Jones County NcArchives Photo Document.....Sheriff O. R. Colgrove Murder Account 1869 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Cathy Blow rblow55@gmail.com February 2, 2023, 5:25 pm

Source:             New York Herald, New York, New York
Photo can be seen at:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/jones/photos/documents/sheriffo1471nph.jpg
Image file size: 166.4 Kb

June 2, 1869, page 12

North Carolina

The Sheriff of Jones County and His Servant Assassinated-Arming of Negro 
Militia-Reign of Terror Organized

Washington, June 1, 1869

From Goldsboro, NC I got the following today: On Saturday morning last, about 
seven o'clock, Sheriff O. R. Colgrove, of Jones county, while on his way from 
his residence to Trenton, about three miles distant, was fired upon and 
instantly killed by persons concealed in the bushes. A negro, who was mounted 
behind the Sheriff's carriage, was also mortally wounded, and is since dead. 
This assassination is universally condemned by the people; but in consequence of 
it a number of negroes have been armed as militia and, under authority of law, 
are committing outrages of the most atrocious nature. 

A state of affairs similar to that of Arkansas recently exists. The negroes are 
said to have been instructed by a member of the Legislature and one of Holden's 
detectives "to shoot every suspicious looking person they meet." This detective 
reported to have said "Two-thirds of Jones county shall be laid waste" because 
of the assassination of the Sheriff.

In the surrounding country Colgrave had the reputation of being a most desperate 
character, being guilty of several heinous crimes. As Sheriff, he acted 
altogether independent of the law, arresting men without charge or warrant, 
either in or out of his county, and seizing and selling property without 
execution or notice. He had been repeatedly warned even by men of his own party, 
including his brother, a member of the Legislature, to desist from such a course 
or he would meet such a fate as the one which they now acknowledged he richly 
deserved.

A terrible state of affairs exists in the county, where, also, because of a 
reward of four hundred dollars offered by the Governor for the arrest of the 
murderers, large numbers of persons have been imprisoned on suspicion. Colgrove 
was a Northern man, and was a source of both terror and suffering to both races.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/jones/photos/documents/sheriffo1471nph.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ncfiles/

File size: 2.7 Kb