Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-07-25
THE HAMBURG RIOT.
Statement of General NJ. C. Butler The
Causes and Progress Of the Trag'
edy-The Negro Leaders Re-
spOnsible.
A Sad and Bloody Affair that, If General
Buffers Advice Had Been Taken,
Might Have Been Prevented
"A Candid State
ment.

General Butler writes TO the ColunloIa
Register, of the twelfth instant: "Cer-
tain newspaper editors and reporters
have done me so much injustice by faise
reports in reference to the recent us
turbance In Hamburg, that it is due TO
myself to make to the public O. state
meut of nv connection with II. On
Friday evening, July 9TH, Colonel Il mos
Shaw, with his brother, Rev. VIM. Shaw,
was at Edgefield Courthouse, to see Mr..
81, w. Addison and Mr.. A. J. Norris
and myself on business. After transact !
ing it, Colonel Shaw said to me that Mr..
Robert J. Butler, who lives nesr Ham
burg, in Aiken county, desired me to be
at Hamburg on the following evening |
(Saturday), at four o'clock, to REPRESENT |
professionally his son, Thomas Butler, |
and son-in-law, Henry Getzen, in trial |
to be had before Trial. Justice Prince |
Rivers. Mr.. Butler has been q lucrative |
client of mine for many years. in |
ouired of Colonel Shaw il he knew the |
nature of the case to be tried, and he |
said he knew nothing except what he |
had heard-that these two young men
had had an alteration with company
of negro militia, in the streets Of Ham
burg. on the fourth Of July, and that
Mr.. Robert Butler had complained to
Rivers, the major-general OF militia and
trial.iustice, and that he suppressed the
trial referred to that matter. l accord
ingly left Edgefield at nine O'Clock next
morning, in buggy. When l had gone
about seven miles on the old stage-rOad,
/ met DIR. Wise, who inquired if had
heard the news from Hamburg. I re-
piled that had heard nothing special,
but was on my way to Hamburg
to attend a trial before Rivers.
He said the information had
reached his neighborhOod that the
negro MALTA had threatened 70 lynch
Thomas Butler and Henry Getzen If
they were not convicted, and that sever
al young men had gone in that direc-
ton, When nesring the town, sent
word to Mr.. Robert Butler to meet me
in Hamburg, and give me the facts OF
the case in which he wished rae to APP
pear, Mr.. Butler did meet me in ashort
time, and there for the first time as
certained the character of the trouble.
had nothing whatever to do with the
matter up to that time-kneW DothiDg
but what 1 have stated, My business
there was simply professional; had moth
| ing about me but one lsw-booE, and had
no more idea of there being 4 collision
| than an utter stranger. l learned after
| r5aCQlDS 1duDuIS LuaG mI' HOLLY
| Sparnick, of Aiken, was in town as the
| attorney of the colored militia, and sent
| for him with view of arranging for the
| trial Of effecting some arrangement be-
| tween the parties. Mr.. Spsrnick met
me, and, I think, will do me the justice
to say that my earnest effort vas to pre-
vent any further trouble, if possible, and
he appeared equally anxious. Mr.. Rob-
ert Butler then interposed and said to
Mr.. Sparnick that if these men would
| make acknowledgements for their abuse
and maltreatment of his son and sOn-in.
law, he would be satisfied. / said moth
ing about an apology myself. It was
then proposed that we hold conference
with the officers Of the militia company
and Prince Rivers, and see il we
could not adjust matters. ! made this
proposition. Mr.. Sparnick sssented,
saying he had influence with the
negroes, and he thought we could ar
range it. He went off, as l supposed, to
bring his clients, but did not return.
Sam Spencer, q negro man, came to
Mr.. DAMS store, where l vas with Mr..
Robert Butler, bis son and son-in.law,
and said that he desired TO see me pri-
vstely. / at once went into Mr.. Dams
back room. He said he was sorry to see
|
regrets at it, when he said that he
thought inasmuch as Trial-Justice Riv.
ers was to hear the csse, he would prefer
not to be in the conference. l agreed
with the propriety of that position, and
he then said that the officers of Doc
Adsms's militia company would meet
me, but did not like to come to Mr.,
DAMS store, IS there were armed mer
there, but would meet me at his (Spen'
cer's) office, if agreeable 10 me. l said
certainly would meet them at his of.
fee, and alone if they preferred. He
then went off, and did not return. The
time appointed for the trial having ar
rived, proceeded, with my clients, to
the trial Justices office. Rivers was moi
in, and after a time his cleIk went fol
him, snd he opened his court. l in.
quired, as preliminary question, wheth.
er he was sitting as a civil or military
officer. He replied that that depended
upon the facts as they would be devel'
oped; that he was then acting as a peace
officer. l remarked that l was indifter.
ent as to the character Of The court, az
we only desired to arrive at the facts
and inquired il the accused parties
would be present. He said that he did
not know, but would have them
/ u COuELaUlb pIOCGSuS
ed to do from the door. About this
time Sam Spencer came in, and said
to me that he thought if the trial could
be suspended, the matter could be set
tied, I replied that he could see the
trial Justice, and if he would suspend
had no objections. WheTeupon Rivers
announced the case suspended for ter
minutes, and was invited by the negro
intendent of the town-a negro man
named Gardner-to the council cham.
Der, for the purpose OF meeting the mill.
tia officers of Adams's company. | re.
paired at once to that place, and re.
manned there about quarter OF an hour
nobody appearing but Gardner, with
whom had some talk as to the necessi.
ty Of something being speedily done
and said thought the best solution OF
the matter was that these people should
deliver up their arms as a means of set.
ting the present difficulty and guaran.
antee against q future recurrence. He
said he knew nothing abouti it, and wait
ing, as 1 thought, long enough, / got in
my buggy and went over 10 Augusta Oh
business having no relatio to the Ham.
burg matter, and while there was ques-
toned by a number OF persons as to the
status of affairs in Hamburg, to whom
I replied that thought collision be-
tween the whites and blacks was immi.
nent and likely to place. After dispatch.
ing my business, was returning through
Hamburg, on my way to spend the
night at Mr.. Robert Buffers, two miles
in The country, and leave for home early
next morning. When about half way
across the bridge 1 met a delegation
OF four negrOes-Pixley, Edwards, Spen-
Ger and Sims-who stopped me, and
and said II 1 would go to Spencer's office
the officers of the militia would meet me
and endeavor to stop the impending
trouble. agreed; went directly to the
appointed place, and waited some twen-
ty or thirty minutes, but one OF the Off
GERS, Csrtledger appearing, he said
he would do all in his power to in