The Greenville Enterprise

Horrible Murder.

Captain Thomas A. Holtzclaw was brutally murdered on Sunday evening last, not far from his residence in this County, about seven miles east of this place. He was returning home from a neighbor's house after dark, accompanied by his wife. Some villain waylaid the road and sprang upon him suddenly and gave him a blow on the head with an axe, which crushed in the skull, producing instant death. He fell against his wife, who, in her terror, fled through the woods, and getting home, gave the alarm. Captain Holtzclaw was found to have received a cut with the axe, which must have been given after the fatal blow. No certain clue, as yet, is found as to who is the murderer, but a negro man, Andrew, has been arrested by Constable Moncrief, against whom there are quite suspicious circumstances.

This is the most shocking occurrence that has taken place in Greenville for many years. Our County has been remarkably free from such bloody crimes.

It is not known that Capt. Holtzclaw had any enemy bearing him a grudge, nor has he been known to give occasion for revenge to any one. He was a highly respectable and valuable citizen; a peaceable farmer, with a young family growing around him. His loss to them is irreparable and a sad one for the country. He was a brave soldier in the late war, and commanded a battery of light artillery that was raised in this District.

Since the war, he has devoted himself to peaceful pursuits.