National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-16
THE DAMNING PROOF.
A Days Journey Toward the Facts Of the Dan
vile Massacre.
More Evidence That the Murdered Black
Men Were Unarmed,
Two ChivalrOus Virginans Protect Their Friend Who
Pounds "Nigger."
Direct Testimony That the Only White
nIan Hurt Was Shot by His Friends,


eating the Danville massacre sat yesterday
from 10 o'clock a, m. to 8 o'clock p. M, with
but forty.hve minutes intermission. Senators
Sherman and Lapham, assisted by Mr.. John
9. Wise, examined the witnesses, and Senator
Vance assisted by Col. Cabell, cross.examined
them. Senator Vance grew very weary
toward the end Of the long session, and wanted
to adjourn. He complained that his adver-
saries were able TO relieve each other, while
he was compelled to work steadily for seven
hours but Senator Sherman insisted upon
getting through with tho witnesses present
The committee room was uncomtortably full
all day, and among the audience were half
dozen ladies. Much of the testimony was
rather tedious, as IL went over the same
ground as that of the previous day, but some
hitherto unknown facts were developed
which were of great interest. Frequently
the manner md demeanor of witness were
moro convincing than his words
The first witness was Edward NJ. Hatcher,
o white man, who asserted that he had never
carried pistol or any other weapon than a
pocket knife for twenty years. lie did not
remember seeing Jack Redd; didn't remem
ber him, but might know him if no saw him;
did not think he struck anyone ON the day
of the riot, and did not see anyone strike
Redd. He was not in the vicinity of the
market when Redd WAS assaulted that day.
He saw marks OF bullets on the buildings in
tho rear of where the white people were
standing at the time Of the riot, and these
bullets must have been fred by the negroes.
This witness was thick-set, black-bearded,
unprepossessing individual.
The next witness, j. c. Reagan, was not much
more attractive. He had full black beard,
black hair, bull neck, and sulky face. He
met Senator Sherman's insinuating questions
tIaf a
not give the highest opinion of his candor.
He told his story of the riot and said that he
rushed into hardware store to borrow some
axes, as be saw that it was going to be a hand
TO hand fight. When Senator Sherman asked
him il he struck any one in the presence of
Col. Cabell he replied: Don't know whether
I did or not; don't think that's fair ques-
tiOn; don't think I'll answer it." He was asked
If he fred at any man, and replied: "Didn' I
shoot at any man specially" A few minutes
later he denied that he had made that an
swer, but the stenographer read it from his
notes.
"How many times did you shoot into the
crowd that day ?' asked Senator Sherman.
II shan't answer that" said the witness.
He was examined he said by the committee
of forty, but they did not ask him about his
being around or shooting. He thought there
were twenty white men and 200 colored in
the crowd, but the latter gathered like bees
Capt Oliver, Corbin, and others tried to get
the negroes to disperse, but they said they
wouldn't go away; they were not going to
run away.
This witness, like all the other democratic
white witnesses. replied to Senator Vance
that 1t was necessary for the whites to fire in
self-defense; that there was no premeditated
plan to get up the riot to intimidate the
negroes, and prevent their voting, and that
there was no disturbance after the negros dis
persed.
To Senator Lapham he said that he was un-
able to name any white men or colored men
who fred pistols that day, He declined to say
whether he fired or not. Without being
asked about it, be managed to state three
times that he had sent his family out of the
town to get them away from danger. He
was appointed special policeman.
s. +. Terry, the next witness, was an
honest appearing and honest talking young
man, clerk in Danville store. He told
what he saw of the riot. He saw but one
armed colored man. that one had knife and
cut the witnesses finger, accidentally, as he
believed while running through the store.
He saw Mr.. Dance standing in his store door
with q double barreled gun, but didn't know
whether he used it. The witness was not
armed. Saw no colored men fire pistols.
The "niggers made a swaying" toward the
white men about the time the firing became
general.
Senator Vance asked number of leading
questions in the attempt to show that Hol-
land could not have been shot by white
man, but the witness always insisted that he
didn't know.
R. W. Glass, small and bright young col
ored man, who said that he worked in q
Danville tobacco factory, was asked by Sena-
tor Sherman to tell the story Of the riot in
his own way.
II really don't feel safe," said he, "in
saying what do know about it,"
Here Senator Vance said, "Humph" and
laughed. Senator Sherman inquired why the
witness was afraid.
back there, and I'm sfraid. I've heard ii
said that If any niger testified"-
1--WE don't want that" said Senator Vance.
"But I've right to know his reasons" said
Senator Sherman.
The witness stated that he had heard these
threats since the riot, and had heard before
the riot that firing was expected. When he
heard the first shot he ran to see what was
the matter. There were seventy-ive or one
hundred negroes and twenty-five or thirty
white men, He heard the white men say
Leave here or you'll get hurt" The negroes
said, We've done nothing, and we don't
intend to leave" He heard Hatcher say
This is white mans town and white
men have got to rule it, and if you niggers
uOn . ieuVb Wo 10 BOluR W NIL YOU linen
the white men drew and fiOurished their pis
tolls. Freeman was trying to persuade the
negroes TO disperse. Hatcher, Lea, Nat Gov,
ington and Joel Oliver came to the front with
pistols in their hands and Lea said: Fire =
They did fire. and then great many more
white men fell in and fired-thirty or forty
before they got through. The colored people
ran and the white men came running from
the opera house. He saw the white
men go into stores and get pistols
and come out again. The frinI
was in front of Voolfolk & Blair's Office, anC
the witness saw twenty-five or thirty pistol;
laying on a table in that Office. He also saw
in that Office half-bushel bag filed with
cartridges. The witness was afraid to rur
and got away from the crowd Of negroes anC
behind the white men. After the negroes
ran the white people went out in tho stree
and yelled, "Hurrah for we democrats
The witness saw Holland fall, and thought
from the position of the men. that one of the
first four white men who first came to the
front shot him. He saw no colored men
shoot or have pistols, the four men wer,
pointing their pistols toward Holland. Afte
the negroes ran he heard some Of the whit,
men say Kill every d--d niger you see,
but Mr. Corbin said, mo; they have rur
and faint no use to proceed after them" Th
witness thought it:was planned tokill the col
ored people. The white men used to NEE
in Armory hall in the Virginia house, ant
witness had heard, through the open window
men making speeches there. He had hearC
Henry Barksdale say in there, week befor
the shooting, ave mean to carry this elec
tion, if not by fair means, then by foul.
White people in Danville generally go armed
i. IL VanNl l.snu . Ia