The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-22
lBy telegraph to the Dispatch

full and true statement OF the causes anC
circumstances leading to the riot here or
the I'D instant, and also statement OF The
conduct Of the people from that date tc
the close Of the day OF the election. con.
cluded It's labors this evening. Thirty.
seven witnesses were examined, the testi-
mOny taken covering about eighty pages,
10 be hereafter published. The report Is
signed by Major w. T. Sutherlin, chair.
man, and the balance OF the forty. The
committee reports, almost word for word,
as follows:
That on the 18th instant the committee
organized and appointed a proper sub
committee, and by the publication in the
Doiiv Reqisler requested all persons having
information OF the matters 10 be investi-
gated TO appear before the subcommittee,
at the Office OF notary public. and testify
as TO such matters: that said sub-commit-
tee attended regularly at said Office from
the morning Of the 18th till the evening OF
the DIST. during which time thirty-seven wit
nesses were duly sworn and deposed before
said committee. The witnesses 90 depos-
| Ing were, for the most part, known to the
committee personally, and represented all
classes and vocations among our citizens,
including two policemen present at the
riot, who were eXerting themselves TO quell
the same. All these witnesses (whose names
are signed to their depositions) are known to
the citizens OF Danvlle, and will be recog-
nized as intelligent and thoroughly reliable.
After q careful and impartial consideration
OF the evidence taken, your committee
submits the following statement OF facts
developed thereby:
First. That by their success in the cleo
ton OF large majority OF their party nom-
lnees to town offices in the May election OF
| 1882, and the subsequent appointment by
the Council so elected OF negro policemen,
as well as by the conduct OF officials so
elected, there was engendered in the minds
OF the negroes OF Danville the belief that
as against white men they would receive
the support and protection OF the munich
pal government; in consequence OF which
belief they became rude, insolent, and III
| tolerant to the white citizens, and bad
temper and ill-feeling between the races
thus generated continued to increase. and
was Of late greatly aggravated by the heated
political canvass preceding the last cleo
ton. and that In the midst OF the inten'e
excitement Of the last days OF the canvass
William f. Sims, Coalition candidate for
the Senate from Pittsylyania county and
Danville, made, in front OF the courthouse
OF the town, on the night OF the I'd OF No
vember, q most incendiary and violent
speech to more than 500 negroes, in which
he denounced many OF the most respecta-
BILE and prominent white citizens OF the
town as "liars, scoundrels, and towards"
because OF their exposure OF the evils OF
negro rule in DanVille.
Second That on the morning following
the night Of Sms's speech the excitement
OF the blacks and whites alike was violent
and acrimonious. and among the negroes
there was an evident expectation OF con-
flict: that about midday two negroes in
suited white man on the public streets
and engaged him in fight, which was
ended by tue white man going away; that
at least two hours later in the day, and
while large portion Of the men OF Danville
were assembled ut the Opera-House in
public meeting, the same white man. when
in q buggy and on his way ont OF town,
was again loudly and repeatedly called on
and insulted by one OF the negroes
with whom he had been previously
fighting during the day, and he thereupon
IN spite OF his previously-expressed de-
termination not to engage in further dlffl-
Guilty. because OF the then public excite
ment), having called two friends to insure
fair piay, and assuring them he would use
no weapon. engaged in fisticutf upon the
street with q negro; that during this fight
large number Of negroes gathered around,
but we're kept from interfering by the two
friends of the white man until po-
liceman arrived, when the combatants
aarh t1Epn
away from the street; that a short time
thereafter the negroes assembled in large
numbers around the two friends OF the
white man and some ten or fifteen other
whites who had gathered about them, and
with loud ordinations and great violence
OF manner asserted their determination TO
have their rights, and their belief that
conflic. between themselves and the whites
was inevitable, and had as well come then
rs at any other day, as well as their readi-
ness for it at that time; that these negroes,
numbering not less than two hun
dred, in open defiance OF the au-
thority OF policemen, who repeatedly
commanded them to disperse, and in disre'
card OF the persuasions OF white men who
united with the policemen in their efforts
TO disperse them, continued to press upon
the few white men in front OF them, and
to exhibit firearms and proclaim them
selves ready for conflict, until the policemen
retired to the rear OF the whites, where
upon firing commenced on both sides, and
after some forty or fifty shots the negroes
/ dispersed: that about seven negroes were
wounded, four OF whom died, and two
white men seriously. but not MORALLY
that the white man most seriously wounded
was certainly shot by negro, and the
other white man most probably; that more
negroes were seen with pistols In their hands
during the firing than there were white
men present at the commencement, and that
the meeting OF white citizens assembled
at the Opera House was not adjourned, anC
for the most part did not reach tne street
until after all the firing was over; thai
very soon after the firing the Sergeant ap
reared upon the streets. and, with the ai(
OF prominent white citizens, restored peac,
and good order, which were not after
wards violated except by the wounding o.
a white man on duty that night as specia
policeman by a shot fired from behind tn,
house OF negro man.
Third. That from within one-half al
hour after the commencement OF the rio
the town was completely under the contro
OF the Sergeant and his police force. anC
that no further disturbance OF the peac,
and good order, except the shooting o
the special policeman as stated above, oc
CURED, and that such peace aid good or
der continued to prevail up TO and includ
ing the day Of election; that on Sunda.
prominent citizens prepared and caus ed &
he printed and circulated, and also on da
preceding the election, circulars signed b.
themselves and by the superintendent o
both political parties, guaranteeing to eac'
and every citizen, without regard to colo
or party, the free right OF voting; that n
violence, threats, nor intimidation what
ever was shown towards negro or Coalition
voters. but. on the contrary, such voter
were repeatedly assured by citizens, pc