National Republican., 1884-02-26

litionists, he explained, as Judge Blackwoll
has done, and the same with most OF tho
succeeding paragraphs and charges. Tho
only complaint that the witness had over
heard of the legislation of that council was
that it had appointed colored men on the po-
lice force.
As to the charge that he (the witness) was
offensive to the white people, the witness
could only say that before he became Goa
litionist no had the honor to bo recommended
for high Office by nearly every business
man of Danvillc. Both the internal revenue
officers, who were also members Of the com
mon council were elected before they became
government employees. Both of them wero
owners of real estate. The witness had
comfortable home and plenty of
visible property, although he owed no
real estate. Neither of these negro council
men had made incendiary speeches, but have
counseed their people to moderation. The
witness never said, as charged that he would
use his position to build up radical negro
party or any other. None of these complaints
had ever been seen or heard of by the witness
until he saw them in the circular. Tho wit
ness said that the conduct and manners of
the negro population of Danville would COM
pare favorably with those of the laboring
population of any city. The crowd of people
on the street, however, makes IL almost
necessary for people to be iostled sometimes.
The witness always regarded tho circular
as political cauard, and was astonished that
any list Of men could be got to sign 1t. The
first copy he ever saw was sent to him from
Richmond He thought 1t such SANDER on
the people of Danville that he sought to have
IL copied to use as coalitionist campaign
document, believing that the men of Danville
would resent the slanders. The circular was
distributed entirely in the white counties,
never in the vicinity of Danville. The wit
ness was never yet able to discover where tho
circular was printed, but he thought IL was
done outside of Virginia.
what was the cause Of the Danville riotY
asked Senator Sherman.
Prom my best Information | havo no hes
itation in saying that the riot would never
have occurred except for tho inflammatory
nature of the democratic speeches and press
utterances."
Witness said that IL was 80 generally be-
lieved among the coalitionsts that prepara-
tions were being made by the democrats for
a riot, that he, with other prominent coali.
tionists, held several conferences on the sub.
ject. He thought the general reputation of
that county for deeds of violence was the
worst of any that he knew Lately tho ut
taCks had been made chiefly upon negroes
and cUalitionists. He had seen q list of SOW
cnty violent crimes. He thought that polit-
ical prejudices entered into the courts, and
iuries would not convict. More people had
been killed since than during the riot and
none of the murderers had been punished.
Tho witness knew nothing, except by hear
say, of any contemplated assault upon him
sell on account Of his political opinions. He
had not been assaulted.
The witness said that he was in turn q
captain, lieutenant colonel and colonel OF
the Slst New York infantry during the civil
war, and his brother was colonel of the oath
New York infantry, and was killed while
trying TO escape from southern prison.
Gov. Vance cross-examined tho witness at
great longth aud in detail as to the real estate
owned by coalitionists in the Danville
council, and attempted to mako o point OF
the fact that Col. Raulston only knew by
common report, and not by examination of
records and titled. that they owned property.
" DO you think, then" asked Gov. Vance,
that without having examined titles you
can como up and deny the assertion of the
circular signed by a number OF respectable
gentlemen that these councilmen had no
property"
al think I can, sir. can deny what a
man says who will sign his name to circular
containing such statements as this does. |
know that these men own their property just
as know about tho ownership OF any real
estate in Danville"
The witness had published two answers to
the circular one after he had heard that
there was such circular, but before he
q
obtained q copy of the circular. He thought
that tho colo" line which was clearly drawn
throughout all that section, and tho social ostra-
cism which was dealt out TO all white coali'
tionists, tended to intlame the people and
bring about the riot He never knew of any
ostracism or injury falling upon colored
man because he voted the democratic ticket.
He thought that Col Sims's speech was some
what calculated to irritate the men who
signed the circular but he understood that
Col. Sims had counseled the colored people to
20 to the polls unarmed, and il
any colored man wanted to vote
the democratic ticket to let him do So lie
believed that the riot was prepared for. He
knew that o great and unusual number OF
arms had been brought to the city. In the
advertisements of the hardware dealers guns
and pistols were mentioned more prominently
than any other of their wares. His only
knowledge of the receivers of those arms
came from seeing a large number OF them in
the hands of white democrats.
do you believe that there were guns
stored in Voolfolk & Blairs office the day Of
the riot ~ asked Gov. Vance.
"I do. Ny, information is that the guns
were stored in that office, and that they were
loaded in the yard back of that office tina
morning"
Preston Watkins, the colored member of the
grand jury which pretended to investigate
the Danville murders, was next called. He
said that testimony had been offered before
that jury to the effect that the whites first
fired over the heads of the negroes and onl.
fired at them when they were rushing
threateningly, toward the whites. Testmon.
of this sort induced him to consent to th
| finding of his associate jurors. Ho neve
expected TO find out tho facts of tn
case, and after forty witnesses had boei
examined he was willing to close u
,hn Il At nhn
| any colored man who carried arms before tn
riot, but knew of instances since then. IL
carried arms. lie mentioned the names o
several Danville colored men who wer
democratic, and yet stood we'll socially witt
| their race but if any man of note voted tn
democratic ticket, he said, the colored mel
| believed that he had betrayed them. lie di
not remember any testimony before the gram
jury to the effect that the negroes had rusho
upon the whites with drawn pistols
| A COlored man named PotGet testified {
| having overheard a conversation between tw
white ex- policemen on the morning before tn
riot They were distributing bills and 81
ranging to go to several houses and get some
thing, he didn't know what but supposed
was arms, because one of two white gentleme
from the country, who were standing by
said they had better leave, Is there wa
"going to be h-l;p that they wer
going TO FIRE on the niggers this even
| ing" Witness a short time afterwarC
heard fuss up the street and was told tbs
Hanse Lawson and Noel had fight. Saw h
Hatcher across the street with pistol in HI
hand, and saw Mr Jordan come out {
Blair's store with pistol in his hant
Hatcher said, "Fire on the id SIS (
b-s if they won't leave" Then they b.
gan to fire. Two Colored mon foil and u
witness ran away. Every white man he "a
on that day was armed. White boys betwee
IS aud 90 years of age had pistols and sho
| A. 9J,.,k lnp.