Evening times-Republican., 1903-12-24
GRAVES IS ARRESTED
Des Moines Man Charged With
Murder In First Degree
Now In Jail
CIRCUMSTANCES ARE PECULIAR
Chief of Detectives Hardin Says State
Will Be Fully Able to Establish Its
claims-Daushter of Dead Woman
Files the information Against Her
stepfather-Denies the Charges.

Stepfather-Denies the Charges.
Des Moines, Dec. 24.-Charles w
Graves who was arrested yesterday af-
ternoon by Detectives Eli Hardin and
George McNutt is charged With muir
der in the first degree. The informa-
tion. was filed before Justice Duncan
and was signed by Mrs. Walter Hal
bach, formerly Winnie Reader, the
daughter of Mrs. Graves, whom she ac-
cuses her stepfatller of numbering
Graves spent the night in jail and will
be arraigned today.
Chief of Detectives Eli Hardin and
Detective George NcNutt, claim they
will prove that Charles w. Graves Wis
tied his home twenty minutes prior to
the time he discovered the smouldering
body of his wife. They claim to have
five witnesses to substantiate the
claim, three who saw him and two
whom Graves told he had been home.
The preliminary hearing will prob
ably be before Justice Duncan today or
tomorrow unless Mr. Graves valves
to the grand jury. which he probably
will do He stated he did not have any
one to furnish bonds for him.
Mrs. Walter Halbach. who is stiIl
staying at the home of Mrs. Dixson.
1401 Eleventh street. absolutely refused
to be seen last night. She claimed 70
be weary and heartbroken. However,
she sent her husband to tell that ii was
impossible to see her.
II really was never more shocked in
my life than when arrived this morn
ing and picked up paper and saw
the awful fate my wife's mother met"
said Walter Halbaeh of the Grau opera
company, who arrived from Freeport
yesterday. Il knew Winnie's mother
& was dead, but l never suspected any
thing like this. Really, l am nearly
broken down under the shock You
see my nerves are all shot to pieces.
can't tell you anything beyond that
my, wife signed the Information charg-
Ing Graves with the deed. She did not
have any particular evidence more
than you have printed. She acted on
the advice OF good counsel. The au-
thorities told her someone must sign
after laying the case before her and
after reflection she decided to do it.
She. does not know whether it was
murder in the first degree or not.
You probably know more about the
case than I do. have been able to
find out little today. Winnie is nearly
heartbroken. fear her mind will give
way under the strain.
Il would be glad to give you any in
Formation have but think you must
have everything that is at our coml-
.mand. OF course, we acted on the bes;
advice securable. I am almost sick
from the shock. You can't imagine
how 1t affects one when it comes so
close to home
The body of Mrs. Graves is still at
the Patrick undertaking parlors. and
no arrangements have been made for
the funeral. There appears to be de
cided misunderstanding regarding who
should have charge. Graves wanted It
held at their home while the daughter
Mrs. Walter Halbach, wanted to make
other arrangements.
The husband and daughter were to-
meet at the undertaking parlors. at
2 o'clock yesterday afternoon to ar
range regarding the funeral but the
hour came, and the hands of the clock
pointed to four when word came that
the meeting had been postponed until
Z o'clock last night. That hour also
came and passed before Undertakeri
Patrick was informed that there would
be no meeting because Graves was
languisfing in Jail and had been sincei
the afternoon. 1t is presumed that Mrs.
Haibach will now have charge of the
funeral and will arrange 20 have 1t held
within a few days. i
You can say the state will be fully
able to establish its claim in this
case. said Chief of Detective Eli Har-
din last night. I'VE have been careful
In our Investigations and have not TAX
en- action until we were sure of our
ground We can prove Graves was att
the home twenty minutes prior to the
time he found the body and gave thel
alarm. Three persons saw him and he
told two others about the visit. The
evidence consider very strong"
Denied Charges.
Graves still protests his innocence.
It was reported the day the body was
discovered that Graves had been home;
also that he told few persons that he
was greatly surprised, as he had been
home some twenty minutes prior ana
had gone down town again TO buy a
cigar, as his wife had not dinner pre-
pared. He stated positively that he
had not been home since he left thu
house Friday morning, until he went
home about 1890 and met the milk
man going from the home. why.
would have been foolish to come
home and then go downtown to buy a
cigar when must pass at least doz- |
en- tobacco stores en- route home from
the place where am employed" he
said.
Mrs. Graves first husband, the father
of Mrs. Halbach, Is a minister. They
were divorced in Des Moines a number
of years ago. Rev. Mr.. Reader is now
a revivalist and works in Kansas. His
home Is said to be Leon. 1t is prob
able he will be summoned here at the
trial. Mrs. Dixson, a close friend OF
Mrs. Graves, and Of her daughters,
stated last evening that she did not
think either of them had correspondent
with him for number of years.