Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1865-09-21
From the Columbia Phoenix.
HORRIBLE MURDER.

Wegive the following letter, from gen.
tleman of the first character, writing from
Newberry, giving an account Of q most
horrible murder committed in that precinct
We had heard the facts stated before, in
private letters, to the same effect, but less
full in detail. We doubt nothing of the
statement. It was only what was to be ex-
pected from the employment of negro troops
throughout the State. We trust that pro-
per steps will be taken, by the proper au-
thorities, for bringing to punishment the
enactors of this cold blooded tragedy We
have submitted the statement to General
Ames, the Commanding General in this
Department, and shall bring to his and to
public notice every atrocity, Of this or any
sort, which shall be reported to US on any
respectable authority. We repeat our in.
vitation to all aggrieved parties, to submit
their facts on proper afidavits. We shall
take care that they reach the proper au-
thorities: - =
T. On Thursday evening, September 7th,
the SD Regiment Of U. 8. G. T. reached
Newberry, by rail, from some point above.
The command was campea near the town.
during the night, intending to march early
next morning towards Orangeburg. Some
negro quarters near the railroad depot were
made the rendezvous for all who could get
out of camp, and night was made hideous
by their profanity and loud talkipg-the
result of drink, we take it for granted
During the night, one of the negroes en-
tered car in which some ladies were spend
ing the night-haVing come up from Alston
and having no other available arrangements
as the car arrived from below at II o'clock
P. M. These ladies' were under the pro.
lection of Mr.. Calvin Grocer, of Galveston,
Texas, in bearing and appearance perfect
gentleman. Some words ensued and the
negro being very insolent, and using often
sive language, Grocer attempted to eject
him from the car into which he had intru-
ded. 4 fight ensued, in which others par
tioipated; and, in-self. defence, Grocer used
knife on one of the negroes. Shortly af-
forwards Sergeant and six armed negro
soldiers returned and seized Grocer, pinion-
ed his arms and took him from the depot.
They kept him in custody until day break,
when be was taken to convenient point
and deliberately s'sEot to death s0ith mus
ketry" The sergeantin charge, to'make
his death sure thing, fred pistol ball
through his head. A hole was then dug
and the yet warm but lifeless body was
thrown in, head foremost, in most dis
graceful and brutal manner, and only part
ly buried. Soon after the battalion took up
the line of march for Orangeburg. The
ladies, exposed in an open car, were in a
most painful agony Of mind, and before
leaving for Greenville on Friday morning,
brought, the murder to the attention of the
local authorities a .coroner's jury was
duly impannelled, and, after a protracted
investigation, broughtin verdict that the
deceased came to bis death by shots fred
from muskets in the hands of file of SOL
diers from the 33d U. S. G. T., &c.
The remains of Mr.. Grocer were decent
ly inferred; after funeral services at the
Methodist Church, amid the regrets of the
entire community.