The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-10
The DanyiIIe Trouble.
BURR, THE STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE
PHILADELPHIA "PREss," REiTERATEs HIS
INIAM nIrs L IREI
TBy telegraph to the Dispatch. ]


INFAMOUS LIBEL.
BY telegraph 10 the Dispntch.j
PHILADELPHIA. November 9.-The Press
tomorrow morning will print statement
OF the situation in Virginia and an account
OF the "murders" at Danville, in that
State, gathered by Frank A. Burr, the
well-known writer upon its staff. The
writer says that upon Information gath
cred from leading men bitterly opposed TO
Malone 1t Is apparent that on Satur-
day evening, while the negroes were
purchasing their marketing for Sunday, a
personal quarrel between a white and col
ored man was taken advantage OF in the
inflamed state OF the public mind, and the
whites, assuming that it was Of a political
nature, began indiscriminate firing upon the
blacks. The article says that the ASSISTANTS
agree that seven negroes were killed and
twenty were wounded, but that testimony
Is abundant that more than twice that num-
Der were killed and wounded. The article
is in reply TO criticisms OF Richmond pa
pers upon the writer's account OF the situa-
ton in that State upon the eve OF the re-
cent election. The following is the most
important part OF the article in relation TO
the Danville massacre: 80 took this course:
Almost Immediately upon my arrival in
Richmond / telegraphed to Major w. T..
Sutherlin, asking him TO give by wire for
the Press his opinion OF the Danvile riot,
its political significance, etc. Major Suther-
lin is a man Of large wealth, high posi-
ton, conservative views, and is n bitter
opponent OF Mahone's. | did not re-
ceive a reply from him until too late
to Use it that night, but pursuing my in
quiries among the enemies OF the Coali-
tionists, | learned from State-Senator At
klnson, who represents the city of Rich
mond in the Virginia Legislature, as we'll
rs other leading Democrats, that the real
facts as TO the extent OF the slaughter at
Danvlle could not then be obtained Sem
at0r Atkinson had Just returned from Dan
vile an hour before, and he kindly gave
me all the facts ne had been able TO gather
there. From him as well as other leaders
learned that the riot had no political sig
nifcance. From all the testimony / could
gather from this class it appeared that the
murders were committed in the heat OF
passion. Saturday evening is a great oc-
casion in Dsnvile. The colored people re-
ceive their pay from the tobacco-factories,
and the market-place;d during the afternoon
OF that day is an interesting feature OF that
beautiful town. The negroes gather there
by thousands to buy their supplies for Sun
day. When marketing was at It's height a
colored man and white man got into an
alteration, whereupon the crowd Of whites
rushed in and opened an indiscrimnate
fire upon defenceless negroes. The assail-
ing party and those in sympathy with
them say that seven were killed outright
and twenty more wounded, but the testi-
mony is abundant that this number does
not represent one half the harvest Of death
that afternoon. Not a white man was hurt
by colored person, and only two were
injured, and they by accident in the ram
dom firing Of their own friends.
These facts | state entirely upon the
highest authorization friends OF those
who committed the assault. The Coali-
tionsts claim very much more serious
things, but the admissions of their oppo-
nents are bad enough" The Press will
have an editorial article upon the subject,
the statements Of its writer as
well Us his fairness.
I'VE have no faith whatever in any state
ment that Burr may make, and publish the
above libel as the quickest way Of refuting
it. In fact, we believe that a man who
would submit to what we know Burr has
submitted to ic the way OF insult is utterly
incapable of telling the TRUTH