Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-02-04

thing that looked like war was the ruins OF
Gen. Buffers mansion. Gen. Butler himself
had gone to Augusta on business, but LETT
message stating that he would answer the war
rant in person and appear at the courthouse
on the following day. The deputy served the
warrants on the other gentlemen included IN
the affidavit of Tennent, and on Saturday
morning the entire party appeared at the
courthouse. From Gen. Butler obtained
the following true statement OF the affair,
which statement is corroborated by the records
in the case, and will doubtless be proved ac-
curate in the judicial investigation which is
now in progress. The general first described
the burning of his house, which took place
during his absence from home. 1t appears
that man named W. @. Gardner was sleep
ing on the premises and first discovered the
flames about ten o'clock on the night Of the
21st. The fire originated in the main sill OF
the first floor, and from the lightwood splin-
ters subsequently discovered was evidently the
work of an incendiary. While the house was
in flames neighbor of Gen. Buffers became
involved in controversy with Jack Busy, a
member of Ned Tennent's company and la.
borer on Gen. Buffers plantation, who, 1t Will
be seen by the evidence, was undoubtedly
charged with the firing of Gen. Buffers house.
The negroes at once armed themselves with
the apparent design Of killing the entire fam
lily, but the danger was averted by the cool
ness of Gardner, who prevented Callahan, the
neighbor, from firing at Busy. Upon Gen'
Buffers return he received information from
Anderson Busy, q negro, that Jack Busy,
his brother, and John Frier had set fire to his
house, and that Tennent had paid them hfty
dollars for the job.
Both these men were members OF Iennents
company. Upon this information, corrobora'
ted as it was by hints from other negroes IN
the vicinity and by surrounding circumstances,
Gen. Butler went before Wesley Bates, Re-
publican trial justice, made the necessary atti.
davit, and took out warrants for the arrest OF
the negroes who had been implicated in the
burning fhis house. Having issued the war
rants, the Justice sent two white and two COL
ored deputies to serve them. This was on
Monday. The deputies served the warrants
upon some ten or fifteen of the militia, none
of whom resisted. But, when they came to
Tennent's house, they found him surrounded
by crowd of his militia, and, as he himself
admits in his statement, he refused to be ar
rested, insisting on his right to 60 to the vii
lage and have hearing before j. L. Addison.
The deputies returned to the justice and re-
ported the fact. The justice then sent tor
Gen. Butler and asked him what he should DO.
Gen. Butler replied that he could not say. His
house had been burned and his family render
ed homeless, and he had taken out warrants
for the men who had committed the deed. lie
certainly claimed the right to have the men
arrested and examined The justice then ap-
pointed posse of fifteen men, who, on Tues.
day, set out, accompanied by the justice, ana
armed with the warrants for the arrest OF the
house-burners. They found Tennent en-
trenched in gully with about ten or fifteen
negroes all armed, most Of them having State
arms. Upon the approach of the posse, who
endeavored to surround and capture them,
Tennents band opened fire, or to use the Ian
guage of tho outlaws, "pitched in" The vol,
lev was, of course, returned by the posse, and
in the confusion that ensued the outlaws es-
capped. There were no casualties beyond the
wounding of two of the negroes, and that
night they sent for DR.. Mckee to dress their
wounds. DR.. Mckee complied and started
out to see the wounded men, but was wayald
by the outlaws, who fired upon him and com.
pletely riddled his overcoat. This system OF
bushwhacking did not suit the whites Cpon,
hearing of the affair they at once assembled
in force and swept the surrounding country.
But the incendiaries had fled and peace was
at once restored. This is, think, an impair
tial and accurate statement of what did occur,
and in giving it to the public l have been
careful to take the statements of both races.
On Saturday afternoon last, Judge Mackey
began the investigation Of the case a!galnst,
Gen. Butler and others, who had been charged
by Tennent with an assault with intent to XII.
The defendants who we're present were M. y.
Butler, L. Reese, G. Hancock and II. Tonnes.
Gen. Butler intimated that his witnesses were
not all present, and he was not yet prepared to
20 into an investigation. He was willing,
however, to waive preliminary examination
and give bail for his appearance at court.
Judge Mackey decided to 60 on with the ex'
animation, with the understanding that the
defendants should have ample time to get their
witnesses, and that the examination should be
adjourned, from day to day, for the purpose.
The court room was densely packed with ne
groes, not more than q dozen whites beng
present. Tennent was called, sworn, and pro-
ceeded to tell bis story with variations. Upon
his cross examination by the court, he said
that the State arms used by his men when
they fired on the posse belonged to Capt. Bull
locks company, and that he had sent has men
for them. His examination and that Of Charles
Whitlow, member of his gang, lasted all
the evening, and the case was then adjourned
over. Tennent isstill in Jail under the charge
of arson, and the negro, Busy, who gave the
information concerning the burning, is also IN
custody.
The responsibility for these troubles can
certainly not rest upon the white people OF
Edge6eld county. There never was such an
organized system of public plunder in New
York or Columbia as there is in Edgeheld.
Atthe last election every county officer elected
was colored man, and the administration OF
the finances rests entirely with the favored race.
Judge Mackey, who is investigating the con-
dition of affairs pronounces the entire system
"a huge grand larceny" The board of coun-
ty commissioners is composed entirely OF ne
groes-who are just able to write their own
names. Tennent, the outlaw is a member OF
the board. On Friday Judge Mackey told
me that he attempted to obtain access to the
records of the office, but was unable to DO so
because the key of the Office was ip Columbia
in possession of the clerk of the board, who is
also member of the State Senate. The pro-
bate Judge is mulatto named Bowie, from
Georgia, an utterly incompetent man, and one
who it is said is not unknown to the police
authorities in Augusta. The school commits
sioner is an illiterate negro boy. So is the
clerk of the court. The chief deputy Of the