New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-22

on their way home when they were recalled TO ths
Court House, and learned that some wnte thsn ns
come by another road from Kempevile ana ionee"
complaints Rgainst them for lpcilnR W I'o'
Mr. Hodges and two of bis companions were aI
rested and locked up and the next dsy nVe ", n
prominent colored men were brought HON hc"P'
willie and were also placed III JAIL.
THR IMPRISONMENT AND TRIAL"
From this point the proceedings were very similar
TO those adopted in like circumstances III Loulsana
Ii was necessary to divert attention from the DoouS
result Of the affair at Kempsville, and excite pnonc
apprehension Of general negro uprising gu"ru
of twenty men armed with shotgnns was kept on
duty night and day around the jail where he eIen'
c0l0red men were confined, while exaggerated re,
ports of tie Kempsville affair were manufactured
confinement during which the prisoners were
not permitted to hold any c0muuncan9oih
with their friends they were removed to Norfolk
"fOr safety" When they arrived IN the clty'
where white Republicans could have access 10
them. the latter among whom were the Federal
officials interested themselves IN the cases ana pro
cured she services of TWO of the forenost lawyers
Dtuocrat5l ~ the PLACE, rightly cOnJecturng thal
the political ana social standing OF the advocates
would have more weight IN favor OF thc
prisoners than awning which could he proved III
their behalf Ly witnesses These lawyers assumed
the conduct Of tine with great reuct Ince. feel
Tag, one of them 9aS cold me- that thelr course
would give great offence 10 the class from among
whom all their clients came. Yet thev went mo
the matter most heartily, one az them even serving
without :er.
o. December =, the prisoners were taken back to
| Pruccs>e Anne Court House, where the County
Court was in session. and put upon trial. An e1oit
was made 70 have the cases removed 10 the United
states Courts and another to have the prisoners
! tired hy mixed juiics but neither effort was sue
Crs>ul. The prisoners counsel nndlnS the s'ate OF
! feeling in the community so bitter against
their clients that far trial could not be hoped Tor
SET bout ciircling compromise ana IN this aller
some delay. thsy succeeded. The terms oi the COM
promise, The Court being ~ was Informed, party
| Lamb LIQUID leave the state at once
/ and the other prisoners were TO be set Tree;
! Great difficulty was experienced on either hau9
! 10 bring about tbs arrangement. Moan Lai'p saIu
TO his counsel if an guilty OF crime try me
and punish me. VI not want to be protected IN
my nome don't want to leave the STATE" On
! the other hand, the whites wanted TO III
clude one or two more OF the prisoners
! among those who were TO be banished. Inc
| point. they said lyon don't show a scrap OF
evidence against any other uian, ana we VIII iiEht
month b. tore innocent men SHAH suffer only ines"
| two shall. go' And 50 It was fixed. Moan lfmb
returned to North Carolina, ana Mr. Hodges went
! 10 NcN-l uIk, where he now -. g,
! This, then. Is O sample Of Virginia justice toward
| the cooI,d man. Within days ride of the Ma
! tional Capital there exists 4 community which. by
! lis act., says thar tbe murder and Punishment OF
co!olcd men for no other reason than because they
! have dared 10 be active Repubhcan politicians Is
a night and proper thing 10 DO, and IN Wmch The
| winnie men who attack and shoot down c"loied men
may 70 sCot-iicc and remain respected members OF
society. Ard even the courts give their formal
sanction 10 tins state of affairs.
THE CASE or IRVING GRIFFIN.
Irving Griffin lives three or four miles from
Kempsvile. This man is very intelligent. has been
prominent ~ political affairs and is now the presi-
dent Of the local Republican organization. In the
frsi riot at Kcmpsye ne was hit with a club i'll the
| hand, ot "a white man. and was seriously wounded
| III the face, In the second affair he was
! shot through The right arm and disabled
! IN some degree for life. No one could
| tel me Of ANYTHING alleged against mm,
! cept that lie had made himself OdlOus rs Il
/ Republican l-ader.' tie one of the men who
| were arrested and put lmJmI at IrnreSse Anne
CoUrt II u>", and not until he was taken to Nor
fu H. ci. { days after his arrest, the bail cX-
rictcd from his arm, or medical attendance of any
kind furnished hlm. lea days ago Griiiln received
January H. 1870.
you for the lee witness attendance IN the
Oi County a>uust Hodges and others
GEO. T. WnuLHUEsI, Sheriff.
Griffin called upon the Sheriff and learned that
the entire costs Tor witness attendance in all eight
cases was charged TO hlm as he the only one
who has any property to be attached He was told
by the Sheriff that If he did not raise $40 before
a certain day not far distant, his horse and cart
would br attached and sold. Ii IS hard 70 refrain
from lul ing down the very vigorous EngllSn III
which the opinions OF white Republicans OF
Norfolk regarding ting proceeding were cXpre>scdt0
me, but | will only say that they have no
doubt oi tie intention either 10 intmldate Griffin
50 that he VIII not dare to bear witness TO the out
RACES ifolA which he has suffered, and which he
has Witnessed, or drive him out Of the HeIgubOT-
hood He Is no thoagat to be the kind Of man
whom the lawyers could confuse III Il crUsS-eNaln-
nation, ana Is therefore a desirable man to get
I'd of.
have secured and retain possession of the paper
quoted above.