The record-union., 1896-07-11
MURDERED FOR A TRIFLE.
Joseph Mitchell Slain by Daniel Graves,
the Gardner.
The Awful Crime Committed Because
the Young Man Saw Fit
to Whistle.

Shortly after o'clock last night a
well-known young man, Joseph Matcn-
ell. was shot and instantly killed at
Twelfth and P streets by an eccentric
character who Is known as 'Whistling
Pete" but whose real name is Daniel
Graves, q gardener who is well along in
years.
Mitchell, his young brother Edward
and two or three others were in front OF
Hanlon's grocery store talking on varl-
out matters, when Graves passed by,
going in the direction Of Thirteenth
street. Edward Mitchell was whistling
in an ordinary manner, and after pass
ing Graves returned and said:
'I'u not have any more of this whist
ling, and 1 want it stopped"
Cant a man whistle on this corner?"
asked Joseph Mitchell, who was leaning
against a post.
well, I'll be ID If I'll have any
of it," returned Graves, and with that
he started to walk on up the street.
Edward Mitchell, who was sitting
upon chair just outside the sidewalk
kept on with his whistling. After going
about twenty yards Graves turned
around and once more approached the
group, saying:
Il tell you this whistling has got to
be stopped"
This is free country, isn't it?" in
Quired Joseph Mitchell, who was still
leaning against the post, and nearer to
the man than either of his companions.
"Well, I won't have it! You can't
blow any wind into mel" retorted
Graves, and without another word he
whipped a revolver from his pocket and
fired a shot at Edward Mitchell, who
was still sitting on the chair.
Joseph Mitchell appeared to take in
the situation at a glance and sprang at
Graves, evidently intending to disarm
him, but the latter proved too strong,
and in a seconds time had pinned his
victim against the side of the store,
raised his revolver and shot at him.
Without sign, word or tremor, Jo-
seph Mitchell pitched forward to the
pavement, dead.
The two friends of the murdered man
were on their feet in an instant, and
Edward Mitchell rushed inside and Sc
curing a revolver from behind coun-
ter, rushed out, but was met by the pro-
prietor of the store, who took the Weap-
on from him, saying:
There's been enough of this, Ed
In the meantime Graves had started
Up P street toward Thirteenth, running
as fast as possible and was soon out of
sight.
Just at this time, and before a crowd
had gathered, a woman came swiftly
from towards Thirteenth street, and one
Of the men said:
MY God! It's his mother! Take her
away!"
It was indeed the mother Of the mur-
dered man, and as soon as she learned
what had been done she went into hys-
terics. She was carried to her home
near by, where physician was called
in to give her necessary attention.
The aim of the murderer had been
true, and the ball striking the left side
of the chin of Graves victim, ranged
downward, entering the breast through
the neck. Death was instantaneous.
The police patrol wagon was soon on
the ground and the murdered man re-
moved to the Coroners office, while
officers Wilson and Talbot, took up the
trail of the murderer.
Graves has been in Sacramento a
number Of years, and while known to
be eccentric, he was thought to be harm
less. His main hobby appears to have
been that everyone whistling was doing
so with the intention of blowing him
full of wind, so that he would float away
like a balloon.
The murderer has a plot of ground
rented between Fourteenth and Fif-
teenth streets, on P. When not engaged
at gardening he works from house to
house, cutting grass and doing odd jobs
He is a rather tall, wiry man, wears red
| side whiskers, and is apparently about
| 45 years old. He frequently stopped
| strangers on the street who CHANGED tc
| be whistling, and ordered them to stop
Joseph Mitchell lived with his mother
| sister and brothers on p street, neal
Fourteenth, and was a painter by trade
He was a quiet, industrious young man
a member of the local military Tor was)
and was well thought of by all that
knew him. He was about % years ole
and unmarried. His father met his
death by falling from the Cathedra
some years ago, on which he was en-
ployed as a painter.
| The officers first went to the shanty
| IN WHICH the eccentric UluTQeTeT IndQe
| his home, but he was not to be found
From there they went to barn In field
Of corn at Eighteenth and r streets
| which they surrounded, believing that
he was inside, as he was often known
to pass his idle time there. 1t was be.
licved the man was desperate and would
make strong fight before he surren-
| dered.
But the search in the barn proved un.
ayailing, and all trace seemed to have
been lost of the assassin for some time
Shortly before midnight several youne
men visited the Police Station and re-
ported that they had passed man il
Capitol Park answering to the descrip.
ton of Graves. He was going aimless
ly along mumbling to himself, Il did it
| / did I'll and I'd do it againi"
This was characteristic of the assas
sin, who often talks to himself, and the
officers felt certain that they were or
the right trail. They hoped to locate
the cruel assassin and lodge him safe
behind the walls of the City Prison be
fore morning.
The mother sisters and brothers o.
the murdered youth are nearly dis
tracted from grief.