Bloody Work in Newberry; Butler Banks Proves Himself a Very Bad Man; He Resists Arrest at the Hands of Four Men, Stabs Two of Them, and Puts the Quartette to Flight The State - February 20, 1893 Newberry, Feb. 19 - What may prove a very serious cutting affray too place in this county today. Two men are very seriously, if not fatally cut. Butler Banks, a white man, residing about four miles from Newberry, some two years ago was interested in a prosecution in the Sessions court, both as prosecutor and defendant. The case was never terminated, but is still on the contingent docket. There seems to have been some understanding that if all parties left the county the case would never be pressed for trial. The others interested in the case have gone, but Butler remained and has been out of jail on bond. Yesterday, it seems, he had an interview with one of his boundsmen, and as a result this bondsman decided to turn Butler over to the custody of the court and relieve himself of liability on the bond. It seems that he never went to a trial justice to get a warrant, but just authorized a man to bring Banks in, and this party, in company with three others, went this morning to Banks's house for him. John C. Neel is the bondsman, and the parties who went after Banks were Amos Taylor, Simpson Taylor, J. Henry Todd and John Henry Chappell. When they arrived they found Banks at home with his wife and children. They had some conversation with him, but he soon understood what they were after, and as Chappell placed his hand on Banks's shoulder from behind, Banks, who had his knife up his right sleeve, reached back and gave Chappell a very severe stab in the right hip, about three inches long and four deep. Dr. Houseal, who attended Chappell, does not think the knife reached the abdominal cavity, and if not it may not prove fatal. About the time Chappell was cut, Amos Taylor rushed upon Banks and threw his arms around him, and Banks gave another lunge with his knife and Taylor received a deep gash - under the right arm, and also three or four ugly cuts on his arm and hand. Chappell had a pistol, but it had only two chambers loaded, and they failed to go off. Todd drew his pistol, but as he fired Banks ran in a room and slammed the door, and the shot did no harm. It is said that some time during the scene Mrs. Banks got down her musket and leveled it on the boys, and about that time they concluded it was time to get away, which they did as best they could, and Banks and his wife remained masters of the field. They also say that as they left, Banks fired two shots at them, but they managed to dodge the balls. The other two of the party seem not to have been hurt at all. It is reported that a party left here soon after the wounded men got to town, not in search of Banks, but to try to find one of the four who left here this morning, and who was supposed to have been either killed or lost, but he has since turned up, and says he is not hurt unless he hurt himself running from the scene of the conflict. Dr. J. H. McIntosh, who attended Taylor, says he does not think his wounds are serious. Both of the wounded men were brought home on wagons. Why the bondsmen selected Sunday to deliver Banks up I do not know. He was in town yesterday, and it was then that he had the interview with his bondsman, and I suppose that as it was not satisfactory, he thought best to have him delivered as speedily as possible. A Fiendish Outrage The Daily Picayune, New Orleans, LA - January 18, 1889 Charleston, S.C., Jan. 17, 1889 - Last Saturday a party of men went to the house of Butler Banks, in Newberry county, where were his wife and six children, the eldest being only 13, and set fire to the house compelling the woman to remain until its destruction was certain. The men then set fire to the corn crib and feedhouse, leaving the mother and little ones without food or shelter, or sufficient clothing. There is great indignation but though the names of the incendiaries are said to be known, no arrests have been made. About a week ago Butler Banks lay in wait for a man in the neighborhood and shot him, though he is still alive. His friends took this method of revenge. The New York Times January 18, 1889 contributed by Kim Baxley A Bitter Family Feud In Which Shotguns and Fire Play a Leading Part Charleston, S.C., Jan. 17 - Smoky kTown, a neighborhood of Newberry County, is greatly excited voer the bloody feud between the Banks families.  About two months ago Butler Banks was ambushed and shot down in the road while on his way to town.  He made a narrow escape, a leather bag hanging at his side receiving most of the load.  Recently he received an anonymous letter warning him to leave the country on pain of death.  He charged his troubles to James C. Banks, a book agaent, and loaded his gun with buckshot.  Last Saturday he "got the drop" on James and brought him down, putting eight bullet holes in hsi body and head, and then took to his heels.  James will probably die. On Saturday night a gang of masked men went to Butler Bank's house and burned it down, his wife and six children barely escaping with their lives.  The family were asleep when the house was first fireed, and succeeded in extinguishing the flames, but the marauders drove them back into the house, and saturing rags with kerosene, applied the torch a second time, and would not allow the family to escape until the fire was under full headway.  Not only was the Banks residence burned, but also the crib and feedhouse, with all the year's corp of corn and provender, the womand and children being left desitute. Mrs. Banks and her children recognized several of the marauders, and the machinery of the law is in motion.  A warrant has been issued for Butler Banks, and strong efforts will be made to punish the would-be murderers and incendiaries.  It is expected that there will be more bloodshed. The New York Times January 24, 1889 contributed by Kim Baxley FIVE   INCENDIARIES ARRESTESD Charleston, S. C, Jan. 23.—Five persons accused of setting fire to the house of Mrs. Butler Banks over the heads of herself and little children,  in Newberry County, have been arrested.  Butler Banks, who shot James Banks, has not been caught yet, but his wife has been arrested as an accomplice after the fact.  The people in the Smoky Town neibhborhood are determined on the punishment of both Butler& Banks and the incendiaries.