Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-05-27
The Late sheriff CoIGrOve.

portals of the tomb. We refer now to tn
late Sheriff Colgrove, and publish the To-
lowing chapter of his life with no wish o
intention 10 speak harshly of the dead, bu
to illustrate the wickcdness and depravit
of the living.
It will be recollected that last Sprlni
: Sheriff Colgrove Of Jones county was mur
dered by parties unknown. Our entlr
State vas greatly sIandered by the conmo
ton and military parade made over tn
event. No murder was ever SO widely pup
lished or so loudly proclaimed. mob
under the sanction OF the law. was sen
into the county TO execute vengeance upoi
suspected persons. The Governor ordered
a military expedition from Raleigh to IN
wade that county, which spread terro
among timid people and destruction among
the cattle ard poultry Of quiet and harm
less citizens.
A few months previous to these events
Colonel NETuERCUTT, the most prominent
ard popular citizen of Jones county, was
shot down by concealed assasslns, IN the
midst of his family, around the family al
tar engaged in prayer. Just before that
the entire Foscue family were murdered
and their house burned. About the same
time other murders and outrages equally
as atrocious occurred in that Immediate
part of the State. There was no retaliation,
no mob, no threats. Good men, with the
assistance of the Governor it is hoped
did all they could to ferret out the crlmI-
nails and bring them to punishment, with
but poor success.
These victims were Conservatives and
it suited the purposes Of Governor Holden
and his party tools to keep the facts as
quiet as possible, and the friends of the
unfortunates ana of peace and order did
not desire to give any more publicity to
the events than the ends of justice demand
ed. But the murder of Colgrove present
ed now features. A Radical official had
been fOulIy murdered and the fiat went
forth to all the faithful to parade it as
much as possible. The telegraph was EN-.
pIoyed to give rapidity and extension to
the highly colored accounts of the transac-
ton. The good people of the county de
plored the circumstance, and did all they
could to aid the officers OF the law to bring
the guilty to punishment. On the other
hand there was a general denial that this
bad man had met his fate from political
prejudces, but that his crimes in Office
and his cruel expressions Of the people
had influenced the deed. The general
good order which has prevailed i'll that
county since his death goes far to confirm
this statement. In speaking of the muir
der at the time Of its occurrence, and de-
ploripg tho cowardy assassination. with
the hope that the assassins OF Co'3rove,
ami the lawless militia and their criminal
officers who had gone into the county to
murder bnrn and plumber would have
Justice meted out to them, and that the
whole transaction could be dealt with for
the good of the county ana State and i'll
the interest OF law and order, aud not for
objects Of personal revenge and political
purposes, we said that "Colgrove had |
g made himself detested in private life by |
g offences against society of the blacklist
% character, and had rendered himself
'' greatly hated by expressions and tyran-
g MES as an officer. Whether he Was as
= sassnated by the victims of his private
g or official crimes we know not. We are
- satisfied it was not the result of his politi-
' cal opinions"
We refer to this matter here, and re-
publish from the Raleigh Sentinel the sub
oined incidents of the previous lite of
Jolgroye, not to Justify his murder, but to
lefend the people from the false charges
which Governor Holden had put in circu-
ation-that good man and official had
,een assassiuated from political prejudices,
nd to show the people what manner of
nan has been made Radical saint; what :
characters are placed in the most response
lie official positions in this State, and Of
1hat class OF men Governor Holden sur
ounds himself, and for whom he ISLANDERS
nd villifes his fellow citizens. Let US
emember that in voting fer Conservatives
0 represent us in the Legislature we are !
citing our opposition to Governor HGI- d
ems administration, and by defeating
Ir. Phillips for Attorney General, We )
ill show our power and determination to
more economical, just and
onest governmental the State, in which l
enitentiary convicts, bond thieves andspc
lators and other corrupt and incompetent
len can no longer hold Office.
We make the following extracts from an
ditorial OF the Raleigh Sentinel
a gentleman Of this State, being in New York <
9cently, CHANGED to allude, in convers alton, TO
lie murder Of Coigrove !; the person to whom he
as speaking said he glad to hear it, for a
lore unmitgated and infamous rascal than Col
rove never lived or died.
X
We have in our possession indabitable evidence
the infamous character of this man, COlgroye, ,
HON the Governor made Sheriff OF Jones coun- Il
7, and whose acts of oppression and exsction S
ecame SO lntOlerable as to result in his violent
Iklng of by some unknown hand. +
The proof alluded to is an authenticated copy b
On indictment against Orson II. Colgrove,
ated Jefferson county, New York, September o