Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-02-15
THE DANEILLE RIOT.

WASHINGTON rep. 1o.-Iue lnFeSliSa-
ton of the Danville election riot was re-
sumed this morning.
The first witness was Edward NJ. Hatch
er (white) who, according TO the testimony
of Jack Redd yesterday, assaulted the latter
and wished to shoot him. In reply to Sc
ries of questions by Senator Sherman he
told the story of the riot and asserted that
he had no fire arms on that day. Had nev-
er carried pistol Had not carried any
other weapon than a pocket knife for 20
years. fIe did not remember seeing Jack
Redd, and didn't think he struck any one
on that day.
Witness, in reply to Senator Vance, said
he was not in the vicinity of the market
where the alleged assault on Redd occur.
redD on that day. Witness saw marks OF
bullets on several buildings in the rear Of
the white people, which bullets must have
come from the crowd of colored people.
j. &. Reagan, white, testified as TO the
scene of the riot
Senator Sherman you fire OH that
occasion?
Wiuess-I don't care TO answer that
question.
answer that question unless you choose.
you. Did you fire on that occasion?
Witness-I decline TO answer that ques-
ton.
Witness declined to answer as to whether
he struck Redd, but asserted that he did
not shoot at Redd. Witness refused to say
how many times he shot into the crowd On
that day. Witness said that there were not
more than half dozen white men in the
crowd when he first arrived. There were
fifty or one hundred colored men, all angry,
and he thought it was necessary for the crowd
of white people to fire. He first sent his
wife and children out of town for safety.
The fight was all over before the whites
came out of the opera house. The white
and colored men were standing very near
each other. The whites displayed their
pistols, Notwithstanding which the colored
people continued to crowd them.
Il. +. Terry, white, described the riot.
He said ne saw one oolorcd with u
knife, and one white man with double
Darrelied shot gun. Witness saw several
pistols in the bands of white men. Witness
was not armed said he was i'll his place OF
business opposite the scene OF the riot and
saw y white man with his arm raised in the
mir, his hand graspiug pistol and colored
man trying to wrest the weapon from him.
In the melee the weapon was discharged.
1t seemed TO witness that the discharge was
accidental.
X. w. Glass, colored, was called. He
said he didn't feel safe in telling what he
knew about the riot
Senator Lapham-W not?
Wituess-I live in Danvile and have got
To 90 back there. Witness had heard it
said that any negro who testified -
Senator Vance oh, we don't want that,
Mr.. Chairman.
Senator Lapham-I have right to know
the grounds CT his fear.
Witness, being treasured, told his story.
He heard pistol fired. Rushed to the scene
as colored men are accustomed to do,
found some IS colored men and 25 white
men, and policemen were telling the negroes
to leave. Negroes replied: 1--WE are not
doing anything, why should we leave :?
Heard Mr. Hatcher say: "This is white
mans town, I'm damned if we don't rule.
You all are going to get killed if you don't
leave" Then white men drew pistols
Witness named Hatcher, Lee, Covington and
Oliver, whom he saw have pistols. Lee
gave the order to fire, and they did fire.
Then the colored men began to leave. The
whites came out Of the opera house. 1t
looked like three or four hundred of them.
They went into the hardware store and got
pistols Saw bag ofcartridges in real es
tate office where he took refuge, and white
people came in and supplied themselves.
When all the negroes had left witness heard
the whites going about the street shouting
''hurrah for we democrats - daughter Saw
Holland shot thinks zone of the four first
mel" shot him. Thinks from the relative po-
sitions that they were compelled to shoot
him. He heard some of the whites say ::
"Kill every damned niger we can see."
Some replied: NO, they have run"
Heard Mr.. Corbin say "They have run"
Thought the riot was premeditated.
Witness did not vote, although he felt
safe iu doing so, alone, but he didn't think
it would amount to anything to go alone,
and if they went in a crowd he feared the
whites would shoot among them. He de-
scribed the shooting of Holland. The color
ed men did not work on the day Of the ri
OF. 1t was expected that an attack would
be made on Col. Sims.
Geo. A. Lee white was called. He was
one of the companions of Noel, whose fight
with the colored man Lawson brought on
the riot. Witness was armed When Law
son was met there was a crowd of Is or 70
negroes with him. Noel, when he saw the
crowd, said he didn't intend to use arms OF
any kind. He would give him good fist
cutting, and witness and Taylor must keep
the crowd off, Witness described the fight
TO-DAY'S TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
Frank James has arrived at Huntsville
Ala, in charge Of the federal authorities.
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