Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-08
NAvASSA RIOTERS CONFESS.
They Will Tell All About the Murders
Jurisdiction of the Island.
From the Baltimore sun. Today.

From the Baltimore Sun. Today.
Seven OF the colored men now in Jail charged
with being engaged in the Navassa riot have
acknowledged their completely in it and will
tell the court all about the plot from the first
whisperings among the men to the upris-
ing. Q The seven confessed rioters will not be
indicted, and will be witnesses before the
grand jury and afterward in the trial and
court. 1t is said they will testify that the col
ored laborers, becoming dissatisfied with their
condition on the island. the leaders made use
OF the general discomfort to engage them in
plot to get away from the island and return
to the United States. They proposed if no YES
sci or better means of escape could be found to
use the lighters for that purpose.
They say that there were several causes of
dissatisfaction. The quality but not the guam
tity OF the food was one cause. They said the
oincers were accustomed. for any offense or
violations OF rules to trice them up by rope
tied around their wrists, with the arms out
stretched above their heads, and to fasten
them In that position, with their toes only
touching the ground. Another cause, the con-
lessons say, that fed the discomfort was dis
covery made by the men that the superintend-
EN- accounts would bring large number of
lieIi III deDt to the company by advances and
credits and they would have to work several
weeks without drawing any pay until these al
legged debts were paid
There were on the island when the riot be-
gan l39 colored laborers and eleven white Of
ncers, superintendent, foremen and others. OF
the colored labOrers eighteen will be on trial
Inc SIX survivors of the white men and a few
OF the more intelligent of the colored men. in
Guiding the confessed accomplices, will be wit
hesses for the state. None of these accomplices
ADMIT that they were leaders in the affray or
struck any of the fatal blows.
THE INDICTMENT
will read like a wholesale charge of murder
Eighteen men will be named as principals and
accessories, seven of them being charged as
principals. All are indicted jointly and should
they be convicted it will be the largest number
ever convicted at one time of a capital crime in
Maryland, If not in the United States. District
Attorney Hayes has the indictments already in
shape TO lay before the grand jury for their
nhdihg as soon as the testimony has been taken
by that body. He hopes to begin the trial of
the cases in court next Monday. Among the
counsel for the defense are ex-District Attorney
Archibald Stirling, Everett J. Warning and
Joseph S. Davis, the colored lawyers and Col.
samuel a. Graham, well-known lawyer of
Salisbury, Md Should the accused or any of
them be convicted appeals on the questions of
law, growing out of the character of the juris-
dlction of the United States over the island.
may be taken to the Supreme Court. Should
the clemency of the executive power finally be
the last hope of the unfortunate men President
Harrison Will have the power of pardon.
CHANGE OF TIME ON THE BALTIMORE AND ONO.
The winter schedule of the baltimore and
ONO railroad will go into effect on the 10th inst,
when some important changes Will be made.