National Republican., 1884-03-06
HIS LIFE In DANGER.
Testimony Of a Readju8ter Challenger at the
Polls in Danville.
More Evidence That the Outbreak Was
Deliberately Planned by Democrats.

John A. J. Lee, Of New Castle, Craig
county white readjuster), was the first wit
ness examined by the Danville investigating
committee yesterday. His testimony was not
important.
j. G. Fowler (white), late Of Bristol, Va,
chairman Of his county resdjuster committee,
now clerk of the United States court at
Abingdon, Va, was called. He identified
circular which was current in his neighbor-
hood previous to the election. 1t was an
extra" Of the Wytheville (vs.) Enterprise,
Of Monday, Nov. 8, 1888 (the day before the
election). The head lines were as follows:
"Tho Bloody Negro Riot in Danvillc. An
Immense Mass Meeting in Richmond held
Sunday Evening. Malone Responsible for
Bloodshed. White Men of Virginia Urged to
be True to their Own Race in the Race Con-
tict which Malone has Brought About"
The body Of the circular was q dispatch from
Richmond embodying series Of resolutions
adopted at an enormous mass meeting of
white citizens" setting forth that conflict
had been brought on at Danville for the pur-
pose of creating race issue. A telegram
from Danville was appended to the circular
as follows: "If you only knew our suffering
here on account of negro rule you would vote
different. We arc standing in our doors with
guns, protecting our families. Post this up
at the court house door," Signed p. N,
Robertson.
Witness said there was an effort on the
part of the democratic party to reduce the
issue to the question, Are you Niger or
are you a white manP Witness had never
seen such an intensity Of feeling since the
firing on Fort Sumter as was created by tho
circulars and reports put out by the demo-
Gratis.
Senator Vance protested against the admis-
sion of evidence of this character-the circu-
lation Of fly circulars and political reports.
"Where," he asked, sis it to end? We are
certainly entitled to reply, and can go all
over Virginia to pick up such matters"
Senator Sherman said his theory was first
to prove the riot and then to bring out such
matters as had bearing upon the subject of
deriving tho negro of his right to vote
Witness, continuing, said. in answer to
questions by Senator Lapham, that the effect
of the circulars and reports was to consolidate
the negroes in support of the readiusters.
Witness was stationed at tho polls during
the day of election, and considered his life in
danger. 1t was his duty to challenge votes
which he considered illegal. Democrats had
taken possession of the window through
which the challenging must be done. Wit
ness was forced to stand behind the demo-
Gratis and challenge over their shoulders.
Every challenge gave rise to much abuse on
the part of the democrats. A limo of wagons
loaded with white democrats shrieking and
yelling drove up, bearing banner emblaz-
onod with the names of the democratic nomi-
nees-"The White Mems Candidate"
Speeches were made by democrats, in which
assertions were made that Malone had ap-
pealed to the negroes to stand together and
to avenge the shooting Of their fellows, and
that Malone had stolen the polling books of
one precinct because it was democratic pre-
cinct. Witness was publicly insulted and
two or three times assaulted on election day.
On one occasion he was rescued by democratic
officials, who did their duty, but had great
difficulty in doing it.
On cross-examination by Senator Vance
witness said that readjuster circulars were
| current in the neighborhood before the
election. One was explanatory of the coali-
tion rule in Danville, and was even denun-
ciatory. The negroes were more nearly a
unit than the whites. There was no harm in
the effort to consolidate the whites if only
| legitimate means were used. If the negroes
were banded together against the whites
because per Sc they were whites, there would
be no objection to the union of the whites
against the negroes because they were negroes.
As a matter of fact the negroes were banded
| together because of the unwillingness of the
whites to allow the negroes to vote. The poll
tax law and the whipping post were measures
calculated to deprive the negroes of their
| votes.
A long theoretical discussion of local and
general political principles took place between
Senator Vance and witness, developing wide
differences Of opinion, but resulting in nc
| decided advantage to either.
In redirect examination Senator Lapham
submitted for Identification a copy of the
| Staunton (Va) VindicdtOr extra, issued the
| day before election, containing a statement OF
the riot together with the Richmond resolu.
tions. w. $. Gravely white readjuster), OF
Martinsville, Henry county, forty-two miles
| from Danville, was called. He saw the Dan.
vile circulation, coalition rule" ten days be.
fore the election. The effect of the circular
was shown by remarks of white men who had
before that time been readjusters. They said
the debt question was settled aud the party
was now becoming negro party, and OBJ.
noxious in consequence. They could nc
longer vote the readjuster ticket. He heard
of the riot on the day of its occurrence. II
was the only subject of conversation on
election day.
W.O Austin (white republican,, of Pulaski
county, Va, 40 miles from Danville, first
saw the Danvile circular Wednesday evening
before the election, in Carroll county, Va. He
learned when he reached home that large
| packages of the circular had been received in
Pulaski county, and were being distributed
| there. The effect WAS to drive considerable
number of white votes from the coalition to
| the democratic party. 1t also caused num-
| Der of coalition voters to stay at home. At
wituess's own precinct thirteen voters had
been influenced to change from one to the
other party by this circular.
Witness heard Of the Danville riot on Sun
day morning, Nov. 4. The reports of the riot
had the effect to drive weak-kneed coalition
lists to the democratic party.
Il. w. Barksdale white deputy marshal), of
Mart.nsvillc, Henry county, Virginia, forty
miles from Danyille, was called. Had lived
in Danville "oif and on" for ton years. The
last canvass was the most exciting and violent
he ever saw. Witness was in Danville about
| the first of October, and was told by demo-
| cratic acquaintance, Mr.. Church. that it was
time to change his politics. There was going
to be the biggest row in the world, and il was
going to start right at headquarters (the
| custom house,.
Col. VIM. Il. Sims, the next witness, docs
not hear perfectly, and for this reason it was
determined not to examine him orally. In
| terrogatOres will be prepared to bo answered
by witness at ii o'clock Tomorrow, to which
hour the committee at 1880 adjourned. Col,
Sims is the only witness to he examined until
the house acts upon the resolution making
appropriations for the further expenses of the
investigation.
The Southern Pacific Land Grant.
The senate committee on public lands at a
special meeting last evening ordered a
favorable report upon the house bill declar-
ing forfeiture of the lands granted to the