Daily Republican., 1884-02-19
TA|RU EDITION
THE DANVILLE RIOT.
How virginia was Carried for the
DemOc Ocrass-IDnSceDt COlOre d
Men Publicly Murdered by White
BOurbODs.


BOurb0Ds.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-Hense Law
son, the colored man, whose quarrel
with Charles ID. Noel preceded the riot,
was the first witness examined by the
Danville Investigating Committee. HeI
is a small man, weighing probably fifty
pounds less and standing about six
inches shorter than his assailant Noel.
He said he met Noel Tor the first time
on the Sd of November. Witness wasI
getting out of tine way of some ladies
and ran against Noel. Witness said
"Excuse me SIR" Noel replied " You
ID Niger, what do you mean by |
running against me-" Lewellyn, one
of witness companions, said "GoI
on" Noel and Lewellyn came to blows,
and Lewellyn knocked Noel in the gut
ter twice.
Next saw Noel in buggy the same
day. Noel kept looking back, and wit
ness said to LeweIlyn, "better look out
for him. He may attack you" A few
minutes later Noel, having left his bug
gy, approached witness and struck him
with "pair of kuckles,' witness head
being turned away at the moment.
Witness had two companions. Noel
had several companions. Lea, one of
Noel's companions, had cooked pistol
in his hand as he came up, and thrust
it in witness face and threatened to
blow witness head off. After the pre-
liminary quarrel witness escaped
through store. He had been in Bos-
ton ever since the riot, being afraid to
live in Danville.
Davis Lewellyn (colored) was called.
He told the story Of the preliminary
fight substantially as Lawson did, but
was somewhat clearer in his description
and expressions.
WHAT A CoLoRED WOMAN SAW.
Mrs. Sophia Powell, colored, was
called and examined by Senator Lap.
ham: Lived in North Danville, was in
Danville to collect money for sewing on
the Sd of November. Heard of the
disturbance and went to see if her hus-
band was one of the crowd. just be-
fore she reached the scene of disturb
ance firing began. She stopped, and
the people ran past her; saw several
men with guns. There was one man she
knew-Mr. Blunt. She saw him stand
ON the corner of the street near her
position and shoot several times at the
escaping blacks. Witness went home,
but was afraid to stay there and went
with her husband to the house of a
friend and remained over night.
Witness demeanor was that of an
ignorant woman. She had some diff
Guilty in understanding Senator Nance's
questions upon cross-examination re
lating to her position and that of Mr..
Blunt when she saw the latter fire, but
her story was not taken.
Mrs. Violet Keeling, colored, the
companion of Mrs. Powell ON the after
noon of the riot, was called. She de.
acribed her experience, which was SINH
lar to that of Mrs. Powell. She saw
Mr.. Blunt fire.
Senator Sherman-iiOw did he act
Witness" He acted like man dat
neber seed any body in wah-he acted
like man dat was willin' to take life.
1t looked like # be seed anybody run
min he would shoot" Witness de.
sGribed the neighborhood, assemblages
of colored people on Sunday to discuss
the riot, and the danger to colored
people. at seemed dey were al
afeared to 60 to de polls. don't think
we hab got ober dat fear up to dis
present day" The reason why her
husband did not vote was because she
didn't think it safe to let him go.
Senator Nance-Are any of the color
ed people in yOnr country Democrats.
Witness-Well, | don't hunt thai
sort. II he hear of a colored man
votin' the Democrat ticket don't hah
notlin' do with him aud | don't let
him come In NY house | don t
like to see a cOlored man sell himself
nohow. tiuk If a coiored man
votes the Democrat ticket he already
sold himself.
Senator NanCe-Well, when white
man votes the Republican ticket do you
think he sells himself?
Witness-I'll just tell you what. |
think he's a man wots got sense and
knows wot he's doin'.
SentVr Nance-Well, supposing
your husband should vote the Dem
ocratic ticket?
WirEess-l'll just tell yer wot.
would just pack up my close and go to
my tadGer. If ! didn't had no tadder
just 60 to work for twenty-five cents a
Week to support my ownset.
The committee will meet again tO-mor-
row.