The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-02-08

1 found something to be not just ex-
actly right. She told me she was the
daughter of gentleman in the far
west and that she and her StepmOther
could not agree and she had slipped
all her fathers money, at least all he
had at home, and was running away.
We had to lay over at Columbus, q,
so we went to a hotel, took supper
and went to church. Next morning
the porter reported that there had
been wreck on the road aud we
could not get away inside Of a couple
of days. In the meantime she had
given me her money to take care of as
We were both coming to Winston. l
was tolerably well siheeled" with my
own money, and upon leaving, paid
both our bills out of my money. Of
course she did not know anything
about that. We boarded the first
train that passed through and on we
came to Winston. Mind you this
girl left this country when quite a
child and had relatives near here. We
arrived in Winston on the midnight
train and stopped at the Belo House,
leaving soon next morning for her per-
manent abode on the outer suburbs.
TURNED THE MONEY OVER TO THE
Before we left the Belo House I
handed over the money to her and she
counted it. She had in cash ST, $50.
She wanted me to take 5000. I refus-
ed, but she would have me take $50.
l showed her the place where she
wanted to stop and no one ever knew
l came here with her. | called at the
same place in the afternoon and was
introduced as though we had never
met before.
RETURNED TO THE GOOD GIRL.
Well, l came back to my good girl
again that l was so determined to
blast. l called on her and oh, she
was more than proud to see me. I
kept putting in my dea 1ly work until
at last l blasted her good name and
character forever. What wretch I
have been. 1 deserve hanging, l
reckon, though I've never murdered
anybody. Several of these girls MEL
toned have sent messages to me for
giving me for all. i am praying to
God for His forgiveness.
THE ELLEN SMITH MURDER.
This about brings me up to the Ell
len Smith murder. / left the country
not because l murdered her flor l did
not but because the people were so
ravenOuS after me, threatening to kill
me on sight, ! repeat, 1 did not kill
Ellen Smith. | had no desire to kill
her. l had no reason for such
wife of her, still | loved her. and
would have killed her no sooner than
| would my own dear mother. / was
not the only man she went with. I
was not jealous Of her; did not care
| with whom she went: never was jeal-
ous-hearted to any girl. gave them
all the privileges they wished and
took the same myself.
POOLING THE OFFICERS.
/ know the people were very eager
after me, for | would send out rumors
telling the people | was at certain
places, when probably L was a mile
from that place looking at them
| through my glass. The officers and
citizens would rush to the place re-
ported every time, but would return
without the prize. The trench was,
there were no sharp and brave officers
or they could have caught me. Final
| ly l left the country and during this
| journey l also had some very lonely
tralnps in the mountains of Western
North Carolina.
| STOPPED WITH TIE SHERIFF OF AsHE.
After travelling and roaming the
mountains for some time and 1l.a1iag
| my way back toward Nit. Airy, | stop
ped with the sheriff of Ashe county
and spent one night. He was not at
home when [ got there, but soou came
with grip. l think he had been off
| collecting taxes. for after | retired he
| and his wife counted lot of money.
| could have stolen it and left during
| the night. L rode several miles with
| the sheriff next morning and talked
some about Peter DeGraff. At that
| time l assumed different name every
| where | stopped or any one asked me
| my name. After leaving the sheriff |
| struck up with two youngsters who
| appeared to be suspicious. They
! guyed me and asked me to change
some money.
| WANTED TO ROB PETER.
| / told them l had no money. l knew
/ what they were after. | think We
were travelling country mail line. for
they spoke of stopping the mail if
they met it and robbing it and tried
to get me to help them, but | refused.
They then cussed me, saying | would
tell it. They walked Behind me a
| greater part of the day and | over
heard them making plot to rob me
that night after retiring. So l made
UP my mind to beat them at their
owl game.
| put up stairs in one room with two
beds, they occupying one and l the
other. / snooZed off and heard them
plotting again. They called me final.
~ and | woke up and they proposed
to drink something. They got out
their bottle, and ere long both were
full and went to sleep.
BEAT THE BOYS AT THEIR OWN GAME
l eased myself up, put on my clothes
aud rifled every pocket they had; pick
ed up my valise and shoes, trippee
down stairs through where the OLD
folks were and left the premises al
two o'clock. AT daylight l counted
up and found l had raised $50. Al
sunrise l met two men on horseback
| describing these TWO fellows. / told
them where | left them. | also TOLD
them the trick | had played on them
That's the last I've seen or heard O.
secured job at Yokley's saw-mill
assuming the name of III. d. Hendrix
READ THE WINSTON PAPERS.
While there, l got the Minister
papers and read all was said abou
me. l and young man by the nam'
of Will Hendrix had small store. On
one occasion at the store, a young mar
fell out with me, making at me will
knife. L stopped him by shooting
him through the shoulder.
The shot didn't do much damage, 81
he renewed his attack upon me wheT
let drive at him again and he yelle.
out right that time and left me
Neither shot did Very much damage
so no warrants were issued.
SAW MANY WINSTON PEOPLE.
/ was frequently in Mt. Airy ant
occasionally would SET people, boil
white and colored there from Win