The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-20
THE DANyILLE RIOT.
THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUED
YEsTERDAY.
fcs'imony by Whites and Blacks-An Old
Gentleman Who Was Bound TO Retaiintc--
Quaint Negro Description OF the Affair,
&C.. &c.
[By telegraph 10 lhn n,.rnirh. |

| . N'v " N"h'o). NollVllSSiO NORTHUMBERLAND vi
Danvilie,, an intelligent. benevolent-look-
ing gentleman sixty-three years OF age,
was tue hrst witness called in the Danyille
investigation to-day. He SAID he took lit
Tie interest in politics except TO vote. He
ala, however, attend the 0pera-House
meeting OF November 3D., and he had
signed the Danyille circular and approved
Its contents. Saw no women or children,
only men, In the crowd OF negroes during
the riot. lie was not at the scene OF
the riot when the firing began, but
was going toward his place OF busl-
ness, which was in that direction.
He was armed, and fired four shots into the
crowd OF colored people. He fired because
he "was never yet able to stand and allow
! q man to shoot ut him - OF strike at him y
without retaliation. He described each OF
his shots in detail. The colored men were
firing in his direction. The firing. for a
short time, was rs hot as he ever saw.
| Witness was soldier during the Mexican
war and Confederate officer during the
rebellion. He bought bis revolver
month before the riot. Witness did not
know OF any secret political organization
in Danville except the Democratic Club.
Witness denied that he shot Charles Ad-
and said he saw Charles Adams
approaching him trying to escape
from the crowd. Adams threw up his
arms and asked witness not to shoot. Wit
ness told Adams to 60 into store. Shortly
afterwards Adams came out OF the store
and ran away. Witness hollered" at
him. telling him to go back into the store.
Adams turned and threw up his arms, beg
ging witness and others not to shoot. At
this time Adams was shot in the arm.
Witness did not fire the shot. lie had fred
four shots before that. Witness did not
know whether he hit any one. He would
not say that he fired without intending to
hit any one, but he saw no one fall as the
result OF his shooting. He had purchased
his revolver because he anticipated diff
Guilty with the negroes. Witness described
several personal difficulties he had had with
negroes. On one occasion few weeks
before the riot he had been insulted
and threatened by negro, and
replied only by striking him with his cane.
Witness was arrested and fined for this
offence. The justice had asked II witness
was in bodily fear, and witness had replied
in the negative; hence the fine. Witness
said rumor had become current the day
before the election that the negroes were
to have torchlight procession before day
light on election-day, and were to march
to the polls when opened and take posses
sion of them.
Senator Lapham: Was there any pre-
determination OF the Democrats to break up
the procession ii it did take place?
Witness No, sir. will tell you frankly,
sir, there was no understanding to that
effect; but il it had been attempted, 1t
would have brought about collision.
In reply to Senator Vance, witness said
he drew his revolver and fred for self
protection. Bullets were whistling about
his ears, and, from their direction, they
could not have come from the white men.
He did not, however. sec any pistols in the
hands of the colored men. Witness said
that social and other influences had COM
bined for years to prevent negroes from
voting the Democratic ticket. There was
no conspiracy among the whites TO bring
on a riot, but, on the contrary, the influ-
ence of the whites was eXerted to the ut
most to prevent a collision. As soon as
the firing was over witness mounted a
horse and went home. 4 letter had been
intercepted which conveyed the informa-
ton that il the fighting took place down
ders Of the town were TO be murdered in
their houses.
In reply to Senator Lapham. witness
said he went with Others from Danvile to
New Design" to see how the election
was going. Witness was armed with a
pistol. His weapon was concealed.
George Adams (colored was called. He
described the riot in the quaintest OF ne
Il 10, ur1 -ttrita
lug his arms and body in illustrating the
movements of different individuals and
OF the crowd. Witness was the man who
attempted to take the revolver from Lea,
Noefs companion, at the preliminary riot.
lie " Ibis in de country. but his chaps
(boys) works in town." He "war in Basil
Blair's sto' payin' de clerk some money
owed him fo' dollars-when de firin
began" While scufling with Lea the
latter fell, and witness fell on top.
Taylor, one of the preliminary white
rioters, seized witness by the heels and
"sorter turned him sOmersalt like" Ill
Illustrating by diving motion OF the body,
his hands over his head.) As witness was
engaged in his involuntary gymnastics
Lea fired twice, the bullets passing under
witnesses body. "No, sab; de pistol did
productive of some suppressed merriment
among his audience, but he was himself
inten .ely in earnest. There was a scared
look in his eyes as he glanced from one to
another questioner, and his voice took
plaintive infection as he described the
shooting at himself as he ran and told OF
the dead men he had seen on the street.
In reply to Senator Sherman witness de-
fhn loQt
Wednesday night after be was subpenaed
to Washington. He was sleeping in the
depot with an old man, and Mr.. Freeman
came and shook the door. Witness let him
in after some delay. Freeman asked what
he knew about the riot. Witness said he
saw it all Freeman asked il he had any
whiskey, and came up and felt of his peck
cts illustrating by slapping his coat and
trousers ockets). Freeman then called In
Hatcher, Barksdale, Lea, and others, all OF
whom were on their way to Washington.
They told him he had better know but id
little about the riot when he went to Wash
ington. Lea did not speak, but looked as
II he "would jump through" witness.
Barksdale came into the room. and witness
described the affair to him. Barksdale
said, "Well, George, II you see any ways
luDtS NOulu u5b dufioC gCl W 'Nhhui.
Witness did not venture, but remained in
DanvilIe until last night, when he came on
with crowd Of colored companions.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Aitera short recess w. b. Bishop (whitc),
OF North Danville, house and sign
painter, was called. He witnessed only u
portion of the riot, and that from a second
story window of building in the neigh
borhood. He contented himself with an
swering in quiet, seli-possessed manner,
the questions put to him, volunteering
,,otl,;,,o No focfc III inonorfouca wore do