Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-09-26
From the CaroIinian, Of Saturday, 2lst instant.
MURDER IN COLUMBIA. j.:

One of the most shocking homicides which
has ever occurred in this city resulted yester-
day from the feud which has for some time
existed between Judge S. w. Melton and Mr..
G.. w. Montgomery. And the victim was
neither of the parties above named, but Capt.
Jno. D. Caldwell, who, in the progress of the
political quarrel, had espoused the cause of
Judge Melton, and was with him at the time
of his death. 1t is well known to the readers
of the Carolinian, that Judge Melton was re-
ported to have charged upon Mr.. Montgomery
a prominent agency in the issue of alleged
fraudulent pay certificates in the Senate dur
ing his pro tempore Presidency of that body
Last Thursday, Mr.. Montgomery in card
published over his signature in the Pheniz,
denounced Judge Melton as "liar, poltroon
and coward" Judge Melton was then abb
sent, and Mr.. Caldwell a warm personal friend
of Judge Melton, was active in communicating
the result to him, and was regarded as his
friend and adviser in the affair. Mr.. George
Tupper was regarded as occupying the same
relation to Mr.. Montgomery. 1t is said that
the principals in this affair, passed each other
on the street yesterday, and as no collision en-
sued in the early part of the day, it was not
regarded as imminent
Between 4 and 5 o'clock yesterday, all the
parties seem to have been at the same time at
Polock's Exchange, on Main street. Judge
Melton in company with Mr. Caldwell and
Major James NJ. Morgan, at dinner in the
upper part of the building, and Mr.. G. w.
Montgomery and Mr.. George Tupper in the
dining room on the first floor in rear Of the
bar, in which were several other gentlemen at
the time of the fatal occurrence. Judge Mel
ton and his friends having finished dinner,
came down stairs, and, passing the room in
which the other party were, opened the door
and looked in, Immediately withdrawing and
closing the door, In very short time. after,
he again entered the room followed by Cap
tain Caldwell and Major Morgan, and COM
menced an assault upon Montgomery, who
was seated at the table, During the fight be-
tween these two, the pistol shots were fired.
Richard Washington testified before the
Coroner that the pistol was in the hands Of
Captain Tupper. One ball took effect upon
Captain Caldwell, passing through the heart
and producing death instantly. Another ball
took effect in the left shoulder of Major James
NJ. Morgan, inficting painful but not dan
gerous wound.
All the parties to the affair were arrested by
the Police at once and Coroner Coleman i'm
panelled Jury of Inquest, when two witnesses
were examined, Mr.. Frank Elmore and Wash
ington, the colored waiter, and the above state
ments as to the killing were made.
The post mortena examination by Drs. Tally
and Darby showed that the ball had passed
directly through the heart, producing instant
death, and that the deceased had several con-
fused wounds on the head as though from,
blows given before death. The Inquest was
adjourned until ten o'clock this morning, and
the body of Captain Caldwell was removed to
his residence on Plain street, and will be in
tered this afternoon.
The Union of Monday, the 23d instant,
furnishes the following:
FURTHER TESTIMONY.
Upon the reassemblng of the inquest yes
terday, at the Office of Coroner Coleman, there
was unabated interest manifested in the pro-
ceedings, the sidewalks and street in front
being crowded with citizens of both colors.
The jurors having answered to their names,
the evidence of physician was taken, and
other witnesses called.
I'D. F1EID1NG's TESTIMONY.
Between four and five o'clock Frank H.
Elmore, Lawrence Taylor, and witness, went
to the Pollock House to take dinner; ordered
dinner, and went into the dining room; met
Tupper and Montgomery sitting at the table
taking dinner. Upper was sitting at the end
of the table, and Montgomery at his right.