Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-06-01
SIIELDYvLLE, May 10, 1868.

EDroRS DEMOCRAT "A most cowardlS
and brutal murder was committed here this
morning. Thomas &. McGrath, u. ).
| Dcputy Collector of Internal Revenue for
! this county, was shot and instantly killed by
aniggcrsoldicr, wiHOW crHsc or prOrocpttDn.
Yesterday our community was surprised by
the advent of Il company Of Niger troops,
under the command Of a creature named
Kent On their arrival they broke down
thrdoors ofthe Court house, took possession
Of the same, elected the Sheriff from his
office, which is in the Court house, and re
fused to let him attend to his business and
conducted themselves III very heroic style
generally all of which was Of course highly
calculated to promote peace and harmony IN
our midst
This morning a niger trooper proceeded
in u very scientific manner to break open
the door OF Il warehouse belonging to Mr..
McGrath. which is situated Just in the rear
Of the Courthouse, and adjoining the resi-
dcnce of Mr., Mc(irarh. McGrath, obscry-
ing his efforts etcpncd mp to the nigger and
requested him very mildly to dcsiot, telling
him there was very valuable machinery in
it belonging to other parties, which had
been consigned to him for sale. The negro
did 80 without word, or any alteration
whatever. Mct,rath unlocked the door and
went in; and while he was in the warehouse
| the niger went to the Court house, got his
gun, and returned. Mcthath came out OF
the house, locked the door, and started to
his residence, II few feet distant, when,
without one word, the wretch shot lis vic
tim in the back, killing him Instantly As
II slight testimony of the chivalrous nature
of the gallant Capt. Kent, it may be added
he forced himself into the chamber of the
dying man for the purpose of quamclinl
with surviving brother; and though re
mcstcd by the agonzcd widow and friend,
to leave, with loud and prolane words, re
/ fused to do so until he was kicked out.
| OF course this brutal outrage created the
most intense excitement The Comt-housl
was soon surrounded by II vast throng Of
men, citizens and soldiers, armed withcycry
species of weapons. The nigger troops re-
manned in the Court house, not oncof them
daring to show himself at window. A
cry for vengeance arose alike from the lips
Of citizens and soldiers The wretch was
seized, and would have been hung in an in
slant by the soldiers, but for Colonel Buck
ley, who implorcd his men toilet him be regu-
larly tried The assassin is now under
guard, What will be done with him is un.
known.
III ! lbllldN Y. NlN'iTdtI We nave lbNl one
of our most useful and best citizens He
has always been Union man, and is the
same hero who with one other man, alone
whipped Martin > gucrrlllas when they at
| tackled the town. So his murderer has not
even the miserable prctcxt that his victim
was disloyal,
! Why were these niggcrs sent here, any
how? WhengucrriIlus were daily threaten
I In Irlrn lntt
tcctcd to defend ourselves; and did so on
more than one occasion. Now, when the
war is over, and there is no necessity for Il
soldier here, a set of uiggers are sent to gar.
rison our town. Is it done for the purpose
of annoying the people? Why is it desira
BILE to annoy us2 Our county has alway,
been loyal l. this the reward for our ser
vices in supporting the Government \
| we were left to defend ourselves when sur
rounded by danger, we do not think it un
reasonable, now that the war is over, if W
feel that we can do better without than wit
them. We want peace and quiet, which W
can never have while niger troops are dc
spelling our property and numbering on
: citizens. SHELBY.
LATER. When the stage left Shclbyvill,
yesterday afternoon, the excitement had nc
ahated, The negro troops We're all in tn
lhlIu SlofN ul the Nnufl- mouse, Surfounuc
by some of Buckley $ and Tcrrill's men, in
cluding n number of citizens, Tcrril an
one of his men went into the building an
dsarmed about twenty of the negroes. .-
!, They went up stairs, caught the Captain {
the negroes and the negro who killed NJ,
Gmth, and were bringing them down, whc
Q. Colonel Buckley interiered and Teull !,
them go back, Terrill and squad of me
|. came to this city, yesterday evening, bl
what the object of their visit was is n,
known. We will learn further particula
TO day.