The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-30

Shortly after the remarks Of Judge
Guigon were made, condepning the police
force for ineffieiency on the occasion OF the
late riot, Mayor Darlington addressed the
Judge note asking for the particulars in
order that a proper investigation might be
had. The response of Judge Guigon, and
o card from the Mayor, the latter embodying
the proceedings and judgment OF the board,
are herewith published .a;s. 80 =.
HUsTINGs COURT CITY OF R1CHaoND,3
RICHMOND, December IL, 1876.
Hon. VIC. Carrington, Mayor, DC.
Dear sir,-In responsesto yours OF the
10th, which my engagements have prevent
ed me from replying to before, haveito
say that It appeared In evidence before me,
on the trial Of the rioters Of the 9th OF No
vember last, that riotous mob, consisting
Of from one hundred and fifty to two hum
dred colored men and boys, marched dis
tanee Of more than three miles through the
city OF Richmond, armed with. bludgeons,
and slaves, and other weapons, breaking
doors, windows, gas-lamps, throwing
stones, and i,,juring citizens and their pro-
perty all along their line OF march for the
space Of two hours and more; that as they
marched, the noise OF their yells, described
| by witness as the series Of revolution" 4"
and the crash OF broken windows, was heard
for many squares, creating great alarm,
and leading in all human probability to col
lisions between whites and blacks, which
would have made the bloodiest OF records
for our city, and which were prevented
by the forbearance of our citizens, not by
the interference OF the police. 1t appeared
that during the continuance Of this
rioting not "a single arrest was
NV ha - 10
prisoners before the Court, all were arrested
afterwards on warrants issued by citizens
except one, who, half an hour after the riot
ing was over, was arrested for having in his
possession an unloadcd gun, and properly
acquitted. The only act of the policewhicll
appeared in connection with the riot was
this: When the rioters had marched asiar
as the corner Of Ninth and Main squad 9f
the police drove them back to Eighth anc
Main, and followed them no further, making
no arrests, and allowing them to continue
their march and riotous conduct until they
disposed of themselves in the northwestern
part of the city, and without the appearance
OF single policeman along all this time, ex.
cept as before stated.
/ took occasion to say, and Irepeat it, that
the city was never in so great peril OF bloody
disturbance and destruction OF life and pro-
perty as on that night; that the neglect OF
the-police to do their duty, as shown by that
evidence, was shameful, and a disgrace to
the police, who draw $50, 900 as pay for pre-
serving the peace and good order Of the city
and that did not believe there was any
other city with a police force where such
things could have happened. I do not know
who is responsible for this non-action OF the
police. That is an inquiry beyond my pro.
vince, and peculiarly within yours: send
enclosed the line OF march of the rioters, and
the names OF the witnesses who testified on
the trial to the facts which I have recited.
Very respectfully, A. B. GuIGoN.
LINE OF MARCH OF RIOTERS. :
Assembled ON Baker street near st. Peters
street lin vacant square), and proceeded
up Baker street to Brook avenue, 'ant
thence along Brook avenue to Broad street
thence down Broad street to. Second street:
southwardly along Second street to Main
street, down Main to Ninth. street, where
they were dispersed, and retreated to Eighth
street, and northwardly up Eighth street tt
Broad street and up Broad street to Fourth
street, and northwardly on Fourth street to
Dungee's house, on Navy Hill, and returned
by way of Fourth to Clay, where they dis
persed-some going towards Broad and
others going in the direction OF Brook ave
nue.. ,.