Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-11-26

A lame man, whose name do not know,
to me, policeman, come walk
Up to the end of the platform, have
'retty landscape to show YOU
responded, mo, l thank you; that's
90 thin for me. You must take me for
,reenhorn.''
BAILED.
took both gentlemen under arrest, and
put General johnson in charge OF MI.
Royal to take him to the Second Station
house. General Imboden insisted on TIA
king hack and General Imboden, Mr..
5tearnS, and myself came along together
In it,
STATEMENT OF GEN. IMBoDEN.
SUNDAY, November p, 1875.
John s.. Wise, Esq: Dear Sir,-Not |
knowing what version has been given to |
the public of the dastardly and cowardly |
attempt to assassinate me last night at |
Byrd-street depot, in Richmond, submit |
for such use as you deem proper the fol- |
lowing statement of facts:
A little after 8 O'Clock l walked alone
from my house to the depot. Being half
hour too early, found no one there but
the employees of the road. Presently H.
C. Cabell arrived, and soon afterwards we
were joined by Colonel William 2. Bur-
well and Colonel E. w. Hubbard. AS we
were all delegates to- the st. Louis Con-
yention, L holding the credentials of the
party, as we'll as part OF their railroad
tickets, we had little conversation about
the matter, when, Colonel Cabell and |
stepped across the street to get sand
witch. On our return to the platform, the
train having arrived, the crowd had be-
come large for the place; we therefore
stepped into recess. where baggage is
checked. Colonel Cabell took a seat on
one of the baggage wheelbarrows and on
small box near by, where We continued
our conversation. In short time | OBJ
served Bradley johnson making his way
hurriedly along the platform. When he
had slightly passed where we were sitting
he discovered us, being then some ten feet
distant He faced towar S us, and look
ing full at me remarked in an excited tone,
inkeeping with his manner, ''Ah! Gener-
al Imboden, l believe.'3 Up to that mo-
ment | had no suspicion of hostile intent
on his part, as for 4 week we had often
met i'll the offices of the lawyers taking
dispositions in the contested elections. But
when he spoke observed that he had his
hands either in his pockets or under his
coat; and knowing the mans nature and
character, the whole scheme was instantly
revealed to my mind. He had come there
armed to- find me in a crowd of men,
armed, and defenceless, to shoot me down
without personal risk to himself. Quick
as thought l sprang to my feet, and,
springing forward as he advanced step
or two, grasped at his throat with my left
hand, and aimed blow at his face with
my right, which he partially evaded by q
sudden movement, receiving it on the left
side Of his head. He struck at me at the
instant sprang at him, | supposed with.
small cane, as l was barely conscious
that my left arm had been hit. | had on
a very heavy NJ and stiff overcoat, but
toned up to my throat, which greatly ham
pered my movements, but l dealt him
blows on the head in rapid succession, at
the same time forcing him back perhaps
fifteen feet from where the fight began, in
tending to pitch him under or between the
cars, but he brought up against post. and
that checked his backward career. After
his blow on my arm he struck me on tile
left cheek once with his fist, and then
from hip-pocket. This I had expected
when he ceased striking With that hand.
and was ready for it. Fortunately the
light from gas-lamp revealed the pistol
as SOON as drawn, when l seized his wrist
with firm grasp of my left hand and held
it down. It occurred to me at that mo-
ment to attempt to jerk the pistol out of
his hand, get away from him, and shoot
him. But at the instant l attempted to
do SO, a policeman seized me and COM
manded the peace I exclaimed, ''Don't
hold me; he is armed and am not y But
the policeman, holding on to me and |
holding on to JOhnsOn'S pistol hand, the
crowd closed in and secured Johnson. A
gentleman from Brooklyn, who gave us
his name, told Colonel Burwell and myself
that he took the pistol from Johnson
johnson then exclaimed, II obey the ar
rest Then, addressing me, said, II have
cowhided you, and have been looking for
you all day, but thought you had gone in
the morning., That W s the first intima-
tion l had that such a weapon was at
tempted to be used and | repli' d indig-
nantly, 'sYou have not done it, sir. But
you shall hear from me again." When
recollecting [ was in the custody of an Of
ficer scorned to handy epithets, and turn
ing to the officer demanded to Know
why I was held in arrest for simply
defending myself against murderous
| assault. The officer refused to lease
| me, ard Mr.. Stearns, having just come
| up, offered to go bail for me to any am QUIT
to secure my release. But we had to go
to the sJation-house, where, to avoid COM
| mitment, had to give. bonds and agree
to conditions | need not detail. AS to
Johnson's allegation that she had been
looking for me all day, but tho lght nd
gone away in the morning. state that
from 10 A. M. until P. NJ. Was more
that a dozen times up aud down Main
street, on both sides, in front of his office.
was repeatedly in the offices Of r. Fl.
Maury Il Co., Col. R. l.. Maury and Mr..
Stearns-the latter Office being my pla ce
own windows. l was in numerous stores
on Main street before noon and after
noon. walked tie street and talked to
many persons during the day. l recall
General P. T. Moore, Colonel H. G. Cabell.
Colonel Maury, Colonel Forbes, Nj. Nc
Phail, Colonel Burwell, Mr.. Ragland,
Joseph Hall, and others.
Two gentlemen tell me that they re-
member seeing Johnson near me OH the
ring the day. But it was not night then,
and some of his gang who were with him
after, and probably before, the fight at the
depot were not handy on Main street.
For the accuracy of my account OF the
fight refer to Colonel Cabell, who saw it
all, and to Colonel Burwell for it's conclr-
sion. 10 avoid the arrest I begged Col
Burwell to occupy the attention of the Off
Ger a few moments and l would escape and
take the train up town, and get out of the
State untrammelled, but the officer would
not lose sight of me a moment. 1t struck
many that there was not half the vigilance
exercised over johnson as over me.
On this state of facts, without comment
or discussion, which is out of order now, l
submit this much to the public as all they
are entitled TO know.
J. D. IMBoDEN.
The Author of the Amti-COnyict
Labor Resolution.
Editor indicator: s,.
Will you publish the fol-
lowing official authority as to who was the
author Of the Anti-Convict labor action Of