The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-02-08
he KILLED. ELLEN.
DeGraf Makes a Confession On
The SGaf0ld.
TIE EXECUTION 4 SUCCESS.
10 In
Warned The People Not to Do as lie
Fad Il1DG.

The neck was broken aud death vas
instantaneous, but the hearts action
continued fer seven minutes as fol-
lows: 1st minute As; 1st half 'of Ind
minute o.: last half of End minute %:
Bird minute 6S; 4tGI miaute 81; 9th
minute so; 6tn minute ST; ceased in
18th minute.
ARRIVED AT TIE sCAFFOLD.
It was just ten minutes past Il
O'Clock when Sheriff Macarthur and
Jailer Zigiar aScende1 the ScdIGi0
with the condemned man. The rore
was around his mock. DeGraH looked
rather pale but appeared remarkably
calm. He raised his hat and bowed
TO the crowd. lie took Il seat between
the sheriff and Rev. II. 4. Brown.
He held a small bible with his hat in
one hand.
DEATH WARRANT.
sheriff Macarthur arose to read
the death warrant. He said;
''Fellow citizens, this IS indeed very
solemn occasion. Those who have
come out here through mere curiosity
should take it as a warning or guide.
This is the most painful duty L nave
ever been called upon to perfOrm-tO
carry into execution the order Cf the
Governor of tie State"
During the reading Of the death
warrant, signed by Governor Carr,
DeGraff looked at the sheriff and paid
strict attention to every word he Ut
tered. During the reading he tWitted
his fingers in nervous manner. ills
face, however, betrayed no emotions.
The sheriff asked the people to be
quiet. He said that ne had instructed
his guards to arrest any man vino
raised d disturbance, and that II 1t be-
came necessary to make an arrest the
party would certainly go to the county
Jail to await the action OF the Supe-
riOr Court.
REV. MR.. BROWN TALKS.
Rev. H. A. Brown, pastor or the
First Baptist church, stepped to the
front of the Scaffold and said: Il
have been requested by this unfOrtu-
nate man to hold religious service.
God knows whether or not what he
says is true. We cannot hide any
thing from Him. He knows we are
responsible for what we do. say and
think. He is in the hands of just
God. [ have tried the best could TO
explain to him the plan of salvation.
] told him that if he confessed his
sins he could be forgiven. We are
here to hear what he has to say about
it all. The occasion should make an
impression for good on the people who
are here"
READ A SCRIPTURE LESSON.
Mr.. Brown cad the fifty-frst diyis-
ion of the Psalms, after which he
lined the hymn, Am | d Soldier Of
the Cross" The great crowd of PEG
pie, including DeGratf, joined in the
singing.
FERvENT PRAYER.
Rev. Mr.. Brown followed with 4
fervent prayer. He prayed for the
aged father and mother and the
brothers and other relatives of the
condemned man. He also asked God
to direct Peter IN his last statement
to the public.
AT Tie request of DeGraff, Rev. Mr..
LutZ, who was also On the SCaffoid,
made short talk. He spoke of the
solemDity of the occasion. He told
about his visit TO the prisoner in his
cell, when he (DeGraff1 stated that he
thought it was a blessed thing he had
been arrested and brought face to face
with death. He said that he had
served the devil long time. ut is a
blessed thing he was not called Off
without time for preparation" said
Mr.. LutZ in his concluding remarks
DECORATE ADMITS TO THE CRIME.
DeGraff arose, and stepping to tile
1IOilt VI Tile SCdipIl, Ut gan LIS , p6CCL
He talked rapidly, but did not appear
excited.
In his remarks he said: ''Well
friends, | stand here before you not as
show but a man VINO is soon to bid
farewell to this world, These are my
last and dying words. | can 10 ok
back upon the lives know many here
have trodden. May God help you to
turn and live. There are hands here
nf ri pG I4ta Ia ~ ct n
with blood. viii you hear and hear
ken my words ?
''That thing you call corn liquor,
cards, dice and other games of chance,
pistols and bad women, are the things
which have brought me to this place
to stand on this scaffold. White and
colOred, l pray you TO hear my words.
81 have kept back for months what
I am going to tell you. God told me
to keep it back. Yes | shot that wo.
man. [ was drunk at the time. !
put the pistol to her breast and fired
it. The only words she said after ]
shot were Lord have mercy on me.
/ stand Fere today to receive my jus
reward. / again say to the peOplt
here, beware of bad women and
whiskey.
The devil had such a great power
over me that l thought l could almost
walk with death without fear. He
fthe devil said he would be with me
l again say don't put your hands or
cards, bad women and dice. Heal
my dying words. I have washed M
blood and hope those who have en-
nifty against me will forgive me.
MAY God bless you all is my pray
er On this side of the bar of God"
ANOTHER PRAYER.
Rev. H. A. Brown offered anothe
short prayer, after which Peter shOol
hands with his brothers, the preach
ers, sheriff, Chief-of-Police Bradford
and Policeman Adams.
DeGraff gave his hat and small Ri
BILE to his youngest brother. Afte
the black cap was placed over hi
head. it was lifted, at the request Q
the prisoner, who again shook hand
with the sheriff.
AFTER DEATH.
When the cap was removed afte
the prisoner was taken down, tn
features of the dead man were fOun
to be perfectly natural.
THE CROWD.
Six thousand people at least wit
messed the execution. The road froI
town to the scene was lined with was
ons, buggies and carts. Hundred
also travelled afoot. With many til
event was no more than circu,
They were laughing and jesting a
the time.
THE sCAFFOLD.
A rope was placed around the sea
fold TO keep the dense crowd off. Th
coffin, covered with quilt, rested III
der the rear end of the seaffold
A FALSE REPORT.
The report went the rounds on th