The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-03-14
THE.MER1DIAN ERAGLDY.,
Tho Tre.btes In NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
lars Sf Tire KiTsng sr Judge Btam-
letfe and three sesross-Atreeious 1n-


:. letts and three sssross-Ats Atsesio In
cens1iarism- 81:
The Meridian 4 MississippD Gazette of Ties
day, March Z, gives the following details Of the
violent scenes at that place heretofore noticed
In our dispatches:
TURBULENCE AND .4ssoN.
Saturday afternoon Billy Clopton had his
thin brigade of negro militia In arms and para
ded the streets as usual. Nliy was extremely
cises, and declared that with one hundred men
he could snnihilste a thousand white men,
that the whites were afraid Of the negroes and
he-wa1M have bis way IN, Meridian. he was
not interfefed with or ~mOlested. When the
fire broke otlt, that same scoqndrel was on
hand thanking God the rebels property was
consume every building In the city. He drew
pistol on a-man who demonstrated and would
have killed him, but tor the iRserference Of
friendly negro. While marching up the street
In front of the FIRE with pistol In hand, cupaing
rebels and gloating over their mfst0rtqnes, ne
was suddenly and very unexpectedly kH0cked
down, disaEMed, and left to. colored comrades,
beat hasty retreat for home. About this
time. whfie the fire was raging. and our citi.
zeas struggling to arrept H.and :sH#6 q little. OF
their property, the bell Of the African church
pealed forth the usual signal for the negroes
to repair there. This was nfore1nan our ,peo.
ole could stand, and'a company was at once
formed and marched to the residence OF the
sheriff. where tender was made Of the POSSE
and a request made for tho arrest or BllIy
Clopton. The sheriff sent his deputy, hr.
Belk, incharge of the posse md afsested GiQp-
ton and placed him under guacd 10 me couIk
house. The turbulent threats OF tue negroes
end their white allies called tho oiazens 70
when one hundred men volunteered TO. vlnqt-
cafe the majesty Of the la& and crush lawfess-
ness, NO matter whence It rafgft Come. Phe
town was we'll polleed on Sunday night aAdra
strong guard Of citizens kept oyer Qopton y
see that he was neither rescued nor molestea.
the hfe-fend no 'longer dared EthwaFt the
sky, and1the constant and promiscHols shoet-
ing, which has alarmed women and children
for months, ceased. One squad of armed
negroes was dispersed and sent home, and
the night passed In moanehiae, balm and
peace. Yesterday morning there was an
@msnSe honse 70 mass devise mes wsYs and me means fo
keeping peace and giving Fepoee to the Gem
munity. The meeting was large and enthnsl.'
astic, the largest probably ever held IN Meri-'
dian; over five hundred persons were present;.
all classes we're represented these, and all
chimes; Northern and Soathsra men :elaspe1
hands IN the deliberations. The speeches we're
pacific and pointed, and showed that the white
neopie OF Meridian have at hast determined to
check the mad and destructive 0Oeees-st thu
bad negroes and their white conteaerates.-
ThesprOceedings will be found elsewhere. In
the afternoon, the case of Billy Gleptoh, Aaron
Moore and Warren Tyler came before Justice
Bfamette Captains Eyans aad aora reprs
friends. The examination Is not coneludedat
this time. The testimony shows that these
negroes, In their meeting en- Saturday. made
very infsmmatory speeches. Warren Tyler,
in stepping upon the rostrum, placed MS pls-
tol on the table. Aaron reminded his hearers
of the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, aRd
spoke of what might be the fate Of Meridian.
Other negroes spoke ofthe possibility OF the
town being reduced TO ashes. That very night
the hand OF the incendiary reduced to ashes
seventy-fve. thousand dollars worth OF proper
ty In Meridian.
THE COURTHOUSE TRAGEDY.
Meridian has been the scene OF one Of the
most horrible tragedies that ever Occurred ia
a civilized community. While the @eRamina-
tfonrof the witnesses In the case. OF the iStste
VS.. William. Glopton end other negroes, chaig.
the time of the fire, was progressing, Mr..
Brantlsy deposed as to some remarks Warren
TYLER had made about the white people. He
was interrupted in very rpde and angry
manner by Tyler, who, 1t appears, Was armed
Withstwo pistols, and who was one OF the DE-
PENDANTS In the case. Tyler stated that ne
would impeach Brantley's testimony, for which
Brautley raised cane and advanced to- within
eirht or ten feet of him. At this tanctufe
General Pattsn, city marshall caught Brantiey
and held him. While he was thus held Tyler
drew q repeater and commenced mlng at
Brantley. At the first fire Judge Bramlette-
waa shot through the head and instantly Kill,
ed. The room was crowded WIN Walte ano
black, who were attending the trial, ano ~
great excitement was prevailing. an indls-
Eliminate firing commenced, In which William
Clopton and a negro named Gus Ford were
Killed, and several persons, white and BLACK,
wounded.
After firing several shots, Tyler jumped out
of tile windew ofthe courtroom, which. was
In the second story of the Sheehap building,
and ran ND Sydney street. AS soon as 1t was +
known that he had killed Judge Bramlette; he
was pursued, and, on refusing to surrender.
was instantly killed. Tyler nred.a pumber OF
shots at the parties in pursuit OF him, anu re-
sisted his capture until the very iast.
Judge Bramlette was man unlPereaaly
loved and respected. he had 9een ludge OF
probate, aud was at the time OF nls oeatn Jus.
tice of the peace and memoer oi tDe poaru oi
aldermen.
Clonton and TYLER were tnrbulent and d1sor-
darlv negroes who have been stirring up strife
in this Community for tke'last two years. Their
greatest desire seemed to be to stir up enmity
between the races and do. all the mischief In
their power.
I4IiceeJlauesus