Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-16
THE CHRISTMAS RIOT.
A p0LrcEmArs COURAGEOUS cosTLIcf
WITH A NOE
Fsur Of the Offenders Against the Law
Tried by the Hustings Court
Yesterday

Tried by the Hustings Court
Yesterday.
The Hastings Court was engaged yester-
day in the trial OF four young colored men
Moses Owens, Virgil Colemsn, Andrew
spotswood, and Booker Harris--chsreed
with assembling together with riotous intent
and throwing stones intos crowd OF citizens
who were assisting the police to make sn
arrest. The courtroom was packed with
spectators, about two thirds OF whom were
colored.
sIr. w. n. Beverage appeared "a counsel
for Coleman, and Giles Jackson represented
Harris. Colonel Spotswood represented the
Commonwealth.
AJUDGE TEsTIPIss.
Jackson stated TO the Court that Judge
Ingram, Of Manchester, was in the court
room ss witnes, for the defence, and that
he would like for him TO he allowed 70 testify
Immediately, "a the Judge had some TN
portsut matters 10 attend TO.
The Commonwealth Attorney agreed 10
this, aud Judge Iugram testified that be
knew the face OF the prisoner Harris; h'd
seen him frequently around his fathers
stable, but did not know anything about his
character
TIRE BEGINNTNG.
Police. Sergeant Kelly was first put upon
the stand by the Commonwealth. lie said
that about So'clock on the night OF December
9th he found owens and some other man
fighting on Tweuty-third street between
Main and Franklin. He (wltness) caught
Owens and asked him TO 90 10 the station
house. Quite a crowd OF c0lored people
were gathered around and demanded the re-
lease OF the prisoner. Witness refused to
let him go, but started for the station. The
crowd pressed in on him and the prisoner
resisted 10 violent manner. Witness
was struck several times from the
rear. The mob grabbed bis billy, but he
finally reached Twenty-seeond street with
the prisoner and called on citizens for AZ
slstance. Frequently be and his prisoner
were on the ground In the scuille. At
Tweuty.second street citizens came 10 all
witness and the crowd became more disor-
derly. Another police officer came up ana
took charge OF Owens and witness then ar
rested Coleman. The latter resisted all he
could snd swore he would not 20 NJ the
steuS ut the statlon-house and other officers
had to help carry him to a cell. The crowd,
which was very large, followed to the sta
tiOn-house.
Now's THE TINE.
Officer Talman corroborated what Officer
Kelly SAID about Coeman's conduct at the
station, and said he heard some one In the
crowd urge the mob on, telling tbom that
now was their time 10 act.
MIR. Samuel Perdue saw Sn0tsw0od take
stones from his pocket and throw into the
crowd on Main street, and some one kept
urging the crowd on, saying "Come Oh,
boys; now is our time
"LIKE A LITTLE TIN SOLDIER"
Mr.. b. DriscOll SAID all through the mste
Officer Kelly held on to his prisoner like I
"Little Tin Soldier" he twitness) tried TO
keep the mob back and some one threatened
his iife. Witness did not have O pistol, but
nut bis hand In his hip-pocket aud irigbt>
cned his woud-be assalsuts by telling them
he would shoot the drSt one that put his
hands upon him.
TIE STICK.
Willie Grutbs said he saw Coleman strike
Officer Kelly from the rear with stick.
Witness picked the stick up when Coleman
was orrested, aud gave 1t 10 the officers.
tThe stick is OF hickory. about one and bali
feet long, and was exhibited IN Court
Isaiah Thompson (colored) said he was
struck twice by stones which were thrown
in the crowd.
QUEER COMMAND.
Samuel Hogan lcolored) testified that he
was at work In a house near where the
trouble occurred. lie came toto the street
and I'm the name Of the Father and the Com
mouwealth" commanded peace and ordered
the people 10 dsperse 10 their homes. Hli
order was not obeyed Witness "a" stones
thrown and also saw Harris have hold OF
pOllceman's club.
INQUIRY AS TO DRINKS.
Giles Jackson TO wltness): What were
you doing in the street?
Witness: Attending 70 my business.
Were you sObery
Sober enough TO know right from wrong.
How many drinks had YOU bad that day :
None OF your business bow many.
The Court told witness he must answer tne
orestions asked By the counsel and Giles
proceeded with his examination.
How mauy drinks had you taken the day
OF the troublei
Don't keep an account book.
Don't you make a practice OF cleaning up
bar.r0oms for drinks OF Thiskeyl
amt here 10 answer that
Witness then wanted to interrogate Giles,
but TIE Court intericred. The spectators be-
came convu!sed In laughter q the expense
Of jackson and the witness, ani the Judge
himself could not retain a serious face; a
broad smile played over his cOuntenance
during the rich treat which The spectators In
the court enjoyed.
"KNOCK TIA POLICEMAN DOWN"
John Riley. white youth, testified that
Harris bit him in the mouth and Knocked
him down, and wanted to know what bus
sness be (wi,ness) bad there.
Officer Saunders said when he arrived on
the scene he thought the crowd numbered
200 or 800. The people we're carrying stuck,
and brick bats and cursing and abusing the
officers. and threatening TO maze more trou-
BILE. lie entered the mob with pistol n
hand, and heard some one say: "knoek
taat policeman down.
Mr. +. L. Richardson testified that Officer
Kelly asked him to assist in carrying owens
to the station house. Owens hit witness
and Coleman struck him a severe blow.
CROWD oP 300 PEOPLE.
Sheriff j. W. southwad aud Deputy.
Sheriff Gum. OF HenricO, and several citi
zeus were further examined 10 regard 10 the
case and eorrobOrated what hsd been stated
by other Witnesses as TO the disorderiy
crowd and stones and bricks being thrown
pell nell. Most OF the witnesses were OF
the opinion that there were at least 800 pec-
pie in the crowd. and that had there been
one pistol-shot the consequences would have
been very serious.
THE PRISONERS.
All four prisoners were allowed 10 testify
in their own behslf, and each one denied
having thrown q stone or struck any person,
though Owens claimed that be was too
drunk TO know what be was doing on the
night OK his arrest
ARGUMENT.
Colonel Spotswood opened the argument
in a PLAIN aud forciDle speech. He said such
disorderly conduct should be severely pun
ished now or il may lead TO other and greater
crimes than the one under consideration.
Nobs and riots should not be allowed 10 de-
fame the fair name OF eur city. He believed
that bad one plslol-sbot been dred in that
crowd she results would have been most Sc
rIous, and we would probably have bad a
repetition here OF what lately occurred In
Birmingham, Ala.
coLoRED People ALL B0Rs cowARDs.