The Portland daily press., 1884-02-20
SOUTHERN oUTRAGEs.
Another Days Proceedings In the Inyes-
LEGATIONS.

LEGATIONS.
WASHINGTON, Feb l9.--W. P. Graves, q
white mar, commission merchant Of Dan
vile, an iDtslligsnt, benevolent looking gen.
tleman, was the first witness called today in
the Danville investi CATION.
He weLt on to Say that he was armed and
fred four shots into the crowd OF colored peo-
pe. He fred because he "Sas never yet able
to stand and allow man to shoot him or
strike at him" without retaliation. The col
orsd men were firing in his direction. The
nriDg for short lime was as hot as he had
ever seen. The witness denied that he shot
Charles Adams. He had fred four shots but
did not know that he hit any one He would
not say that he fired without intending to hit
any one, but he saw no one fall as the result of
his shooting. He had purchased the r1volver
because he anticipated difficulty with tho ne
groes
Senator Lapham-Was there any prede-
Termination OH the part of the Democrats to
break up the procession IL it did take place?
Witbess-NO, sir; l will tell you frankly,
sir, there was no understanding to that effect
cut II IL had been attempted it would have
brought a0out a collision.
In reply TO Senator Vance the witness said
that he drew his revolver aud fred for sell
protection; bullets were whistling about his
ears and from their direction they could not
have come from white men. He did. not,
however, see any pistols in the hands OF coll
ored meh. AS soon as the firing was over wit
uoeb mOuutSu d morse ana W6ht nOLDo. "A ltt-
ter had been intercepted which conveyed the
information that If fighting took place down
town the women and children iu the borders
OF the town were to be murdered in their
houses.
George Adams, colored, described the riot
In the quaintest OF negro dialect. The witness
described the scene which took place last
Wednesday after he was subp9naed to come to
Washington. He was sleeping in the depot
when freeman came aud witness let him in.
IL :"
Lea aud others. all OF whom were on their way
10 Washington. Tney told him that he had
better know but id little about the riot
when he went to Washington. Lea did not
speak but looked as If he would jump through
the witness.
Charles Adams, pow erfully built colored
man. the man whom Captain Graves denied
shooting, was the next witness He saw Cap
tain Graves with a revolver in his hand and
said, Captain. for Gods sake, don't shoot
me; am gong to catch my horses" Captain
Graves said, We'll, get out of the way; go in-
to the house" Witness turned to go into the
house when Captain Graves shot him. Wit
ness rolled up his sleeve and displayed the
wound. He had heard Captain Graves testi-
mony; heard him say that he had saved wit
nebs' life on that das twice; at the same time
knew he shot me-"
r. j. Adams, well.dressed and intelligent
looking colored man, brother of the preced-
ing witness, was called. At the time of the
IlOt 10 WAS u pOilC6m6u. Two months before
tue riot the grand jury indicted the whole po-
lice force, white ana black, for carrying con-
cealed weapons. The colored people were poor
and conla not a!scfd o-pay their -saSs. bat the
white people were better able to pay. The
outcome was that the colored people ceased
carrying arms and the whites continued. Wit
ness saw Captain Graves shoot his brother.
New ORLEANS, Feb. 19.-The United States
Senate committee, investigating the Copiah,
MISS. outrsges continued their examination
OF Witnesses today.
DIR. A. B. Pitts of Haze)hurst testified that
he attended Burnet after he was shot.
Mr.. Frye-Did you inform Burnet when he
called to pay your bill that Wheeler told yoa
be had nothing against Mathews; that he
killed him him only because he could not help
it; that he had been selected by lot to do it
aid had to.
AnsRer-Yes.
MI Frye-Did Wheeler so tell you?
Answer He did. It was rumored on cleo
tion day that there wera q good many armed
neeroes coDgregsting at Browns store.
D. @. Wright (white) testified that he was at
Matthew's house soon sf,er the Copiah county
resolutions were sent there. Witness was vice
president OF the executive independent COM
mittee. A reign of terror prevailed among
the negroes throughout Copiah county prior TO
election and appeals were made 10 the su-
thorities to stop lawlessness in the district.
Three letters were received By Burnet, Nov.
giving him warning TO leave at onco or no
would meet the fate of his friend Matthews.