The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1894-02-08
FELL INTO ETERNITY
Peter DeGraff Pays the Penalty of
His Crime.
On the Gallows He COnfesses That He
Committed the Deed.
HIS LAST MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC
Six Thousand People Gather to See Him
Hanged-He Killed His Para
mour, Ellen Smith.

" lNsTON, w., FeO. S.-Peter DeGraH
day paid the penalty of his crime.
He was hanged at o'clock this after
noon.
Six thousand persons were around the
gallows when the body dropped The
great curious crowd had come to view the
end OF the murderer.
When he was on the gallows he made
speech TO the vast crowd. He fully con-
fessed the killing Of Ellen Smith This
was surprise, as he has all along denied
his guilt
Governor Carr had refused to pardon
him or to revoke the order for a public
execution.
DeGratf in his speech from the gallows
warned the crowd to let bad women and
whiskey alone.
He then joined in the singing of
hymn. The drop fell and Peter DeGraff
| was launched into eternity
His Last Message.
DeGraff yesterday gave to the public
his last message. 1t is reply to his &C
cusers. This is verbatim from his manu-
script: Your throats are an open sepul-
chers. With your tongues you have used
deceipt, and the poison of asps i. under
| your lips. Your mouths are full Of cur
sing and bitterness. Your feet are swift
to shed innocent blood. Destruction and
misery are in your way, and the way of
peace you have not known. There is no
! fear of God before your eyes. You all
! have made me a byword of the people
and ofttimes was as a tablet How long
will you vex my soul and break me in
pieces with words.
"He that hath clean hands shall be
stronger and stronger. Oh, that my
words were now written. Oh, that they
were printed in book that they were
craven with an iron pen and laid in the
rock forever. For know that my Re-
deemer liveth, and that He shall stand at
the last day upon the earth. Hear dill
gently my speech, and let this be your
consolation. Suffer me that | may speak
and after that l have spoken, mock on
you spend your days in wealth, and
in a moment go down to The grave.
Therefore you say depart from US, for
We desire not your knowledge.
Your eyes shall see destruction, you
shall drink Of the wrath Of God.
But as for you all, do ye return and
come no, for cannot find one wise man
among you. Repent and be baptized
and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and
thou shalt be saved.
These are my last words"
Arrangements Made.
Every arrangement was made yester-
day for the execution Of DeGraff The
prisoner prepared a statement for the
public Yesterday. The condemned man
Is still jovial, and said he was ready and
willing to die. However, he appeared to
be clinging to an unknown hope that his
life would be saved The sheriff had his
face shaved and hair cut Yesterday. De.
Graft said his saddest thought was telling
his aged father and mother farewell
They called yesterday afternoon and bade
him good bye. 1t was /: sad sight. The
father said he would stand by his son tc
the last, witnessing the execution. The
body will be taken care of by the sheriff
The parents say they do not want it,
When asked by the sheriff about it, the
father replied: You will kill him, there
fore you eau have his body"
The Crime.
Peter DeGrsff brutslly maltreated anC
; then murdered Ellen Smith, his para
mour.
He was allowed to escape by the re
publican sheriff of Forsyth county. II
the fall elections the democrats urget
this for all 1t was worth, and it played n
small part in the de feat of the republi
can.
After he had been installed as sheriff
the present incumbent, a democrat, made
a vigorous search for DeGraft and csugh
him.