Year: 1874

AUGUSTA August 49, 1874.
Last Saturday night TINS usually quiet city was
the theatre Of one OF the mos: tragic occurrences
that has ever taken place in the limits o: the State
1t threw the community into state of the widest
excitement and even now an unsettled feeling
prevails


About seven O'Clock Saturday evening Captain
A. Butler, agent Of the South Carolina Railroad
got OF q street car with his wife, at corner ON
one OF the principal streets. muatto named
Michael Murrel jostled against the lady, and was
expostuated with by Captain Butler who tnen
turned to walk on, with his wife By his side AS he
started Murrel deliberately


POINTED PISTOL


at him and fired. The ball struck Captain Butler
over the lett eye and he iell bleeding profuse,y.
He was carried to his residence, near by and died
about four hours afterwards


As soon Michael Murrel fred the shot he
jumped from the platform OF the street car and
endeavored to escape. county constable, how
ever who was standing by him on the car and
saw him shoot Captain Butler, threw his arms
around him al and & ns!d , him until two policemen
Murrel, brother OF Michael, who was on the car
when the shooting was done, ran across the street,
out was halted Oy policeman, who shot him In
the mouth, wounding him slightly. Both men
were hurried 70 the Ruardhouse, but a rumor
beng In circulation that Iorce was being organ.
LYNCHING THE MURDERER
the Chief OF Police deemed 1t best to send the
prisoners to jail, where they were lncarcerated in
separate cells. The excitement In the city over
the unprovoked murder ragged high, andil was
soon evident that the murderer would meet with
summary punishment. Stern and determined men
met In council, and at eleven O'Clock about 800 Of
them, armed with Springfield rines and oayonets
marched to the Jail and demanded admlttance
The jailer was without guard and therefore, was
compelled TO obey the demand: The gate was
into the building. seized Gabriel MurreL who al
nrst was supposed to be the murderer ana carried
"HanQ him hang MIN ~ halted under lamppost
aud prepared TO launch the mulatto INTO eternity.
The latter cool and collected, protested his i.
nOcence and SAID, Gentlemen, you have


THE WRONG MANI


His fate, however, would have been soon sealed
but Tor the efforts or a few men who persuaded the
crowd to wait until the guilt OF the accused had
been positively ascertalned. Mlcnael Murre, the
real murderer, was then taken from jail, and the
two brothers were hurried to lonely spot just
outside the city limits. jury was organized and
a formal trial entered into. About one O'Clock the
Jury decided that GABRIEL was the guilty party and
SO stated. The crowu, however. cried ''Hang them
botn Hang them both !" and this would most GER
tainly have been done but for the efforts OF o
number OF armed men VINO formed line across
the road and threatened to bayonet any one who
should attempt to advance upon the prisoner.
This enraged the excited crowd 70 such an extent
tnat many called out "TurR the negroes
loose and hang the committee" number
of similar threats were uttered fast and thick.
Apprehensve that rush would be made, the
committee or jury sent Michael Murrell under
escort and by circuitous route, back to jail and
retained Gabriel who had been adjudged guilty.
Gabriel was then notified that he had but fifteen
minutes to live. He was still perfectly collected





that his body be turned over to his family
and expressed some other wishes In regard 70 the
disposition OF his affairs. In the meantime, how
ever. q gentleman who was not satisfied with the
verdict hurried into the city and hunted up the
constable who had first seized the murderer. As
soon as he found this party the two hurried back
to the spot where the crowd was assembled. The
constable was confronted with the condemned
man and Immediately declared that he was


NOT THE MURDERER.


This positive declaration created intense excite
ment party OF the more conservative mem
bers Of the crowd surrounded Gabriel and marched
with him at q double quick TO Police Headquar-
ters, where he was placed under the protec.
tion Of the police. The remainder OF the excited
crowd rushed precipitately to the jail, again
took out Michael Murrel and started with MN
across the parade ground AT q quarter-past two
reached corner OF the parade ground, the alarm
OF fire was sounded and bright blaze
was seen to fare up in the very heart Of
the city. The cry Was. was at once raised
Michael Murrel was tnereupOn made to kneel, =
line OF men with loaded pistols and rifles was
formed opposite to MIN, the command Fire I" was
given anu the mulatto Tell completely


RTDDLED WITH BALLS.


AS he fell he was heard to cry, my God white
men, what are you doingf" His body was lett
where 1t fell ana the crowd rushed into the city to
ascertain the cause OF the fire. The latter was
found to be accidental.


An uneasy Keeling prevailed in the city during
Sunday. The body OF Michael sMurrell was taken
quest had been neld and verdict returned by
tue jury THAT the deceased came to his
death from gunshot wounds indicted by parties
unknown. Sunday night, rumor prevailing that
Gabriel Murre was TO be taken from jail and
lynched. detachments from the military c0mpa-
MES were ordered out and placed on guard at the
jail, but no demonstration occurred during the
night. The city Is now quiet.


Tae negroes generally seem to approve OF the
killing OF Michael Murrel as deserved retriDution.