The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-03-15

lent scenes at that place, heretofore no
ticed in our dispatches:
Saturday afternoon Billy Clopton had
his thin brigade OF negro militia in arms,
and paraded the streets rs usual. Billy
was extremely abusive towards the close
of the militia exercises, and declared that
with 100 men he could annihilate 1000
white men-that the whites were afraid
of the negroes, and he would have his
way in Meridian. He was not inter
fered with or molested. When the fire
hand, thanking God the rebels proper
ty was burning, and praying that the
flames would consume every building In
the city. He drew pistol on man
who demonstrated, and would have killed
him but for the interference of friend
~ negro. While marching up the street
in front of the FIRE, with pistol in hand,
cursing rebels and gloating over their
misfoTtunes, he was suddenly ana very
unexpectedly knocked down, dsarmed,
and left to colored comrades, who car
ried him out of the crowd, when he boat
q hasty retreat for home. About this
time, while the fire was raging and our
citizens struggling to arrest it md save
a little of their property, the bell of the
African church pealed forth the usual
signal for the negroes TO repair there.
This was more than our people could
stand, and company was at once formed
and marched to the residence of the she
riff, where q tender was made of the
posse, and request made for the arrest
OF Billy Clopton. The sheriff sent his
deputy, Mr.. Belk, in charge of the posse,
and arrested Clopton and placed him
under guard in the court house. The
turbulent threats of the negroes and
their white allies called tho citizens to-
gether again Sunday afternoon and even
ing, when 100 men volunteered to vindi-
cate the majesty of the law and crush
lawlessness, no matter whence it might
come. The town was we'll policed on
Sunday night, and a strong guard of cit
liens kept over Clopton to see that
he was neither rescued nor molested.
The negroes did not carry out their
threats; the fire fiend no longer darted
athwart the sky, and the constant and
promiscuous shooting which had alarmed
One squad of armed negroes was dis
persed and sent home, and the night
passed in moonshine, balm and peace.
Yesterday morning there was an immense
mass meeting at the court house to devise
ways and means for keeping peace and
giving repose to the community. The
meeting was large and enthusiastic, the
largest probably ever held in Meridian.
Over 500 persons were present. All
classes were represented there and all
climes. Northern and Southern men
clasped hands in deliberations. The
speeches were pacific and pointed, and
showed that the white people of Meri-
dian have at last determined to check
the mad and destructive career of the
bad negroes and their white confederates
In the afternoon the case of Billy Clop-
ton, Aaron Moore and Warren Tyler
came before Justice Bramlette, Captains
Evans and Ford representing the State
and Mayor Sturges his black friends.
The testimony shows that these negroes
in their meeting on Saturday made very
infammatory speeches. Warren Tyler,
in stepping upon the rostrum, placed his
pistol on the table. Aaron reminded his
hearers of the fate of Sodom and Go
morrah, and spoke of what might be the
fate of Meridian. Other negroes spoke
of the possibility of the town being re-
duced to ashes. That very night the
hand of the incendiary reduced to
ashes $4,000 worth Of property in
Meridian.
THE COURT HOUSE TRAGEDY.
Meridian has been the scene of one Of
the most horrible tragedies that ever
occurred in n civilized community.
While the examination of the witnesses
in the case of tho State vs. William
Clopton and other negroes, charged with
riotous conduct on Saturday night at
the time of the fire, was progressing
Mr.. Bradley deposed as to some remarks
Warren Tyler had made about the white
people, He was interrupted in very
rude and angry manner by Tyler, who,
it appears, was armed with two pistols,
and who was one of the defendants in
the case. Tyler stated that he would
impeach Brantley's testimony, for which
Brantley raised cane and advanced to
with eight or ten feet of him. At this
juncture, Gen. Patten, City Marshal,
caught Brantlcy and held him. While
he was thus held, Tyler drew repeater,
and commenced firing at Brantley. AT
the first fire, Judge Bramletto was shot
through the head, and instantly killed.
The room was crowded with white and
black, who were attending the trial, and,
rs great excitement was prevailing, an