Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-18

He asked me 10 10 back and meet the
crowd and then come back and report. i
started down Twentieth street and saw the
crowd coming up Second avenue, crossing
Twentieth street | went back 10 the Jail
and told Smith that the crowd was coming.
! don't know whether they were armed or
not. met the crowd again and begged
them n 20 back. They kept advancing. /
did not zee any arms OF eigns OF violence 10
the crowd. ! told them that the jail officers
were going 10 shoot, and that | had seen
their arms. | stood behind Tom and Joe
Smith, and they kept going nearer the alley.
M WANTED TO SHOOT.
One ~ the officers wanted 10 shoot
said inst hall dozen or go men might be
killed, and that any Of us might have brothers
in the crowd. "God id n I'd care II II
was my own brother. ia give him decent
burial, and 90 home and tell my father aud
mother that thought I'd done right"
don't know whether be MAJ deputy or not.
asked Tom smith not to shoot. lt0ld
him they bad not advanced 10 the alley, and
II they did he could hold them there until
daylight, and II they advanced only 10 shoot
shOt.guns and to shoot low down, but that II
WAS not necessary 10 shoot. That was one
minute before the first shot was fred.
went back 10 The iSil, and bad hardly got
there before the firing commenced.
TIE sHERiFF's WARNING.
The first shot was fred with what sounded
Ike a small pistol. and then followed the
volley. Tom smith hOllered and told them
10 get ont Of The alley. He said be was going
to count three and then he was going TO
shoot. Thst started Joe 10 counting, and "
they were not ont of the alley he would
shoot. Joe started 10 count five, but did not
shoot. lie bad not finished counting when
went in the Jail. They were standing on
the platform. / got inside one fourth Oh
minute before the shots were general.
There were three or four on the platform.
stood behind Tom and Joe Smith. They
were three abreast. | was between some OF
them. Some others may have stepped MP,
and don't know who fred. Tom aud Joe
Smith were 10 front on the platform.
WE HAVE PLAYED THE DEVIL.
After the firing saw Captain Pickard and
spoke TO bin. lie said that about half
dozen had been killed lie saw number
OF dead or wounded picked up. He was
very much excited and was almost crying.
lie said, ave bave played the devil; we
have killed four or five men," He had come
down where he could see. From where
was could not see and did not know what
was done on the outside. We then went
TO the old Jail, where we could see. Captain
Pickard said that he and Jack Mcdonald
had stood Dt that window when the shooting
was going on, and that one would shoot and
step back to load aud that the other would
step up and take his place and then retire,
IN that the other could come up and shoot.
/ don't know who was above or below.
A CROWD WITHOUT LEADER.
There were fifteen or twenty men in the
new and old jail. Altar the men In the new
iail fred the first vOliey they came in and re-
loaded and went ont and fired again; that IS,
some % them did.
/ told smith (before the shooting) 1t was
big crowd but that 1t had no leader. ] told
him that the leader had told me there was no
danger. ] told him that twenty-five Of the
miltar, could disperse the crowd. ] told
him net 10 shoot into the crowd, as we could
hold them there until daylight; but II he did
shoot to use small shot and shoot low down.
"To LYNCH HAYES AVID TIE NEGRO woMIN.'
Norman webb, who was temporarily in
the town ct the time Of the Jail trouble, said
on the stand: 81 Inquired OF some Of the
crowd what il meant. and they SAID they
were going 10 the Jail TO lynch Halves and 70
lynch The black woman with him. They
stopped near the Wilson House, and then
saw that number Of persons had tried TO
stop them aud have them turn back. In
consequence OF the opposition OF several
influential citizens they proceeded very
slowly. When they reached Third avenue
the jau guards were paradng thcIe. I
know they were jail guards because they
bad guns TIE guards tried TO force them
back and the crowd began TO spply epithets
n them, saying men who would guard jail
birds were no better than the iail-6lrds
themselves. Saw number Of prominent
gentlemen. among them Chief Gaaord,
Colonel Hewitt. aud others, endeavoring TO
purSlade the crowd TO 90 back. ! tried 10
use my influence also 70 this end.
ABAD TEMPERED CROWD.
The crowd used epithets towards the jail
guards. one man | spoke 10 drew pistol
on me and said that we were no better than
the iall prisoners themselves. The temper OF
the crowd WAS very bad. heard one man
say that they had plenty Of dynamite aud
were going 10 blow the thing to hell. They
said that they were going TO blow the jail
doors down with dynamite.
All the shooting that saw came from the
alev. The disposition OF the crowd seemed
very ugly; Il the crowd had not been re-
strained and held back they would have
forced their way to the Jail in few minutes.
Several told me that they bad all the tools
they wanted. Heard half dozen say they
had plenty OF dynamite with them TO blow
up the ial. would recognize ut least three
OF then. | would recognize the man who
pulled pistol on me. He said any man who
took up for the prisoners was no better than
they we're.
TnE DUTY or A CITIZEN.
George :. O'Bear. Jr.. testified: Late on
Saturday afternoon was told about tho
excited feeling, and was told that they
would probably try 10 take the prl-
soner out OF jail | went 10 see Cap
tam P,ckard and told him 1t was the
duty az a good citizen 10 inform the police
Of such things. lie said "Csn / depend on
vou?r told him, YES" lie told me 10
70 u the meeting. | saw Throckmorton st
the Florence-llouse corner. / told him was
afraid there wss going tO he trouble. He
said: " Yes; sud / will, il necessary, have
the Calling gun loaded to the hilt and
turn the crank myself to defend the
Jail" About that time a man whose name
was Williams mounted the fountain aud
made a speech advising them 10 10 and take
Halves out OF the jail, The man was pulled
down and taken TO the city jail, hut was soon
released. At the corner few minutes later
heard some one whisper: "COme on to the
gas-w works IN fifteen minutes"
EFFORTS TO STOP tbs CROWD.
When reached there cries we're made that
a leader was wanted and others cried for
O'Bear. saw this was a good opportunity
and / told them did not think they knew
What thew were there for. l told them that
the JAN was well guarded and shat II they
vent there some Of them would get hurt
Cries were heard. "On to the jail" | said
swear them, and when ssked what for | said
10 obey the will OF the majority. | thought
that was good thing tosay.
THE FIRST SHOT.
At the Jail the first saot was fred seven or
eight minutes before the crowd got 10 the
mouth OF the alley. That shot was fired froA
The top OF the jail Il was in the hands OF a
policeman, aud was accidental. | saw the
lash distinctly. | don't know where the
vollcyS came from. Heard one man say at
we had dynamite we could get in" About
Twenty-Five Of the men were In pretty bad
temper. [ don't know who were In the old
alI window; saw firing from the old jail
window. | saw one man lying in the CEN
re Of the street 1t was in the centre OF
IWenty-hrst street.