The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-12-17
Atroeious Murder in Jones County, N. C.

On Sunday night the 9Th, at 9 o'clk, party Of
| armed negroes, five in number, went to the house
| of Col. John Ell. Nethercutt near Trenton, and
demanded admittance. Col. n opened the door
to see who was there when he was Immediately
shot and almost instantly killed. They then
went into the house and after beating Mrs. Meth
circuit severely with chair and locking up the
children in barn proceeded to rob the house
We have known Col Nethercutt, for a long time
and know him to have been one of the most in
offensive living, and the only thing that these
fiends in human shape could have murdered him
for, was plumber, and his having taken an active
part in the Rebellion (so-called. )-Neaede'7'
Commerce.
Col. Nethercutt commanded the Goth n. c.
Regiment.
The Newbern Republican gives the following
account Of the horrible affair:
'On Sunday night, while Col. Nethercutt and
his family were seated around the fire in the sit
ting room some persons entered the house, and
before Mr. Nethercutt who was facing the fire
place, could turn, some one discharged musket
almost instantly killing Dir N, the ball passing
through his chest.
The murdercrs, who are reported to be five
colored men, then attacked Mrs. Nethercutt by
port says that Mrs. Nethercutt's skull was bro
ken by the blow and that she cannot survive.
The murderers then proceeded to lock the chill
dren of the family i'll the smoke house next to
| the dwelling, and ransacked and robbed the
house. During the night the children made
their escape from the smoke house and gave the
alarm to the neighbors.
Word was at once sent to Trenton and New
bern and parties were started to ferret out the
murderers or pursue them Major Van Horn
the commandant Of this post, at once sent a de-
tachmcnt of troops under command OF 1t.
Fletcher to the scene of the outrage.
Sheriff Co!grove Of Jones county is also in
pursuit.
This horrible murder has caused great excite
ment and gloom throughout the counties border
ing on the scene of the tragedy, and the opinion
is universal that the most energetic steps should
be taken to punish the fendish murderers. No
steps labors money ought to be spared in the
effort to bring these outlaws to justice and it is
to be hoped that rewards will be offered to aid
in bringing them to light.
Col. Nethcrcutt gentleman in middle
age, who had served his County as Sheriff before
the war and held position as Major and after
wards as Colonel in the Confederate service.
Many conflicting rumors were in circulation as
10 the pIoDtDle HolNe ol INC HluiueIeIs, but
there can be no doubt, if the above report be a
true one, that robbery their object. Col
Nethcrcutt has been very quiet and peaceable
citizen since the close of the war, and no act of
his since then could have made him an enemy.
1t will be remembered by our readers that the
Union soldiers who were hung at kinston in
1864 were alleged deserters from Nethercutts
Battalion. The men alleged that they were re-
cruited with the understanding that they should
the battalion started for Virginia. This unfor-
tunate affair made enemies for Col n, who was
however entirely blameless for the order which
sent his command out of the State.