Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-02-04
5f1istellameuns &eadin9.
THE EDGEFIELD TROUBLES.

THE EDGEFIELD TROUBLES.
A special correspondent of the Charleston
Ne,us and Courier, writes as follows in regard
to the troubles in Edge6eld:
The morning of the 22d brought news from
the scene of war. 1t also brought the noto-
rious Ned Tennent himself, who, after getting
up the fight and urging his militia to deeds
of violence, had, as such outlaws, usually DO,
skulked out of reach Of danger and brought
his precious hide to the village. He imme-
diately surrendered himself to Judge Mackey,
and was committed to jail on the charge of
being an accessory to the burning Of General
Buffers residence. News was also received
from the Currytown section that with the de-
parture of Tennent the troubles had ceased,
and thatnobody had been killed, the damage
being confined to the wounding of three Of
Tennent's militia, who had aided him IN re-
ssting the posse charged with his arrest. AS
I have already stated, Tennent was committed
to Jail by Judge Mackey, who, upon his atfi-
davit, issued warrants for the arrest of Gen.
Butler and the posse who attempted to serve
the warrant, on a charge of assault with in
tent to kill. It was with some difficulty that
any of the sheriff's deputies could be got to
carry these warrants to Currytown and serve
them. Several Conservative gentlemen offered
to serve them. Judge Mackey stated that he
knew a note from him to Gen. Butler would
bring him to the village but he would prefer
that the warrants should be served by the
proper officer. After a good deal of trouble,
a deputy was found who proceeded to serve
the warrants. But, in the mean time, letter
had been received from Gen. Butler stating
that he would be in the village on Saturday,
unless he was sooner served with warrant, IN
which event he would come at once. The
letter, which was addressed to friend, further
asked the loan Of shirt, as the generals en-
tire wardrobe was burnt with his house. On
Thursday night Judge Mackey seemed to be
apprehensive that an attempt might be made
to take Tennent from the Jail, and he, there
fore, asked some of the white citizens to fur
nish guard. This, however, they declined
to do, on the ground that Tennent was just
as safe from harm in the Jail as he would be if
he we're one thousand miles away from the
scene of all his rascalities. The event justi-
fed this statement. Let it be regarded as an
evidence of the forbearance of the Edge6eld
people that this outlaw, who has been the
cause of all their troubles, was not taken out
and hung to tree.
On Friday morning Judge Mackey sent the
clerk of the court, pale.faced, beardless mu.
latto boy to take Tennent's statement. l en-
braced this opportunity to 60 and see the no.
torious militia captain. The jail is dilapi.
dated, crazy brick building, which looks as if
it would be blown down by strong puff of
wind, and the interior was as dirty and ILL.,
conditioned as the other county Offices. 1t is
situated next to the courthouse, and is sur
rounded by dilapidated iron railing. A
seedy-looking white man, with tin badge
pinned to the lapel of his coat, ushered US in
the enclosure, and kept off villainous look
ing dog until a slatternly negress with her
arms bare, just from the wash.tub, opened the
door and admitted US into the most desolate
and filthy of rooms. The clerk asked tor
Tennent, and in few moments that distln'
guished captain was ushered into the room.
To say that villanous countenance was be-
fore US would not be doing justice to the ply
siogomy that met my eyes. Imagine a thin,
black negro, with bullet head, weazened
face, small eyes which blinked habitually and
looked down to the floor, low and retreat
ing forehead covered almost down to the eyes
with short, crispy wool, and you have an I'M
perfect picture of the most ignorant and ma
iicious negro in Edgefeld county. He was
clad in red jean suit Of clothes, wore a
slouched hat, and had one leg of his trowsers
stuffed in his boots The mulatto clerk OF
the court, who seemed to have an idea that
the NeaUs and Courier correspondent was an
especial envoy from the State government,
sent down to run the "outrage mill" and
paint up this particular affair in the most
glowing colors, stepped up briskly, rubbed his
hands together in feverish manner and said
"This is Mr.. Tennent, Mr." Having
acknowledged the introduction, and having
intimated my desire to proceed at once to
business, the clerk proceeded to swear the wit
ness. The oath, which was administered
with uncovered head, was as follows: "Mr.
Tennent, hold up your right hand. You DO
solemnly swear that the evidence you shall
give in this riot shall be the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth, so help you
God. Go on" At this point [ was some
what apprehensive and looked around for the
"riot," but failing to see any demonstrations,
took out my pencil and paper an proceeded
to take down Tennent's statement, which was
given with many Interruptions and sugges-
tions on the part of the clerk and his depu-
ties. AS near as could gather from the con-
Trajectory and patched-up story, it was in sub
stance as follows: On Monday, the 18th
instant Tennent says that Trial Justice
Wesley Bates, who lives in his section, sent
deputy to his house to arrest him and about
thirty of his militiamen, on charge Of being
implicated in the burning of Gen. Buffers
residence. He says he had ten or fifteen men
staying with him on farm which he hired,
and which they worked together. The depu-
ty told him he must accompany him to Mr.
Reeses store near by, where the justice was,
when he could have hearing. Tennent re.
piled that he would not 60 to Reese's store,
that he would have hearing before Justice
Addison, who lived at the village, and that
he had right to 90 before him. The deputy
then left. On the following day, the Tria!
Justice, Bates, and his two deputies, followed
by about forty or fifty white men, approached
his house. Tennent had his militia there.
(Be it remembered right here that it had been
announced that these militiamen had been dis
armed by the assistant acknowledgement of the
State and they were armed. He warned off
the posse and told the justice that he would
accept the warrant; but he would not 60 to
Reese's store for hearing, as he knew the
whites wanted to kill him. According to
Tennent's statement the whites then surround
ed his party and fired four shots into them,
wounding two of bis men. At this he told the
boys to ''pitch in," and they pitched in with
a voley which scattered the whites and ena-