Morning journal and courier., 1884-02-19
News by Telegraph
FROM ALL QUARTERS.
Firing AT DANVILLB.
A Further History Of The
Riot.
LIVELY TIMES IN THE HOUSE.
Sitting Till Midnight To
Discuss TrifIes.
RUMORED CAPTURE OF TOKAR
And The Massacre of The
Garrison.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL

THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
The Riot at Danvi1e-Sherman's Com
m1ttee Getting at the Facts-TesttmOny
of the witnesses Examined Yesterday
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 18.-The Sherman sub
committee charged with the investigation of
the Danville, Va, election riot resumed work
this morning. About thirty witnesses were
sworn. Hense Lawson, of Danville, Va,
the colored man who has been referred to as
| having had the fight with white man Noel,
which brought on the riot, was the first wit
ness. He testified that Noel struck him twice
with pair of t'knucks' when he (Witness) was
off his guard. There we're several white men
with Noel at the time, all of whom ran up
with drawn pistols; when Noel passed wit
ness in buggy he (witness) did not say a
word to him. (Noel had testified that wit
ness greeted him with the insulting saluta
ton '.By-here I am.O
After the ARRAY witness went to a friends
house and stayed all night. He was afraid
to go out, and after remaining in the house
for several days went to his aunt's in the
country and subsequently to Boston, where
he has been ever since. Witness denied
very emphatically having said anything to
Noel when he passed him in his buggy. When
Noel approached him accompanied
by Lea and others he began fighting
him without giving him warning. AS soon
as the fight began Lea, Noels friend, ran
for ward with pistol and commanded witness
to stand back. Neither witness nor his two
friends had pistols and were not expecting to
be attacked. Cross-examined by Senator
Vance: There were dozen white men with
Noel when he attacked witness and several of
them had pistols. The reason witness left
Danville was because his life was in danger.
Every negro's life was in danger at Dan
vile.
Davis LeweIlyn (colored) was called. He
told the story of the fight substantially as
Lawson did, but was somewhat clearer in his
description and expressions. Lawson, in
getting out of the way of ladies' accidentally
touched Noels foot. Noel asked ''What are
you doing?" etc. Lawson apologized. Wit
ness said to Lawson, go on. Hense you
have asked him to excuse you" Thereupon
Noel struck witness and witness returned the
blow, knocking Noel into the gutter. Witness,
in answer to Senator Lapham. corroborated
the testimony of Lawson in detaiIi without
adding anything of Importance to the sum
of information previously developed In
reply to Senator Vance, he said that La
Noers companion prevented the policeman,
Adams. from separating the combatants, Noel
and Lawson. GLea testified that he ordered"
Adams to separate them. recess was taken
at half past twelve for an hour.
After recess John F. Farrell, the first
white witness OF the day, testified that in his
opinion there were $50 shots fired. AS the
| firing progressed the crowd of whites in
creased, the recruits being armed; there
were no shots fired by negroes; saw no me-
groes have arms; did not think it necessary
for the white men to shoot in order to pro-
tect themselves.
Mrs. Sophia Powell (colored) was in the
city on November 3; saw Blount, the photo
grapher, fire several shots while she was
hunting for her husband. Her husband was
a voter, but was afraid to vote on election
day. Cross examined by Senator Vance:
Knew Mr.. Blount personally; had been in his
photograph gallery; saw him shoot at the
coIored men when they were running up the
| street; he had great big pistol' and "shot
half dozen times" Witness did not see the
balls. but heard them singing and rafting
around her head.
Mrs. Violet Heating (colored) saw Mr..
Blount shoot several times; he evidently
went in to take life; she saw no white women
on the streets on November 8, which was
unusual. The husband of the witness did
not vote because she thought life was of
more Importance than the ballot box"
Gross examined: Mr.. Heating would not vote
any more unless it was safe. Witness knew
no colored Democrats and would not associate
with them if she did. 1t her husband
should vote the Democratic ticket she
would stake up her clothes and go back to
her father if she had one; if not she would
work for twenty-five cents a day and support
herself Witness thought that any colored
man who voted the Democratic ticket for
feited what little privilege he had. She did
not think that Republican could be induced
to vote the Democratic ticket, but in her
opinion man who was half Democrat and
half Republican would do anything. (Laugh-
ter
J. G. Miller (White) saw no colored men
with weapons, but learned that some we're
armed He heard George Lee remark. eve
have got them on the rum" Immediately
after the white people were in danger and
were compelled to protect themselves At
the moment of the firing there were about
one hundred and fifty negroes at the scene
of the riot. The firing occupied less than
minute. The riot was not preconcerted.
Political excitement ran high after the Colo
mel Sims speech on November 2.
A. G. Waters (white, an old resident of
Danville and grandfather of the young man
Holland who was shot, was the last witness.
He denied having told the negroes on the
day of the riot that it was hot bat would be
made hotter the next time.
Proud of the Presidents Graceful Conn
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-President Arthur
received the following letter from General
Sherman to-day:
ST. LOUIS, Feb 8, 1884.
Dear Sir-Permit me with a soldiers
franknsss to thank you personally for the
handsome compliment bestowed in the gen
eral orders of yesterday which are reported
in the journals of the day. To me it was a
surprise and most agreeable one. 1 had
| supposed that the actual date of my retire.
ment would form a short paragraph
in the common series of special
orders of the War department., but as
the honored executive of our country
| has made it the occasion for his own hand to
! nav a tribute of respect and affection to an
| officer passing from the active stage OF life
| to one of ease and rest, can only say that
I feel highly honored and congratulate my
self in thus rounding out of my record OF
service in a manner most gratifying to my
| family and friends. Not only this, but feel
sure that when the orders of yesterday are
read on parade to the regiments and
| oarrisons of the United States many young
| hero will tighten his belt and resolve anew to
! ha brave and true to the starry banner
which we of our day have carried safely
| through one epoch of danger, but which may
! vet be subjected to other trials which viii de-
maud similar sacrifices, equal fidelity and
courage and larger measure OF intelligence.
Again thanking you TOR SO marked eomph-
ment and reciprocating the kind wishes for
the future, am, with profound respect,
Your friend and servant,
W. T. SHERMAN, General.
The Lnske r Resolutions.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1s.-The Secretary of
|