The state journal., 1884-02-23
The Danville Murder.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18.-The 10
vestigation of the Danviile election
riots was resumed this morning by
Senator Sherman's sub committee OF
the Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections. Hence Lamson, the
colored man whose quarrel with
Charles d. Noel preceded the riot,
was the first witness. He is a small
man, weighing probably fifty pounds
less and about six inches shorter than
Noel. He said he met Noel for the
first time on Nov. 3. Witness was
getting out of the way of some ladies
and ran against Noel. Witness sid,
"Excuse me, Sir" Noel replied:
"You id niger, what do you
mean by running against me ?" Davis
LewelleD, one of the witnesses COM
panions, said $50 on Noel and
Lewellen came to blows, and Lew
ellen knocked Noel into the gutter
twice. Next saw Noel in buggy
the same day. Noel kept looking
back, and witness said to Lswellen,
"Better look out for him; he may
attack you A few minutes later
Noel, having left his buggy, ap-
preached witness and struck him with
"pair of knucks," witnesses head be
ing turned at the moment. Witness
had two companions; Noel had sew
eral companions. Lea, one of Noel's
companions, had cooked pistol in
his hand as he came up, and thrust it
in witnesses face an threatened to
blow witnesses head off. After tie
preliminary quarrel witness escaped
through a store. He had been in
Boston ever since the riot, being
afraid to live in Danville.
Mr.. John f. Carl. (white.) Super
intendent of the National Cemetery
at Danville and an ex Union soldier,
was called He had lived in Danville
since Aug. 5 last. On the afternoon
of Nov. 3 he was in a store making a
purchase when the disturbance be-
gan. He went out to ascertain its
nature. lie gathered from first ap
pearances that two or three persons
were fighting. The encounter seemed
to last minute or two, when a pis-
toll was discharged. Going nearer,
he saw crowd of probably fifteen or
twenty white men and motley as
semblage of colored people of all
ages and both sexes, numbering about
$50. Some of the Golored people APP
peared to be demanding the arrest
Of one of the white men. One of the
white men stepped to the front and
said, ''Here / am. What do you
WANT A colored man said in reply,
"You are not the man." The man
seemed to be pointing out another
man. Witness had his little son with
him and fastened to place him in a
neighboring store for safety. While
on his way the boy said, Father, they
are going to shoot" Witness then
noticed number of white men in the
crowd holding pistols at what he
called crest" The whites seemed
to be formed in a double line, ar.
ranged abreast, or nearly so, their
right at the building, their line ex-
tending diagonally across the pave
ment. The affair lasted about two
minutes. Witness estimated that
there were $50 shots fired. The
smoke obscured objects across the
street. He saw no arms in the hands
of colored men, and saw no returning
shots. Could tell by the direction of
the discharge of smoke thatthe whites
fired.
Mrs. Violet Keeling, (colored, } de-
scribed her experiences. She saw
Mr.. Blunt fire.
Senator Shermsn-How did he act?
Ale acted like a man dat
neber seed anybody in wah-he acted
like a man dat was willin' to take
life. 1t looked like he seed anybody
runnin' he would shoot.
Senator Vance-Are any of the
colored people in your county Demo
crats7 A-Well, l don't hunt that
sort. If hear of a colored man vot-
in the Democratic ticket l don't hab
nothin' to do with him, and don't
let him come in my house. don't
like to see colored man sell hisself
nohow. think if colored man
votes the Democrat ticket he already
sold hisself.
Senator Vance-Well, when a
white man votes the Republican
ticket, do you think he sells himself?
Ali just tell yer what, | think
he's man wot's got sense, and knows
wot hd's doin,
Senator Vance-Well, supposing
your husband should vote the Demo
cratic ticket? Ali just tell yer
wot-I would just pack up my clos
and go to my ladder; if / didn't hab
no ladder, I'd just go work for Is
cents week to support my own SET