |
Peter DeGraff," said Officer Adams, |
land we propose to get him."
rs he here 2" said Adams.
The old man refused to say.
''We are here for business" contin- |
ued one of the officers. John and his
brother came out after they were
made to believe that the officers |
would tolerate no foolishness.
AS soon as the door was opened the |
officers walked into the house and |
proceeded to make search for De- |
Graf. Adams took the lamp from |
old man Russell and started for the !
adjoining room. AS he passed through |
the door of the two rooms one of the |
Russell boys dashed by him, thereby
blowing the lamp out. Pointing his
pistol toward the bed Adams, with
The other hand, gave sheriff the lamp
requesting him to light it. Adams
says that while standing in the dark
he thought of things celestial and of
the books that told of the times
that tried mems souls and nerves.
This was no time for ''fiinching" and
the sheriff and policeman faced the
music" and came out conquerors.
After the sheriff made light he
and Adams walked up to the bed
The latter pulled down the feather
bed, at the same time saying: "Old
man get up, We've got you" DeGraff,
who had both arms folded over his
face, replied: sAll right, Mr.,Adams,
I'll give up. / want you to treat me
like gentleman, though
''We will not hurt hair on your
head if you act right" replied
While dressing DeGraff joked the
officers. He asked them it they came
out there to arrest him with the
little pistols they exhibited. Let
me show you some," he said, address
ing the sheriff. Going to his belt De
Graft pulled out three, two of which
were about foot long and shot
44's. The third was 38. The officers
agreed with Peter that they were
fine weapons and dangerous to "mon-
key" with.
Without further trouble arrange
ments were made for the journey to
town. DeGraff got up on the horse
and rode all the way to the jail be-
hind Adams. He was placed in the
cell with Andy Stevenson, who stands
charged with a similar offence-the
murder of Polly Watson, in Stokes
county, last Christmas
When the officers arrived at the
jail with their prisoner considerable
interest was manifested over the
noise on the outside by Andy Steven
son. He became greatly excited until
he learned what it all meant. For a
few minutes he is said to have enter