Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-01-12
MURDER NEAR GROVER.

There was a story of a murder and
lynching, on the streets of 4orkville las'
Monday. The tragedies were alleged tc
have occurred near Grover, n. c.; but
all the information that could be procured
during the day was to the effect that the
murdered man was Mr.. w. S. Wells, the
well known mill-wright, and that his
murderer, who was lynched, was Negro
whose name was unknown.
After considerable amount of inquiry
the reporter, on Tuesday, ran upon re-
liable gentleman who was well acquaiDt-
ed with all the facts in the case, and who
was willing to tell the whole story on
condition that his name is not mentioned
The gentle man referred to does not con-
slider that he is in the least culpable, and
has no opinion to express in regard tc
others but, at the same time, prefers thai
if there is to be legal investigation, ii
should take its natural course without I'M.
necessary suggestions from himself.
That Mr.. w. S. Wells was murdered, IS
true but that the Negro, whose name is
Nit Sadler, was lynched, is mistake
Sadler was pretty severely dealt with
but, on Monday, was still alive and safe
in Cleveland county, n. c., Jail. Here is
the story substantially as it was told to us,
and which, so far rs it goes, may be de-
pended upon as correct:
son Saturday morning, Mr.. Wells
started out with a party Of friends to go
hunting; but when near Camps still
house, lust over the line in South Caro-
lima, and about four miles east of Grover,
he left the party, saying that he was tired
and would &c home and get some dinner.
"Some two hours later, the hunters ap-
preached the still house, and found there
two brothers of Mr.. Wells, who informed
them that William had been killed by a
n egro. Investigation quickly developed
that such was the case. In the building
lay the dead body of Mr.. Wells, with a
bullet in his left side, up near the
shoulder.
Immediately upon acquainting them
selves with the circumstances, the hunters
left the place with view to spreading
the news and, if possible, finding the
murderer.
Before proceeding very far, party OF
three of the hunters saw a Negro pro-
ceeding along in front of them. Just
opposite the residence Of Mr.. +. \. Pat
tcrson they got within calling distance,
and ordered him to stop. The Negro re-
piled with shot from revolver.
"Thc hunters were armed with two
double barrel shotguns and Il 32-calibre
rifle. They answered the pistol with Il
vollcy, and followed up that volley with
others, until the Negro was brought to
the ground, when they tied him securely.
1.-The Negro proved to be Nit Sadler.
He confessed that he had shot Mr.. Wells,
saying that he did the shooting with Mr..
Wells's own pistol, and then threw the
weapon at his victim.
"Mr. J. \. Camp, who lives near, heard
the shooting; but did not see it. He
heard only one shot but attcrward found
the pistol where the Negro had thrown it.
The weapon is Il 3S-calibre Smith X Wes-
son. Two chambers were empty.
"Sadler was taken to Jail 1T Shelby,
Saturday night. He had Il slight wound
in the right wrist and a ball had passed
through his left side, producing flesh
wound. Ills condition was not thought
to be especially serious.
IAN inquest was held over the dead