The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-18

iIFfomah Anglsta fsa. gons.isusto Bth.I
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Jga1sars
l1stkttDus ISn.s ~
CAPTAIN a. y. nuTIga MURDERED IN rag pRs.
sEHcE OF BIS WIFE mr. i 2EE6Ro-rHa HUH:
pKRER LracHED II SEVEN HOURS AYrsR.
WARD. t Is 80 b s. 5l3s
Captain a. f. Butler, agent OF the South
Carcllna Railroad Company IN this city. was
shot In the bead by a pistol Ii the bands OF
negro named Gabriel MurrelI, about u
o'clock yesterday evening. The circum.
stances Of the shooting were these: Captain
Butler and his wife. with a little niece, the
daughter OF. Mr.. Taryer, were returning
home in astreet-car fromthe cemetery, With
er they had been to care for the graves OF
some loved and lost ones at the cross.
ing of Broad and Marbury streets the
car stopped to let them Of. Gabriel Muir
rell and his brother, Michael, were at or near
! the rear of the car, either on the steps or
near the back door. Mrs. Butler asked Ga
| briel Murrell to move out of the way so that
she could pass. He did not comply with her
request until she had slightly pushed him
with her hand. Captain Butler then, seeing
the conduct OF the negro, said to him: g Why
don't you get out of the .lady's way; IL you
act in that manner again I shall hit
you" and stepped from the car with
his wife and the little girl. He had
hardly gotten off when Michael Murre1l, as
We are informed, pushed Mrs. Butler to one
eli od 10 hrfo al a
shot Captain B. as stated above. The ball
entered just above the left temple, pene-
irating his brain, and lodged n his head
beyond the reach of the surgeons hand.
He fell at once to the ground, but was
speedily lifted aud carried 10 his home, on
the corner of Green and Marbury streets,
two blocks from where he was shot.
Murrell, the negro assassin, fed as soon as
be shot, but was pursued and captured by
officer FINLEY, who sent piStol.bsll after
the flying, murderous black villain which
grazed his lip. After he was hit by this ball
he stopped, and placed bis hand to his pocket
as if he were going to draw pistol, but
when officer FINLEY levelled his pistol full at
his breast be threw up his hands and gave
up, and was carried to the guard-house. Mi
cnael murrell was captured By Constable
George Boiler and officer Sharp; not, how
ever, without having to be dubbed. Both
the negroes were Workmen under William
Finch, contractor, and are aged, apparently,
from 30 to 35years.
CAPTAIN A. r. BUTLER,
the victim of this most shocking tragedy, is
one of the most universally esteemed citizens
of Augusta. Among all the railroad officials
in Augusta, and as a class we believe they
cannot be excelled for gentlemanly bearing,
We do not suppose Que could be found who is
more general favorte. Brave as man
should be, he was ever quiet and courteous,
altogether iuoffensive and unootrusiye. His
residence on Greene street is one Of the pleas
anteSt and prettiest in the city. Twas but
day before yesterday that We passed it, and
as We saw him standing in the yard near the
edge OF the portico, reaching up his hands
and coaxiDg his baby to leave the arms Of its
mother, who was holding the laughing little
one over the banister, We thought, there is
\ happy home"
How little did We think that home would
so soon be so desolate! but it is so now.
Captain Butler was an officer throughout
the war in the. Confederate army, and q gall
liant soldier. He is about thirty-ivo years Of
age.
NJ -lhh hooSSs
The scene at the house of the wounded
man was heartrending. There in one cham
Der lay the bleeding, paralyzed form of the
husband and fath1r. with the life-tide ebb-
ing surely and swiftly out, surrounded By
skiifui surgeons and anxious friends, and in
the next was the agoaized wife, who had
just seen the stay and prop Of her life shot
down by her side, without one note Of warn
ing and for no cause whatever. And yet,
Notwithstanding the great shock from wit.
Messing such horrid Tragedy, this devoted
woman assisted in carrying her husband to
their home-that home which but an hour
before was so full Of joy and hope-now SO
filled with sorrow and the shadow OF death.
THE MOST INTENSE EXCITEMENT
prevails among the very best classes Of our
citizens, and it is thought that they cannot
be restrained from lynching the cold.blooded
murderer, whose heart is blacker than bis
skin.
Later.-We have just learned that Captain
Butler is dead. lis as we expected. There
was no hope from the first. May God tenn.
per the blow to the stricken wife.
THE STREETS
are resounding with the tramp Of excited
men. Augusta has never known more hor-
rioe and unproyoked murder than this.
Here is black devil who, not content with
the privilege accorded him by the reconstruct
zion laws of riding in the street cars with re-
fined gentlemen and delicate ladies, must
needs shoot down, like dog, the husband
who ventures remonstrance with him for
not making room for his wife to pass. 1t is
not enough that be can sit by the white citi-
zens and their wives and daughters-he
must murder them when they have the temer-
ity to Insist upon his allowing the wives and
daughters to pass out Of the car. Men
say, "who will be the next victim ~ and
women, trembling for the lives Of their hus-t
bands. their children and themselves, will bel
afraid to enter the car which, peradventure,
must be shared with some murderous black
devil who may choose TO enforce his sEciVil-;
rightsv at the pistols mouth. What though
the life of gallant gentleman, a respected
citizen, loved husband and father is sacri-
feed? Is he not the nations ward" and
do not the amendments and the ciyil-rlghts
bill make him equal to the knightliest gen
rleman and the lovelest lady in the land,
and Is be,their equal if he doesn't shoot on
the spot any white man who dares to re-
prove him for standing in the way OF
lady
The heart sickens at the thought OF the
woe and misery this land has already expe-
rienced from the baleful political teachings
OF the last few years and the untold suffering
yet to come from them.
RETRlBUrIoN.
Just as we are about to go to press intelli-
gence reaches us that large body of armed
men has taken the murderer from Jail and