The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-09-16
THE HAND OF FATE.
Story Of Supposed Murder Ends
With a Family Reunion.
FROM SEATTLE TO CIRCLE CITY
4 Woman Joins Her Husband In the
North, After He Had Been My.-
teriously Lost 10 Years.

Alaska liz the fed Of romance N veIs
A. Of god and disappointed miners.
For ten years the people OF this city arc
the vicinity OF Yakima have believed thar
George DeGraf. husband Of Annie Def,raf
q seI.-knosn n1iiiinsr OF this city. was
murdered while prospecting. HIS wifs
incurred MS sudden and mex pllcaDIe f.s-
appearance. but finally gave up hoping
against hope and accepted the inevitable
With tie rapid coming and going Of start
Hng events the DeGraf murder yas par
daily forgotten, and. II spoken OF. alwzys
presented the same mystery OF old.
II noS appears that DeGraf was not
murdered. and that the suspicion which
xas narbore6 against his partner Gibbs
was unjust. Today George DeGraf and
his wife Annie are living together Ia Circle
CITY. Alaska. having been united bs tha
msrsst chance,
Ter years ago there lived In ,h,s city
family by the name Of DeGraf +; included
George DeGraf and his wife Annie and
their son George Mrs. DeGra. conducted
= millinery store. After the big are she
had her place Of business IN the Korn
b,ock and lived az 220a Seventh street
Ar. DeGraf was much Interested in min
Ing ana made frequent excursions into the
country prospecting. On one 81 these trips
be went Into the country ear North Yak
ina having as q companion a man named
Gibbs.
Day after day passed and no tisings
we're beard Of DeGraf He had di=ap-
reared completely Gibbs returned safe
sad xell. bat. according to what could be
learned last night. did not give an expla-
nation that was satisfactory to the aa-
taorities.
TIE case was Investigated. and al last
Gibbs was arrested on suspicion OF hav-
ing murdered his former companion. N
tss enc however Il was necessary TO re-
lease him as there was not enough evil
esnce 20 Justify the state N prosecuting
the case In the superior ccurt.
Day after day. month after month, and
finally year after year rolled past. yet 10
news OF the missing man came The wife.
Who had hoped and hoped. was compelled
20 accept the verdict that her heart fought
against
Another sorrow came 70 her. for withou,
F. apparent cause or reason her son also dis
appeared Where he went 3 how he went
sall remains wrapped In mystery.
With the rush 20 Alaska Mrs. DeJraf
concluded 10 see what that country had In
s,ore FOR her she landed at Juneau. but
last Angus, moved over the range 10
Circle City. The simple announce ment
made in one Of the Alaska papers Is as
follows
Mrs DeGraph Graz who. It will be
rived safely and was surprised TO meet
hsr husband there. and they are now living
a. Circle City"
Every one who has heard Of the stosy
asks the question: "Did Mrs. Deffraf make
her Trip as free moral agent or was sne
nothing more than chilf IN the hands %
fats7"
Mrs p. j Smith. OF Getcheii. snoaomish
county. worked for MFs. Defsraf a, the
n
tsrviewed by 4 Post-fntelllgencer reporter
about this strange case she said thH X
was true Mr Deciraf disappeared mystic
rousiy In the vicinity OF North Yakima,
and ths, II was supposed that Glons muir
derei hin. There Was not enough cNt-
dsncs however. 10 hold Gibbs. 40 ne was
released She also said that George De-
Graf, r., disappeared mysteriously. Mrs.
emlth was not acquainted with the details
OF the reunion OF Mr.. and Mrs DeGraf In
Alaska. but said that she had heard OF II
through an Alaska PAPER.