Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-03-05
FROM WASHINGTON.
VIRGINIA OUTRAGES.
Representative Wise in the Dauv,lle In.
vestigatIOn.

WASHINGTON, Mar 1.
The Danville investion was resumed this
morning. Representative Wise was permit
ted 10 revise his testimony. He said the re
port it how stood. touching his intercourse
with colored members of the legislature. did
him injustice, and he would therefor add
this one sentence, In so far AS my testi-
mony is sought tn convey the impression
that made a discrimination between the
colored and white members of the legislature
as a rule, IN their communication with me,
ii does them and me an injustice. | have
alway treated an official call upon me, by
whomsoever made. without any discrimina-
tion whatever, and always expect 10 do so.
J. J. Verser, white, deputy collector of
internal revenue. testified that Mr.. Graves,
a store proprietor, advised the witness TO stay
pretty close to his room on election dav. as
there was going TO be trouble The next day
K. III. Voolfolk. a democrat. stopped him and
told him there was going to be trouble, and
that il the witness remained in town he
would surely be killed. J. b. Westbrooks,
on the dav before the election, told the wit
ness that the democrats had made up their
minis 10 carry the election. They could not
stand Malone and niger rule any longer.
After the election. Westbrooks said 10 wit
ness Jim. what told you came true, but
Witness saw armed democrats at the polls on
election day, and the colored men were
afraid to go TO the polls in consequence.
Chas. Wooding. colored, testified that he
met Mr. Lea Sunday night and was advised
to go home. Lea said they (the democrats }
were going to carry the election anyway, II
they had TO kill the last damned niger in
the county"
Walter Gay. a mulatto, testified that he
believed but for the riot the readjusters
would have carried the town. The colored
people were united in the readJuster cause.
They were so united because it was natural
for them 10 unite against party which de-
MED them political rights.
Daniel Driggin, white, described the riot
Sam Hatcher fired the first shot, and he be-
lieved but for that shot NJ negroes would
have been killed that day He knew as well
as he knew that he lived that Hatcher had a
pistol and fired it, He voted a straight dem
ocratic ticket. He saw nothing on the day
of the riot to indicate that the whites were in
danger. Nothing which he justified the
statement that the whites fired in self de-
gence.
j. II. johnson, white, mayor of Danvllle,
testified that he investigated the affairs of the
proceeding administration, tihding that sew
eral of the officers were defauiters, and that
one of the magistrates named Hatcher was
also involved in irregularities. The witness
described meeting Hatcher, who had a drawn
knife, on Sept. IL Hatcher demanded an
apology from the mayor, for his findings,
which was refused. Hatcher attacked wit
ness with knife, but witness, having
the longest arm was able to defend himself,
Finally. seeing that he could do him no in
jury with the knife, Hatcher put his hand in
his pocket to draw a pistol, whereupon wit
ness Got the drop on him. and shot him
dead. The witness was twice tried for kill
ing him, and both times acquitted. Witness
testified that message sent him by a
democratic friend that there was going to be
trouble. The witness did not call out the
colored company after the riot, because he
knew the whites would kill them. Adjourned.