The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-07-25
HAMBURG MURDER.
MORE AS TO THE TRoUBle''
THERE.
The OFFICIAL sspers ss she south
Carolina Attorney GeneraI.
opprcr or THE Arpnsrr orsrn.1. i,


CoLUMBus, y. c., July l2, 1871.
Hon. ID. III. Chamberlain, Cover:
SR-According TO your request o
Monday last, / have visited Hamburs
for the purpose OF ascertaininQ the
facts connected with the killing Of sey
eral men there on the night OF the 81
OF July. My information has been de
rived chiefly from Trial Justice River,
aud from the testimony OF persons who
have been examined before the coron
er's jury, now In session. and from
those who received wounds from the
armed body Of white men who had tax.
en- them prisoners. From this inform.
alton the following facts seem to be
I clearly establshed: During the ad.
ministration OF Gov. Scott a company
of State militia was organized at Ham
burg, of which Prince Rivers was cap-
tain. This company was known as
Company A, Ninth Regiment National
Guard OF the State Of South Carolina.
Arms were at that time furnished to il,
and some ammunition. This company
previous 10 May, 1876, had for some
time but few names on It's rolls, drilled
rarely, and scarcely kept alive its or
ganiZation. But in May OF this year
the numbers increased TO about eighty,
and one Doctor Adams was chosen cap
tain.
On the Fourth Of July the company
drilled on 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 il was little used and
was overgrown with grass. except in
that portion which was used as car
riage road. While the company was
thus drilling Thomas Butler and Henry
Getzen, his brother-in-lsw, came along
in n carriage and demanded that the
company should make way for them.
Adams halted the company remonstrat.
ed with Butler and Getzen for thus
seeking to interfere with the company,
and called their attention to the fact
that there was plenty OF room on eth.
er side OF the company 10 pass. Find
ing them unwilling to turn out Of their
course, Adams finally opened ranks
and allowed them to drive through.
This incident SENS to have angered
Butler and Getzen, Who made CON-
plant before Trial Justice Rivers
against the militia company for OBJ
structing the highway. The Trial Jus.
tice on the following day issued a war
rant against Adams, a. he was the cap
tain 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 four o'clock
Saturday afternoon, July sth. At that
time, Butler aud Gezen, with Gen. NJ.
G. Butler, who had been employed by
Robert j. Butler, father Of the former,
as their attorney, repaired TO the Office
Of the Trial Justice, but Adams did
not appear. Gen. Butler inquired as
TO the nature of the charges against
Adams, and asked if the Trial Justice
was 10 hear the case as Trial Justice,
or in his official capacity Of Major Gen.
eral Of Militia. To this, the Trial JUS
tice replied that he was to hear the case
as Trial Justice, but il the facts show
ed that n military offense had been
committed Adams would have to be
tried by a court martial.
Gen. Butler then stated that he
thought the case might be arranged,
and ot his suggestion the time was CIV
on him TO see the parties. After this
the Trial Justice did not see Gen. But-
Ter 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 800 armed
white men were in Hamburg, ard that
a demand had been made by them that
the militia should surrender their
arms. After consultation with
MessIs. Jefferson and Spencer, Rivers
sent for Gen. Butler. He rode up 10
the back gate OF Rivers house. The
two had a conversation, in which Gen.
Butler said that he had given orders TO
have the guns given MP in half an hour,
and the time was nearly mp. Rivers
asked IL some other arrangement could
not ne made, to which Gen. Butler re.
piled IN the negative. Rivers then ask
ed il he would not consent to have him
receive the arms. box them mp and
send them to the governor. To which
Gen. Butler replied that he would box
them mp and send them TO the governor
and il he, the governor. should return
them to the company. IL would be at
his own risk. Rivers then asked IL
they would give bond for the arms,
10 which Gen. Butler said that lac
would stand the bond, aud turning to
another person--I think II. j. Butler
asked il he wouldn't go on bond also,
to which he replied that be would.
Rivers then asked for time before fire
should be opened on the militia, so
that he might have a conference with
the militia officers. This was acceded
and Rivers then went 90 the building
known as the Sibley building, in the
secone story OF which tho company had
its armory and drill room, aud where il
was then assembled, and told Capt
Adams what might be expected IL he
should refuse TO give up the arms. To
this Adams replied that Gen. Butler
had no right 10 the guus; that the COM
paDy held them, and he proposed to
hold them unless Gen. Butler showed
some authority to take them. After
this interview, Rivers returned TO Gen.
Butler, with whom was Robert j. But
Ter. 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 como to
settle the matter. IL the company
would apologize for the insult to his
son and son-in-law he would do moth
more, but the whole matter was In Gen.
Butler'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 il
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 after.
ward. This statement In confirmed DIV
y. y. Pixley. While these negotia.
tions were going on the armed body Of
white men in the town were concen.
trated on the bank OF the river near the
SiSley building. Soon after they were
broken OF firing began. Men who
were in the building say that IL was
commenced by the whites firing upon
the building. Adams gave his orders
not 10 shoot until lac directed them 10.
The company had very little smmuui.
tiou, aud ali they bad Was portion Of
that issued To The company when u
was first organized.
After the firing had begun Il was re-
turned 10y the militia, and one Of tlIe
, attacking party, Mckie MerriSsther,
Uss shot through the head aud instant
" killed. After this piece Of artil.
lefy. said TO belong To the Washington
Artillery n Augusta, was brought over
/ irOm Augusta, aud four charges of can
ister were fred from II upon the armo-
~, but without injnring any one. The
I persons in the armory escaped from
. hn lxwx - n 4 n