The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-01
THE DANVHLE RIOT.
White Democrats Testify to Firing on Both
&ides-A White Republican Satisfied the
Blot was Not Premeditated.
GBy telegraph TO the Dispatch.l

Blot was Not Premeditated.
TBy telegraph 10 the Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON, y. c.. March 3l.-J. c.
Fnrght white Democrat) testified that he
left the Opera-House with James l.. John
son, who, according TO previous witnesses,
was said TO have killed two colored men
during the riot. The witness said that he
was with johnson during the riot, and
that johnson did not fire at all. He said
that on the morning OF the riot six cOlOred
men stood IN front OF his place Of business.
and he asked them not to obStruct the way.
All moved off but one. Witness started
for this one. when he moved away a short
distance, and then asked what witness had
intended to do. Witness replied that he
was going to push him away. The negro
said, with an oath, that pushing days were
over.
T. !. Thompson, OF Danville, a white
Matchmaker. was called. He saw the riot
from an upper window opposite, and de-
scribed it, but added nothing Of import
auce. He thought by the upward aim Of
the pistols hat they were shooting at him.
He saw pistols in the hands of colOred
men, about as many aS in the hands Of the
whites, but could not name any one who
had pistols.
r. s. Osborn, a Danyille ice-dealer, saw
the riot. Heard one cOlOrcd man say when
the officers were trying TO diSpeTSe them
We mean fight Saw colored men with
pistols. but could not give their names.
saw colorcd men fire over their shoulders
rs they ran. Witness was ON guard next
dav, with orders not TO allow three men OF
either race 10 stand together on the street.
Irving to disperSe party OF three colored
men, one Of them said he was not going
away: he was "nOt satisfied with tins
thing aud should not be until be saw
DanVlle burned down.
Charles III. Conrad. IL tobaccO-manufactu
rcr of Danville, was standing behind Cap
tain Graves, with his eye on Grayes'S pis-
tOl at the time he was SAID to have shot
George Adams. Witness stated positively
that Graves did not fire the shot winch
wounded Adams. he was chairman OF
the Democratic Ward Club, and in posi-
ton To know that there was no premedita-
ton to bring on the riot. On cross-eXaml-
nation Senator Sherman asked II ire VIII
ness fred his pistol. Witness declined 10
answer. In the further course OF the
croSs-eXaminatiOn witness asserted with
much earnestness that it was mistake 10
suppose there was a prejudice against the
negroes. The prejudice was against " low
down Whtes-thc STUN OF earth thai
came down from the North-men that got
the negroes into trouble and then deserted
them. Witness had negroes at work lor
him who would sacrifice their llNes I0r MN
II he was in danger. He had twenty negro
workmen. three Of whom were Democrats
His father-in-law employed between TWO
and three hundred negroes. ana twenty
five OF them were Democrats.
Senator sherman asked II tne negroes
under any circumstances, STOOD any chahce
OF getting their right TO eject OlhceIs' IhcS
being in majority. 49,,
"Yes, sir, If they vote Win me"
"That's it, if they vote Win YOU
"YOu will never see II a. lohS "s YOU
live. nor as long as | live elmer that SET
Of men who own the properly ana are Try
inc TO build up the town and husDahd an
their resources and accumulate wealth.;
that will ever allow negroes 10 come III ana
control that town. You may Just SET lilat
down as a sure thing"
..Tbat is the deliberate purpose OF the
nronerty-holders, to prevent That! "
u say it empbatically; but only ny iair
means" -, n.o+ -,
But you have already told us that
majority of those who owned the property
viii not allow that government to pass
from their hands into the negroes hands,
and worse still, into the hands OF this poor
white scum"
" Wen, we despise those worse than the
negroes; worse than the devil =.
Witness said the Democrats felt sure OF
carving the election IN spite OF The COLO ,
nizstion Of negroes from North Carolna,
having registered Democratic majority
in the county, though not in the CITY Oh
DanviIle. M vh,,o
j. u. Parkinson, Of Danyille, whIte
Democrat, described what be saw Oh Tue
riot There was firing on both SIDES;
Five or six shots were fred by coIoreu
neonle. He could not name any one Oh
either side who fired. -, 10
J. p. Taylor (whIte) described what ne
saw of the riot, but did not see u al;
Saw some colored boys but no coiofed