The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-28
THE DECATUR RIOT.
Rioters Brought Into Court for
Trial.

hl"A Oh p1ltiSS concerned III the CeleDra-
ted Decatur riot cases. and considerable inter-
est is manifested in the investigation.
On the 9th day of August, 1887, the colored
Sunday schools of DeKalb county held their
annual celebration under ''the children's tab
ernacle," as they had been doing for years
past. 1t was while they were
peacefully assembled that very
strong colored man. named Wesley Hubert or
Hubbard, went through the congregation,
cursing and ilourishing q pistol. The law
abiding colorcd people appealed to Bailiif j.
w. Rodgers and Town Marshal lobe Hurst,to
protect thom from this disorder. Bailiff Rod
gers took from Hubert Smith 81 Wesson -
calibre pistol, every barrel loaded. Marshal
Hurst arrested Hubert. but a crowd followed
him, broke his hold on Hubert and carried him
oil. 1t was during this melee that Henry
Goldsmith threw rocks at the o,iicers,an Jack
Goldsmith made earnest efforts to get into the
melee. Bailiff Rodgers procured
a warrant for Huberts arrest.
Hubert walked up the Georgia railroad to
Hoyles cut, where Rodgers Sheriff Austin,
Mr.. W. L. Pattillo, L. II. Chivers, lobe
Hurst and others attempted to arrest Hubert.
With an open knife in his hand. Hubert made
an effort to cut Sheriff Austin. A negro named
Brock Pritchett is supposed to have fired the
first shot. The firing became general, and
Marshal Hurst was shot and instantly killed
and Mr.. Chivers dangerously wounded.
Hubert ran off into the woods 100 yards dis
tant, fell and died from wound in the in
guinal artery. Pritchett and Harris escaped
and have not been arrested.
Colonel John S. Gambler Offered as tho first
witness for the state MIR. w. II. Pattllo.
Mr.. Pattilo stated that he was sitting on
his porch when his attention was attracted by
Sheriff Austin, Marshal Hurst and Mr.. Chivers
at the McDonough street crossing on the
Georgia railroad in scuflle with some negroes
Mr.. Austin called for help, and he went to his
relief. just before he got to them they separ-
ated, the negroes going up the Hoyle cut
twenty or thirty feet ahead of Sheriff Austin.
We overlook the negroes at the west end of
the Hoyle cut. Sheriff Austin put his hand on
Wesley Hubert, who had a knife in his hand,
Prtchett and LoVejoy on either side of HUI
bert. Pritchett had pistol i'll his hand swear
ing that Hubert could not be arrested except
over his dead body As Hubert raised his
knife to strike Austin, | knocked it up with
my walking cane. l turned little in doing
so, and the firing began There were only two
negroes engaged in the shooting that | know
IoVeioy and Pritchett. The shot that killed
Hurst, as far as ! could see, was fired by
Pritchett. Lovejoy ran Off into the woods.
Pritchett soon overlook Lovejoy and they ran
oil together. | went to Hurst and raised his
head up on my lap. He expired almost i'll
stantly. The cross examination by General
Gartreli disclosed the fact that Mr.. Pattillo
fred every barrel of a Smith a. Wesson five
shooter Mt Pritchett.
General Gartrcll-Did you leave him on the
field?
MIR. Pattillo-No no left the field. If / hit
him | don't know it,
| identify Loveioy as the man with Hubert.
He fired one shot, and left soon after; Pritchett
soon followed him, after firing six times.
Mr.. j. w. Rodgers, bailiif, testified that he
had warrant for the arrest of Wesley Hubert
and Jack Goldsmith. lobe Hurst as marshal,
arrested Hubert and he was taken away from
him. ] notified Sheriff Austin that / had Il
warrant for Hubert. Hurst arrested Hubert
for being drunk and fourishing a pistol. AS
we got across the railroad large crowd gather
ed. A rock was thrown and hit me on the
head. | was jerked lose by Jack Goldsmith.
| don't know who took the nippers off of
Hubert. He was in our joint custody at the
time he was taken away.
Whom 1 cot up to Hoyle's cut, Hubert was
cutting at Sheriff Austin. L hit Hubert over
the head with pistol had taken from him.
Brock Pritchett shot at me then, aud the firing
began. don't recollect seeing Lovejoy there.
Pritchett and black negro at the edge of the
pines was all / saw firing.
The fist witnesses introduced for the de-
Tense was Jackson Langford who testified as
follows: / was night-watching in Decatur on
the 26th of August, 1887. Mr.. Hurst, the
town marshal told me that night that ON the
next day he expected q largo crowd at the
tabernacle, and if there should be any diff
Guilty that he wanted me and j. III. Chivers to
be there to assist him. / got there about ten
o'clock. 1 saw Marshal Hurst and Bailiff
Rodgers with black man under arrest. They
the mans hand. When they got near the
railroad the prisoner stopped, but went on,
and twenty or thirty steps beyond again
stopped. A largo crowd gathered
Rodgers loose. Mr.. Hurst drew bis
pistol and called out to tho crowd to Stand
back. Witness told Hurst not TO use his pis-
tol, as there were q large number around,
many with knives and rocks in their hands.
The crowd gathered hold of Hubert, the man
,Ia,,.. 4
groes all shouted, "They took him away"
Marshal Hurst said after this that he would
be at the train and arrest Hubert. Witness
got there twenty or twenty-five minutes before
the arrival of the train. Hubert and two 9th
ers were half way between the depot and the
McDonough crossing. Pritchett was one of
the other men with Hubert. Don't think
Lovejoy was the other man. We overlook
them near the crossing. Hubert had an open
pocket knife in his hand. Sheriff Austin tried
to knock the knife out of Huberts hand.
Austin hit at him several times Hubert
backed. striking at the sheriff with his knife
The black negro saip, LET me talk to him."
meaning Hubert. They went up tho Hoye
cut. Pritchett was standing around with
pistol In his hand. AS Hubert walked up the
cut Prtchett overlook him and pushed him
along the other negroes joined in pushing.
Marshal Hurst was in advance in pursuit
Pattilo said that it would never do not to ar
rest these parties We overlook the negroes
tin showed Hubert off Of tho railroad track
Hubert struck at the sheriff with his knife
Mr.. Pattillo struck Hubert's hand with n
cane. Bailiff Rodgers hit Hubert over the
head with pistol. Pritchett fired and the
firing became general. If Loyejoy was there
i did not sec him. / was sent for to go to the
stationhouse in Atlanta to identify Lovejoy.
] said that If he was there didn't see him.
| could not tell how many shots were fired
by either side. j saw black man shooting.
At the crossing Sheriff Austin said, "Let hi IN
90, VIC will arrest him hereafter" Mr. PattillO
was armed with q pistol, and said, "Arrest
them" j did not see any other colored people
fire except Pritchett and the black man.
On tho cross-examinaton, Mr. Langord test
tilted:
81 and Wash Houston Jr. picked up Hurst
after he fell. J. went after Dr. Green"
Question by solctor-general-Did you not
swear before the coroners inquest that you
were so excited that you couldn't tell who shot
Hurst?
Answer-Yes. / couldn't tell.
Question by solictor-general-Did Mr. Pat
tillo show cOurageY
Answer-Yes He walked up TO Hubert, who
had an open knife in his hand, ana tried to
knock it out Of his hand.
81 do not swear that Loveioy was not there.
j only swear that If he was there i did not see
him saw two negroes shooting IN the crowd.
/ shot q her five or six times. Hubert swore
that he'd be damned If no would be arrested.