The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-02-19
VERY FRANK WITNESS
TestiGes Before tho DanvilIe IDvestI-
eating Committee To-day.

William p. Graves a commission mer-
chant of Danvillc, was tho first witness
called to-day in the Virginia election riot
investigation. He had taken no further
interest in politics, he said than TO be
member Of Democratic club at Danville.
He one Of those who signed the call for
q meeting at tho 0pora.House, and was
leaving the meeting when tho riot began:
Witness was armed with A calibor six
shot Smith & Wesson pistol. He fired four
Of the six cartridges in the chamber. Two
Of them he
Fired Into n Crowd
Of fleeing colored men; one he fired across tho
street at d crowd of colored men who were
standing still, and the fourth one no fired
IN the direction Of a colored man no saw in
the street. II fired moro in tho air, how
ever, than N any other direction" said
witness with some feeling.
why did you fire at all ~ inquired Mr..
Lapbam, who was conducting the direct
examination.
Because was being assaulted"
And you fred into the air when you
were assaulted?"
might not have fired into the air."
Can you namo any one who assaulted
you2"
81 cannot; but bullets were coming in
the direction was walking, as the bullet
marks in the building will show"
Have You ever had any military ex-
| perience2"
4" / was in the Mexican war;
| you selected tho weapon you purchased,
them" said Mr.. Lapham, "for effective
work, did you ?"
~ did, SIR" with emphasis.
Witness was examined at length in re-
| gard to tho killing of Charles Adams.
~ told Charles Adams" said witness,
when he threw up his hands, and begged
| not to be shot, TO so indoors, and saved his
| life at that time. / was not in a position to
| shoot him whom he was shot. Had / been
| in n position to do so, aud had believed
| he meant to assault me,
Would have Shot Charles Adams
| in minute. say this frankly"
"Oh we do not doubt that" interjected
| Mr.. Lapbam.
'Do you know whether you hit any one
with your bullots"
II do not"
"Do you mean to say that you fired with
out designing to bit anyone ?" pursued Mr..
II will not say that, but saw no ono
fall from my bullet"
"Why did you purchase q revolver 2"
~ thought there would be collision be-
tween the races, and thought every whito
man should be prepared to defend his
family"
Witness related several instances where
he had collected with negro women on the
sidewalks.
| He at first gave the sidewalk, but their
insolence grew unbearablo. After awhile,
when negro crowded him, he showed him
or her away. He often
pushea Neproes Out or Hia wax.
1t was rumored in the streets of Danville
on the day Of the riot" continued witness,
,;nht n 'no 10 Nc o,rco,s on 40 nieht
hs,sp nIoot;o o,a tL.t ~, a. gu &c
peioio 1 oneu'ot anu .na' on sno nhof ~ VI
tn,'o . nossaSa; MY Az Lii ,, "ou w anu
'anv ao II nnt ~ sn9 py .hot ohor,d
cess;on taLo Mace hv Tho Coal;t;onists that
s"ho pd.o ~ 'hu ia Do,,,a"~,, o.,
.It ~ 70 n, s W vno hmt co.,
c-nSi, wa ta ~ nronoss;oU ,an 0 sag
tahnn T. 'Na would have ' rosnItoJ H., a col.
i;s;o,, ,, 80
'' Witness stated in rsn,v n an ,nouirv NV
NJ Ta.si,a, ..at h 1901 az oa ~
tain ,ha co eS se'sr 49, aud had
dealt in slaves
ue H ~ slaves. ~ NJ. vo.oo ,u,,,,.
s,a,od 49, he ~ '' "''
s.a.eu 'nao no u,,.
neo"'S ''A
In DANGER
ana heard the Wnistie OF puiiets, Wnlch nc
peleved az the time wore urea at nun. 80,
was ~ inc uesign Oh cue parry ieauers1
asked Mr. vance; 10 SNOW Inac the tfa az,
Putty VIZ was " asa my Is.
,v,s totaIIv cxnectnS and was cansed hw
thnse ICY hot. Ilooded vonnS mon aott;ns int ~
siSst foht VIII tbo nasroas I o 5 tha straot
N ~" snrc that the coioTeS men conld have
voted With saSetvn
i'm oro ,yaS otbor an orx;ot,, - s,,,ost al
u. Vonoo M,hat thon ohnniS yoto % e''s0
q vos e. answorcd tbo Sr;tnoss
UTbo,, Ala rnt voto IN Danviiio -,
nNn NV WV -
90 W. on TO-, or,od -, tho dor 90 ,ho o,oc-
.;o,, ~; osi,oS NJ TaOho w 1"' "a WV s'''
VT ,b;n% ,na. y rpniiad tho ,y;tross
oi,;d ,,a,, ao"r,,; I. =, s;ob,Sa "''Ne'''
aT AID mot
"Wby did YOU carry your pistol to the
opera-house, when You knew that the
meetinp was 10 be Exclusively of Demo-
cratsY"
0I had carried nv revolver regularly for
! n month"
"Was il the habit of white men generally
to carry pistols?"
~ think" said the witness, at was the
Gaoroo Adams colored who l;ves two