Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-09
THE DEATH PENALTY
PETER De CRAFT HANGED FOR THE
MURDER OF ELLEN SMITH.
Six thousand People Witness the Execu-
tion--A ScsiKoId Confession snd Warn
ing-IIistory of the Crime.

WINSTON. N. c.. February s-tspe-
ciai. )--Peter De0rafr paid the death pen
atty to-day Tor the murder Of Ellen
Smith. The drop fell at 1859 p. NJ. His
neck was broken. and life was declared
extinct within seven minutes. The hang
ing took place about three miles from
the city. and attracted an immense
crowd from this and surrounding coun-
ties. II is estimated that 5000 people wit
messed the execution. DeGraf confessed
the crime upon the scaffold. and said
ne was drunk at the time. He acknow-
lodged he was about to receive his Just
reward. and warned the spectators
against bad women, whiskey. cards, and
dice He said:
81 have washed my blood, and hope
those who have enmity against me VIII
forgive me. May God bless you all. II
nv prayer on this side OF the bar OF
God"
His demcanor at the Jail this morning
and upon the scaffold was remarkably
calm.
THE MURDER.
A Young white woman named Ellen
Smith, with whom Peter DedraH hau
been upon intimate terms, was Killer
between 3 O'Clock =. NJ. of July ~ 49,
and s A. NJ of the next day. Her pouy
was found on the morning OF July 2st
nv a coiored woman In the woods snort
distance west of the Hotel Ilnzehoori'
about quarter OF a mile from the cV'
porate limits. a post mortem exaniina.
ton was held, and II was found Una.
the woman had been shot IN the ieit
breast, the ball passing through 'he
body. .,o,r
At the Coroners inquest II was SHOWN
that Peter DeGraff and Ellen Smith were
,,,,,oo,a and that she had been the
mother OF a child by him; that Peter ana
the girl had several quarrels, ana 'ha'
no mad threatened 10 shoot her. no'e
mas found upon the person OF the dea"
Girl from DeGraff, making an engage
,oart IN meet her near the place whei'
the murder was committed
VI" ,,,.o,,oh circumstantial. .he evidence
~, 90 strong that DeGraff Was 'he per-
ne,rator of the foul deed. tnat Sedrciihs
nar,es we're organized for his capture pu'
no evaded arrest for nearly year. II,
the mean time. a Democratic Sher,ii pau
eucceeded a Republican sheriff. during
80 oor,nsign the failure OF the latter
90 annrebend DeGraff was made an issue.
and the Democratic candidate. X. Nj.
Macarthur formerly from Virginia, de-
clared II he was elected no DeGraH
could run loose In the county
ON the night Of June %. 1898. Sheriff
Macarthur. assisted by officer Adams, or
the city police. effected DeGrans arrest
at the house of man named Russell
two miles west Of the city. A Few Gays
later preliminary trial was hM before
a Justice of the peace, and DeGran was
bound over 10 court TO answer the charge
OF numbering Ellen Smith.
BEFORE THE COURT.
Peter DeGraff was arraigned before
Judge r. w. Winston I'm the Forsyth
Superior Court on August IL. 1888. The
prisoner took the stand In his own behalf.
and proved his most damaging witness.
During the cross-examination he was
asked why he went to the place OF the
murder the evening before lie was ar
rested. and exclaimed: ELLEN, II you are
In Heaven. stay there; If In hell. RISE
DeGraff replied that he had heard Old
people say that II a murderer would go
back where he had killed a person and
repeat those words the person could be
seen. The prisoner seemed not TO realize
the web he was weaving about himself
until the words had fallen from his lips.
The trial was concluded on the morning
OF August 18th. when the jury brought In
verdict Of guilty"
SENTENCED.
DeGraffs counsel made motion for
new trial but this was denied, and he
was sentenced 10 hang on October I'd.
An appeal to the Supreme Court vas
taken. and a decision affirming the lower
court was handed down In December.
Governor Carr then appointed Thursday.
February s. 1894. as the day FOR the eAe-
cutiGE.
Peter DeGraff gave a full history Of his
life to his night watch. His father is
Frenchmar1 and lives near this city.
Peter was born in Elizabeth city, y. c.,
and was only % years Of age. lie was
OF low statue. but not very thlck-set. and
was not altogether repulsive looking. lie
says he had good training, but failed
10 heed the advice given him. Bad asso-
ciates led him astray. and he went from
bad to worse. Evil companions and
whiskey were his worst enemies. he says
he worked In Richmond and several other
places in Virginia.