The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-04
FOR TREssPAssiNe.
Geo. Walker and Josh johnson
Charged With That Offense.

George Walker and Josh Johnson, two
colored mon, were arraigncd before
Squire Camper yesterday at II o'clock,
in the mayors Office, charged with tress-
passing, being found in one of the new
houses OF tho Salem Improvement Com
pany on the company's property in the
southern part of the city.
Tho witnesses examined for the com
monwealth were y. j. Tolbert Emanuel
j. Walker and S. L. Wiley, ell white.
Mr.. Walker was first examined and
testified that he worked IN the house in
which the prisoners mad been found, as
carpenter. That when they quit work
for the day late on Monday evening,
the carpenters fastened all tho window
sashes in the house, nailed up all but
one door and that was locked.
Some time aftcr supper, MIR. Walker
said, he. with Mr.. Wiley, went past the
house on which he had been working
and saw light through tho window.
Investigation showed that there were
two negroes on the floor of one of the
rooms and that there was Il fire in the
middle of the floor, which had burnt
through, and which, in his opinion,
would have caused the burning down of
the house in a very few moments more.
He. with Mr.. Wiley, put out the fire by
means of water taken from barrel put
there for the purpose Of Stacking lime.
This was about $50 or 10 o'clock. and
Officer Johnston was seat for and carried
the negroes to Jail, where they spent
the night.
Mr.. Walker said he did not hear the
negroes say anything while in the house.
Did not know but what they staggered
4 little at first when aroused and ar
rested by Officer Johnston.
Mr.. Niieys testimony was substan
TALLY the same as Mr.. Walkers. He said
the negroes maintained that they did
not remember when or how they got in
to the house.
Mr.. Talbnrt testified that he did not
believe the negroes were asleep, but only
pretending to be. He said they were
not drunk when arrested.
George Walker, one of the accused,
was put on the stand and testified that
he with cousin Josh were very drunk on
the night on which they were arrested.
They had been treating that night
tall, dark-skinned man. sometimes
treated Josh and the tall, dark-skinned
HI an and sometimes Josh treated me aud
the tall, dark-slinned man.. but the
tall, dark-skinned man didn't treat
none"
George said he got his whiskcy at the
depot this side the railroad" The
whiskcy was sold adjoining tho store
room. y darkcy staid in tho store, but
4 white man sold the whiskey.
He started to go home, but when he
got past the "colored pool room by the
railroad track, he was too drunk TO get
up again. He did not remember any
thing further. The tall, darlI-skinncd
man. started out with him and his
cousin Josh. Josh was not examined.
VIM. Simpson, counsel for the de-
PENDANTS, maintained thai his clients
were not guilty, and held that there
was no intent on their part to commit Il
trespass.
His honor, Squire Camper, said That
he would be as leniept on the boys as
possible and accordingly lined them 81
apiece and cosLs amounting TO Sl7 III ALL
Mr.. Tolbert inquired If that was all
the punishment the negroes would re-
ceive for SO serious an oncnse.
His Honor replied that in ini!icling
the fines he took into consideration the
fact that the darkies were intoxicated
and did not know what they were doing.
Mayor Younger, who was present,
stated that he would like to know if the
prisoners, as they had been arrested by
the city sergeant but confined III the
Jail, would have to pay Jail fees. lie
wanted this made a test case Ills
Honor included Jail fees in the bill of
costs.
AS neither of the darllics could pay
their fines they were remaAdcd to Jail.