Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-07-20
The Murders at Hamburg.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO GOV. CHAMBERLAIN.
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,
COLUMBIA, S. c., July II, 1876.

COLUMBIA, S. c., July H. 1876.
Hon. D. II. Chamberlain, Gore1nor.
SIR: According to your request of Monday
last, have visited Hamburg forthe purpose of as
certaining the facts connected with the killing of
several men there on the night of the Sh of July.
NV information has been derived chiefly from
Trial Justice Rivers and from the testimony of
persons who have been examined before the Cor
ouer's jury. now in session, and from those who
received wounds from the armed body of white
men who had taken them prisoners. From this
information the following facts seem to be clearly
established
During the Administration of Gov. Scott COM
pany of State Militia was organized at Hamburg,
of which Prince Rivers captain. This COM
piny was known as Company A, Ninth Regiment,
National Guard Of the State of South Carolina.
Arms were at that time furnished to it, and some
ammunition. This compaDS previous to May,
1876 had for some time but few names on its rolls,
drilled rarely, and scarcely kept alive its organi-
zaton. But in May of this year the number Of
members increased to about eighty and ono Doc.
Adams was chosen captain.
On the Fourth OF July the company drilled on
one of the public streets in the town Of Hamburg.
The street on which they drilled was between 100
and $50 feet wide, but it was little used and was
overgrown with grass, except IN that portion which
was used as "a carriage road. While the company
was thus drilling, Thomas Butler and Henry
Getzen, his brother-in-law, came along in a car
rage and demanded that the company should
make way for them. Adams halted the company,
demonstrated with Butler and Getzen for thus
seeking to inefele with the company, and called
their attention to the fact that there plenty of
room on each side Of the company to pass Find
ing 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 com pany for obstrncting
the highway. The Trial Justice on the following
day issued a warrant against Adams, as he wa. the
captain of the company, and had him brongh. be-
fore him for trial During the progress Of the
trial. Adams was arrested by the Trial Justice for
contempt Of court. and su ,scquently the case was
continued until o'clock Saturday afternoon,
July s.
At that time Bn,ler and Geizcn, with Gen. NJ.
L. Butler, who had been employed by Robert j.
Butler father Of the former, their attorney. re-
paired te the Office Of the Trial Justice but Ad-
did not appear. Gen. Butler Inquired as to
the nature of the charges against Adams, and
asked if the Trial Justice was to hear toe case
Trial Justice or in his official capacity of Major
General of Militia. To this the Trial Justice re-
piled that he was to hear the case a Ttiai JUS
lice, but if the facts showed that military of.
Tense bad been committed Adams would have to
be tried by q cOu1t-maftai. zen. Butter 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 Gen. Butler at his office, but learned that he
had gone over to Augusta.
In the meantime the Trial Justice had been in
formed that some two or three hundred armed
white men were in Hamburg, and that demand
had been made by them that the Militia should
sure ader their arms. After a consultation with
Messrs Jefferson and Spencer, Rivers sent for
Gen. Butler. He rode up to the back gate of
Rivers house. The two had conversation in
which Gen. 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 arrangement could not be made, to which
Gen. Batter replied in the negative. Rivers then
asked if he would not consent to have him receive
the arms, box them up, and send them TO the Gov
ernor. To which Gen. Butler replied that he
would box them up and send them to the Gov
ernor 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 bond for
the arms, to which Gen. Butler said that he would
stand the bond, and turning to another person-I
think r. j. Buller-asked if he wouldn't go on a
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 officer. This was &C.
ceded to, and Rivers then went to the building
known as the Sibley building, in the second story
OF which the company had its aruiory 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 re-
Piled 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 au-
thori'y 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. But
Ter 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-aw he would do
nothing more. But the whole matter was in Gen.
Buffers hands. Gen. Butler SAID that as the men
would not meet him, be would have no more to do