The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-07-20
Official Report Of Attorney General
Stone.
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
COLUMBIA, S. c., July II, 1876.


OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
COLUMBIA, S. c., July II, 1876.
Hon. D. 81. Chamberlain, Governor.
SIR: According to your request OF
Monday last, I have visited Hamburg
for the purpose of ascertaining the facts
connected with the killing of several men
there, on the night of the 9th of July. i,
My information has been derived
chiefly from Trial Justice Rivers, and
from the testimony of persons who have
been examined before the coroners jury
now in session, and from those who re-
ceiyed wounds from the armed body OF
white men who had taken them prls-
oners.
From this Information, the following
facts seem to be clearly established:
During the administration of Governor
Scott company of State militia was or
ganized at Hamburg, of which Prince
Rivers was captain. This company was
known as company A, 9th regiment Ma
tional Guard of the State of South Caro-
lima. Arms we're at that time furnished
to it, and some ammunition. This COM
pany, previous to May, 1875, had for
some time but few names on its rolls,
drilled rarely, and scarcely kept alive its
organization. But in May of this year
the number of members increased to
about eighty, and one Doc. Adams was
chosen captain.
On the 4th of July, the company
drilled on one of the public streets, in the
town of Hamburg. The street on which
they drilled was between one hundred
| and one hundred and fifty feet wide, but
it was little used and was overgrown with
grass, except in that portion which was
used as carriage road. While the COM
pany was thus drilling, Thomas Butler
and Henry Getzen, his brother-in-law,
came along in carriage and demanded
that the company should make away for
them: Adams halted the company, re-
monstrated with Butler and Getzen for
thus seeking to interfere with the COM
pany, and called their attention to the
fact that there was plenty of room on
each side of the company to pass.
Finding them unwilling to turn out OF
their course, Adams finally opened ranks
and allowed them to drive through.
This incident seems to have angered
Butler and Getzen, who made complaint
before Trial Justice Rivers against the
militia company for obstructing the high
way. The trial justice on the following
day issued warrant against Adams, as
he was the captain of the company, and
had him brought before him for trial.
During the progress of the trial, Adams
was arrested by the trial justice for con-
tempt of court, and subsequently the case
was continued until o'clock Saturday
afternoon, July 8. .,
At that time, Butler and Getzen, with
General M. G. Butler, who had been en-
ployed by Robert J. Butler, father of the
former, as their attorney, repaired to the
Office of the trial justice, but Adams did
not appear.
General Butler inquired as to the ma
ture of the charges against Adams, and
asked if the trial Justice was to hear the
case as trial jastice, or in his official
capacity of maior-general of militia.
To this the trial justice replied that he
was to hear the case as trial justice, but
if the facts showed that a military offense
had been committed Adams would have
to be tried by court-martial.
General Butler then stated that he
thought the case might be arranged, and
at his suggestion time was given him to
see the parties.
After this the trial justice did not see
General Butler at his office, but learned
that he had gone over to Augusta:
In the meantime the trial justice had
been informed that some 200 or 300
armed white men were in Hamburg, and
that a demand had been made by them
that the militia should surrender their
arms. After a consultation with Messrs.
Jefferson and Spencer, Rivers sent for
General Butler. He rode up to the back
gate of Rivers house. The two had a
conversation in which General Butler
said that he had given orders to have the
guns given up'in half an hour, and the
time was nearly up.
Rivers asked if some other arrange
ment could not be made to which Gen
eral Butler replied in the negative.
Rivers then asked if he would not con-
sent to have him receive the arms, box
them up and send them to the governor.
To which Gen. Butler replied, that he
would box them up and send them to the
governor, and if he, the governor, should
return them to the company it would be
at his own risk. Rivers then asked if
they would give a bond for the arms, to
which Gen. Butler said, that he would
stand the bond, and turning to another
person-I think R. J. Butler-asked if
he wouldn't go ON bond also, to which
he replied that he would.
Rivers then asked for time before fire
should be opened on the militia, so that
he might have conference with the
militia officers. This was acceded to,
and Rivers then went to the building
known as the Sibley building, in the
second story of which the company had
its armory and drill room, and where it
was then assembled, and told Capt.
Adams what might be expected if he
should refuse to give up the arms. To
this Adams replied that Gen. Butler had
no right to the guns that the company
held them, and he proposed to hold them
unless Gen. Butler showed some authorl-
ty to take them.
After this interview, Rivers returned
to Gen. Butler, with whom was Robert J.
Butler. He told them the decision to
which the company had come. Then
Robert J. Butler said that Gen. Butler
was his attorney; that he had come to
settle the matter. If the company would
apologize for the insult to his son and
son-in-law he would do nothing more,
but the whole matter was in Gen. But
ler's hands. Gen. Butler said that, as
the men would not meet him, he would
have no more to do with them. Gen.
Butler was asked by Rivers if he would
guarantee the safety of the town should
the militia surrender their arms. He
said that would depend on how the men
behaved themselves afterward.
This statement is confirmed by S. P.
Pixley.
While these negotiations were going