The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-03
THE VICKSBURG RIOT.

THE INVESTIGATION NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
TESTIMONY AS TO WHO FIRED FIRST.
VICKsBURG, Miss, Jan. 2, 1875.
Edward s. Butts, cashier OF the Vlcksburg Bank,
was the first witness before the Congressional
Committee to-day. He testified that he returned
from New Orleans on December 6; next morning
he heard an alarm sounded and went to the bank
to get mis- gum hurried to the Court House,
where he found forty or fifty men with arms
under orders; Colonel Baird took command and
marcned out the Grove street road; saw some
negroes on the opposite hill skrmishing with
few wounded whites; the former were soon dis
persed and he returned to the Court House with
the command without firing a shot. HIS descrip-
ton the fighting on the various roads did not
differ materially from those already reported. lie
only knew OF three negroes killed and one white
man.
TO Mr.. O'Brten-First heard a rumOr of an in
tended attack from General Furlong; laughed at
him about 1t; Furlong ordered the barrlcadng OF
the roads with cotton bales, as Crosby's card had
produced great excitement among the negroes :;
first saw Cr0sby's card while a train at Jack
son; his friends there told him Governor Ames
would "teach you all esson;' General Packer
and Colonel Lee came on the tram with hun;
the militia woula be called out, ana
Crosby relnstated; there had been no hostility on
the part OF the whites Of Vlcksburg toward
negroes as a class; the whites had always assisted
them IN building churches, &C., when called on
Overawing their own race: the people here had no
idea OF deprving negroes OF any civil or political
rights; there Was mucn excitement In the city on
the morning OF the fight among women and
chldren; democrats and republicans, and all
people OF the DETER Glass; inc udlng ministers and
aged men, were in the RANKS among them.
10 Mr.. Speer-Our bank makes no dtscrimina-
@ on W.T. o. e9 sacs s IT 9asa
many negroes; Davenport Is now under several
indictments Tor malieasance IN ONCE; all the
are IN his custody, some OF which are reported
missing.
10 Mr.. Speer-The league knew OF one instance
where Crosby, while treasurer, had funded one
warrant twice, and other similar charges were
his s the the saxes sas
bond; the poorhouse cost $4,000, and Is probably
Erastus Dorwln Richardson sworn-Have resided
here since 1853; was put IN charge OF the Court
House oy Colonel Bard when Crosby resigned
during The ne3 Day f ~ss in the 0e Gu
Pola on the lookout win field glasses.
saw rom his LOOKOUT during the day, and con-
tinued :-AeaId Captain Butts say he was not IN
favor OF taking any prisoners; that Colonel Miller
strongly opposed any violence to prisoners, and
that the firing on Grove street road was first
begun by a Oo0y OF mounted citizens.
The witness was then crosse Xamined Dy Mr.
Speer :-Have been baker anh glazler; am now 9
policeman; had always been republican until
ticket wouldn't stand 1t and voted the demo
cratic ticket; was coroner Tor three years
the republican candidates Tor Aldermen IN
the August election were all black but
one, and ne coulu not read or write and was
not a citizen OF the United States; there was NO
Intimidation OF blacks on the day OF election; the
negroes who marched on the city on December
must have left their homes the night before III
order 70 reach here when they did.
Captain Hogan, rom snyder's Bluff. with about
forty men, came lnr0 town the Monday alter the
fight and remained till the next day; during c1e
two DAYS from one hundred and fifty to two nun.
dred whites came IN to assist the citizens; none
brought their families with them.
Tue committee, at the conclusion OF Mr.. Rich
ardsOn's testimony, adjourned till Monday.