The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-10-22
MURDER OF TOM LAWSON.
Capt. Billy Smith Recalls Tragic
Death of Georgia Boy Near
Chappells, August 1865.

The citizens Of Newbnrry are faml-
liar with the history Of the murder OF
Calvin Crozier by the Federal troops.
The story has been told and retold
during the past few years in the To-
cal newspapers. For many years his
body rested in an unmarked grave in
the old graveyard. About twenty
years ago a few Of those who remem-
bered the incident and the brave and
chivalrous act Of Crozier, started a
movement for the erection Of suit
able monument to his memory and
the removal Of his remains from the
old graveyard ITO Rosemont cemetery.
The movement proved successful and
handsome monument now stands in
Rosemont cemetery and on its sides
is told the story Of his bravery and
his death.
Capt. Billie Smith who has been a
conductor on the Columbia and
GreenviNe railroad for fifty years or
more, was the conductor on the train
which brought Crozier from Peak or
Alston, to Newberiy, where he met his
tragic death in August. 1865.
In talking with Capt Smith few
days ago, he recalled this fact and
stated that there was another Con-
federate youth who was returning ito
his home in Georgia, who travelled on
! his train from Peak to Newberry
just about a week or ten days after
Crozier had come.
According to Capt. Smith this
brave young Georgian also met a
tragic death in Newberry county, and
his remains still sleep i'll the old grave
yard with no slab to mark their rest
ing place. His name was Tom Law
son.
Capt. Smith said that it was a
part Of his duty, as conductor on
the train to take the names Of the
soldiers, their Company and Regi-
ment, and where they were from.
When he came toyoung Lawson and he
stated that he was from Calhoun, Ga,
| the scenes Of his early boyhood came
to Capt. Smith, and he at once be-
came interested in young Lawson.
| Capt. Smith is himself a native Of
Georgia, and his father lived near
}lCalhoun. He made himself known to
young Lawson and it developed that
they were school boys together in the
days before the war and that young
Lawson's father was the depot agent
for the ". and A. railroad ait Cal
houn. On account Of this acquaint-
ance and their association in former
years, Capt. Smith continued to be
interested in young Lawson.
Capt. Smith says that Lawson was
very sick and weak when he was
brought to Newberry, and that he was
put in the wayside hospital, which
was at that time a temporary build
ing alongside the railroad where now
stands the water tank Of the South
ern near the Union Depot. Young
Lawson continued to improve and
was about ready to resume his jour-
ney to his home in Georgia. He had
told CapE. Smith during their con-
versation as they came from Peak to
Newberry, Of the many narrow es-
capes he had during the war, and that
he had acted in the capacity of a
Confederate spy and had often been
inside Of the Federal lines.
Capt. Smith said that at his arriv-
al in Newberry the Commander Of
the Federal garrison that was STA
ftioned here, received information
that Lawson had been Confederate
spy and Immediately selected three
Of his best and bravest men and IS
sued orders that they capture Law
son and bring him to the post dead
or alive. When they started to exc
cute the order and before capturing
Dawson, he started on foot on the
railroad track towards Chappells de-
pot. The three Federal soldiers fol-
lowing on foot in hot pursuit. They
continued the chase until Lawson had
reached the hill side in sight of Chap
pells depot, and being weak to start
with, became exhausted and dropped
behind some bushes expecting, of
course. to be overtaken very soon.
As two of the Federal soldiers
came upon him he arose from his am
bush and with almost superhuman
strength rushed upon these soldiers
u, 4l,o,,o oro,1,,S and