In the early morning hours of 17 April 1871 Robert and Harriett M. Melton was shot and killed at their home.
A Corner’s Inquiry took place almost immediately under direction of W. J. Hanna, Coroner. On 18 April 1871, twelve men from the County were empaneled to from an impartial jury of inquest.
Local newspapers throughout the State were having a media frenzy; such as this report from “The Advertiser”, Edgefield, SC, 27 April 1871, Front Page, column 1.
Transcription:
We regret to hear that a foul and cold blooded murder was committed in our County on Sunday night last. Six unknown persons approached the house of Mr. Robert Melton in the upper part of the county and hailed, when Mr. Melton, his wife and daughter, went to the door the whole party fired, instantly killing Mrs. Melton mortally wounding Melton, and severely but not dangerously wounding their daughter. There are various surmises as who were the perpetrators of this outrage, some supposing they were members of the Ku Klux organization, some that they were Negroes, many of whom were said to be much enraged against Melton and others suppose they were a body of outlaw from North Carolina. We have never heard of Ku Klux maltreating women when they inflicted punishment always taking the victims a distance from their families; this, if nothing else, would lead us to the belief that this outrage was the result of personal malice rather than the organized punishment of crime, real or supposed. Our citizens should use every effort to ferret out and bring to justice the authors of this crime.
Since writing the above we have received a letter from W. J. Hanna, Esq. Corner from which we learn that Mr. Melton died about sundown Tuesday evening. The family was aroused between 1 and 2 o'clock Monday morning by the barking of the dog, and on going out to see who it was were fired on. Melton received two wounds; one in the stomach and one in the hip. Mrs. Melton received one wound in the breast and died almost instantly; their daughter received one wound in the hip. A hat and pistol were left at the gate; the assailants left going in the direction of the Charlotte and Camden road. The jury of inquest were unable to gain any clue as to the perpetrators of the murder. -- Chesterfield Democrat, 21st.
Then we have this report from The Charleston Daily News, Charleston, SC, 21 April 1871, Front page, Column 4
Transcription:
---The Columbia Union prints the following story of an alleged cowardly outrage by the Ku-Klux. Until we have further advices, we prefer to receive the statement with many grains of allowance: "On Sunday night last, the 16th, at about midnight, a party of disguised assassins rode to the house of Mr. Robert Melton, at Old Store, Chesterfield County. Mr. Melton is an elderly man, living on a little farm, which he has just bought and works himself. He had no one within hearing but his wife and daughters in the same house. Hearing someone at his gate calling his name, Mr. Melton appeared outside his house, followed by his wife and one daughter. All three were immediately shot down, without regard to age or sex, by the 'high toned' murders who awaited their victims. Mr. Melton lies in a dying condition, his daughter dangerously wounded--the wife and mother being killed by the first shot. The cause of the deed is well known. Melton is a Southerner, a Union man and republican. Moreover, he has been lately engaged in collecting delinquent taxes."
The South Carolina State Governor Robert Kingston Scott faced with multiple similar murders' throughout the State during this time period ran this notice which appeared in the "Anderson Intelligencer", June 1, 1871, Front Page, Column 5.
Transcription:
---Governor Scott offers a reward of $500 for the apprehension and delivery of any and every person or persons, in any jail of the State, with proof to convict, who aided or participated in the killing of the family of Robert Melton, of Myer Johnson, of Daniel Edwards, Alexander McClan and Peter Lemon, all of whom were killed within a few weeks past.
The empaneled Coroner’s Jury called several witnesses, mostly family member and took their testimony. One of those witness was their daughter Sarah S. Melton who was also shot.
Daughter Sarah Melton was home the morning of the murder and gave this account at the Coroner's Inquest.**
000180
South Carolina}
Chesterfield County}
Testimony of Sarah S. Melton
Witness sworn says:
Just before day yesterday morning was awakened by the front door of the house being opened, just as the door opened some person fired off a gun. After the gun fired I ran out of the house pased <sic> Father and Brother who was in the years, there were five men in the lane they were shooting in the direction of the house. I caught hold of one of them and beged <sic> him not to Kill us, one of them shot me. When I went back to the house I saw Mother (the deceased) lying on the floor next to the front door though. I know one of the persons he laughed and I thought it was Bud Evans, think I may be mistaken but i thought he laughed like Bud Evans. Not certain it was Bud Evans, he was almost too thick for Bud Evans, four of the men were about the same size the other was a tall slim man one of the men had a cloth wraped <sic> around him.
s/Sarah X her mark S. Melton
The Coroner’s report on-line contains the following summary of witness testimonies.
Transcription:
Witness Sworn Says: I heard yesterday morning that Mrs. Melton was killed. I went to Mr. Meltons and found her dead, she was on the bed. I went out into the lane and found a hat don't know whos hat it is found it about 20 Steps from the door. G. W. Carter
Witness Sworn Says: That on Monday 19th June between 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning he heard some guns firing from the direction of Robert Meltons house, thinking there was six or seven guns fired . . .went to Robert Meltons as soon as I heard the firing heard some person hallowing like they were in trouble. I found Harriet Melton, the deceased, lying across the front door dead, heard some persons riding off from Robt Meltons house. I examined the deceased and found a wound on her breast think it was done with a Pistol. Examined the yard did not see any tracks. Saw the track of serval persons in the lane about 20 steps from the front door. I assisted in moving the deceased from where she fell and laid her on the bed. Robt Allen
Witness Sworn Says: Yesterday morning about 2 o'clock heard some persons slaping about thought at first it was some person riding heard some person shoot at the dog, who was barking at them. Witness and his Father went to the door just as Father opened the door a gun fired, and, I think, wounded Father in the hip. Father and myself went out in the lane among the crowd that were shooting, one of the men had a gun or stick in his hand. Father took hold of it and tried to take it from him. Father went back into the house and said he was shot, Witness went back in the house and saw his mother (the deceased) lying on the floor. Saw his mother (the deceased) breathed once. Saw a wound in her heart liked like it was done with a little ball. Did not know mother was dead until I went back into the house. there was several shots fired. did not know any of the party. Went out to the gate and found a Pistol, some of barrels had been fired off. Never saw the pistol before there were six or seven men in the lane don't know when the deceased was shot, think she died immediately.
I can find no evidence in the Coroner’s Inquest that this murder was ever solved. Their finding:
Perpetrator: group of unknown men
My connection to this case is the marriage of my Great GrandAunt Martha Deese to Alexander Melton son of Robert and Harriet Melton.
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** A coroner's inquest is a public court hearing where the coroner determines about how, when and where someone died following a post-mortem.
[1] Coroner’s report: https://csidixie.org/inquests/4094
[2] “The Advertiser”, Edgefield, SC, 27 April 1871, Front Page, column 1.
[3] The Charleston Daily News, Charleston, SC, 21 April 1871, Front page, Column 4
[4] "Anderson Intelligencer", June 1, 1871, Front Page, Column 5.
The actual coroner’s report can be accessed here: https://csidixie.org/inquests/4094
Copies of all newspapers can be found on https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
