The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-21
lnr ielnrranh 70 the plsnateh.I

1
preston left by his testimony yesterday
He said he bad never been a negro-trade
for profit. He had Inherited slaves few
OF these he had sold and had purchased
others in their place.
w. N. Barksdale, c0lored clergymen
was called. He told a monotonous stor,
OF the riot, which he had seen from shor
distance, without adding anything OF i'm
portance to the story as gathered from I'M
predecessors. He distinctly heard an ordel
from the whites. "Shoot shoot !" There
was no resistance on the part OF the blacks
nor did they have arms OF any kind. Tb'
whites followed the Tetreating blacks. fh'
witness thought there was no danger TO thu
whites from the colored people. He haC
never heard any threats by colored men
although his opportunities for hearing anC
knowing their sentiments were excellent
Senator sherman: "Mr. Barksdale, did
you vote on election-dav ?"
"No, sir; did not"
"WelI, tell us why YOU did not vote"
"Well, sir. felt that in the city the
colored people ought 10 be in Sack-cloth
and ashes, praying, instead OF going to the
polls, and when went on the street and
saw the blood o. those men nv heart was
full OF grief. l knew them all from boys.
Then L saw men that were armed, and
didn't know what might be the result;
consequently did not 90 to the polls at
ALL"
The witness further described the sentl-
ments Of the colored people us he had
gathered it from conversation after the
riot. They generally said in effect: "Ii
can't 90 10 the polls and vote except with
1 A L., \ ~
Under cross-eXamination by Mr.. Vance,
ne insisted that the crowd Of colored peo-
pie was composed in part Of women and
children. His attention had since been
called by white men to bullet-marks on the
| buildings IN rear OF the position where the
whites stood during the riot. The failure
OF the colored people to vote was not the
result Of any orders received from any
source-not to his knowledge.
Senator Vance questioned witness as to
whether, in the latter's opinion, the colored
people showed the proper appreciation OF
the rights OF suffrage, and fulfilled their
duties as citizens in abstaining from voting
because OF the riot? He alluded to the as
surances from those in authority Of pro-
lection 10 the colored people on election
day.
Witness discussed the matter some time.
and finally summarized his opinions as fol-
lows: :. 1t is too late for you to offer me
compromise after you have wounded and
killed me-"
The crOss-eXaminati0n having been con-
cluded. Mr.. sherman continued the discus
sion, drawing out from witness the slate
ment that some Of the whites on election
day were armed, the special policemen
being in part those who had been among
the rioters. The white militia company
had been called out, but the colored mill
tia was not called out. The colorcd people
during the war were left at home while
the white men were absent. No outrages
had been committed. The slaves (witness
being a slave) had remained IN the service
OF their masters as faithfully as before.
Senator Vance elected from witness the
opinion that the elder generation OF the
colored people who were slaves were more
industrious and more peacefully inclined
than their descendants.
Senator Sherman, in turn, brought out
the avowal that the younger generation OF
whites were more aggressive and less con-
siderate toward the colored people than
were their slave-owning ancestors.
Albert Galloway (colored) was called.
He thought the preliminary fight was a
personal afIair-merely q fair fight. The
colored man was whipped, and the matter
should have ended there. He thought that
the whites and blacks were equally bama-
BILE for gathering. He saw one c0lored
man, Davis Lewelln, have pistol. The
shooting was wholly done by the whites.
The whites followed the retreating blacks,
etc. Witness LETT the scene OF the rioi In
compliance with the advice OF the whites.
| Witness did not vote.
"Why?"
"Well. perhaps mout have been safe.
| couldn't tell, you know. | have to own
it, was skeered."
George West, mulatto huckster in the
| DanvilIe market, was called. Witness was
in rear OF the white line. He heard some
one i'm Wolford & Blair's Office behind
him say, go ahead when YOU get ready"
Then the firing commenced. To Senator
Vance he said he could not tell who made
this remark.
William MINIS, well-dressed cOlored
barber, OF Danville, was called. He testi-
fed that two white men-Traylor and JEFF
ferson- loaded their revOlvers in his shop
on the day OF the riot, but they had no.
thing to do with the riot. Several empty
pistol-boxes new were left in his shop
| that day. Witness never votes, and makes
no inquiries in regard to politics. lie was
advised by several of his patrons on No
vember Sd not to be on the street much
that day. He remained in his shopall day.
Afternoon Session.
After recess Addison Coles (colored) was
called. He saw the riot from distance.
He saw a white man following retreating
negroes, draw q revolver, and shoot three
times. Two colored men, Davis and Hall,
| fell. Did not know the white man, but
| Mr.. Motley, who was standing near, said il
was johnson, OF Mechanicsyille, tailor.
Ten or fifteen minutes elapsed between the
first volley and the shooting by johnson.
w. p. Averett (white) was called. Is q
| hat and shoe-dealer in DanVile. His por-
ter entered the store and said they were
shooting people. Witness took his revolver
and went to the scene OF the disturbance.
| The preliminary quarrel was over, but q
threatening crowd OF colored men was
gathering, and only four or five whites
were present. Witness thought the latter
were in danger, and went TO the Opera
House to call the people thence. He re-
| turned before the general firing, and think
ing the affair was over left again. He was
a short distance away when the firing be-
gan. Did not fire his own revolver; saw
no revolvers In the hands Of colored peo-
pie. Witness thought there was no dispo'
sition manifested by the whites to shoot
into the fleeing crowd. Some OF the col
ored people did not run at once. The
whites were not in formal line.
Nelson Scott (colored) was called. Is 8
messenger in the revenue Office at Dan
vile. He told the familiar story Of the
riot. Heard Hatcher tell the whites tc
stand up with him, and they would Kill
the last one Of them. Heard Colonel Sims
tell DR.. Barksdale that il any one was