The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-01

could find little to b. cheerful about
| from weather standpoint.
| And this fcclin. OF chectlessncss in
vadcd the city Jail, wherein are confined
two men to whom the events of this
week arc fraught with life or death
1t was nearly noon yesterday when
reporter for tho TIMES visited the
Jail Mrs. Williamson. who has been
faithful in her ministrations to her
husband. was at the time in CON
vcrsation with him in the presence
of Sergeant Traynham. At her de-
parturc tho accused men consented to
talk with the reporter.
Behind the grated door they stood,
hut their talk was neither the swagger-
| ing dcliVcrancc of the braggart nor the
whining suppiancc of the coward. In
| ordinary, though serious, tones they
| discussed the situation rs it appeared
to them.
Redd declared that the dispatch in
the morning papers cmanating from
| Green Williams, chief of police of the
city OF Danville, related To some other
person entirely. He protested that this
was tho first time he had been under
arrest, and that the John Il. Redd re-
| ferred to was another
lie also said that tho witness Albert
Smith was entirely unknown to him:
that he saw him for the irst timo to his
knowledge last Monday in the Hastings
| Court room.
With dignity he said: ''Lct me be hold
responsible for but myself; tho doinrs of
every man whose name is like mine or
sounds like mine should not b. laid at
my door"
Mr.. Smithson, Of tho wholesale com
mission house of Smithson &. Cromer.
of Danvillc, listed the prisoners ycstcr-
! day morning, and extended thcm as
surancos OF sympathy. He said he had
known them well and favorably in Dan
Vile. and felt sure that they were in
noernt.
please say for me-" Redd reiterated,
that | was never under arrest before:
! that never assaulted Il man in Dan
Vile with club nor with any other
weapon; had not the slightest difficulty
when left Danvlle. would also
thank you To say that my name il John
Travis Redd, and that WAS born in
Martinsvillc. Va twenty-five years ago,
where lived until four or iivo years
ago, when went to Danvillc."
In reply to a question Williamson
said that he had been arrested once be-
fore, but then, like now, he was
Innocent. and his case never went any
further than the examining magistrate
who promptly dismissed the complaint
Pending this examination prominent
citizen Of Danville, Charles ii. Conrcd.
b: lied him out. Subsequently another
| party was arrested for the oifensc with
which he had been charged, and this
person was promptlsy sent TO the grand
| jury, but of the disposition Of the case
he could not remember. lie said he re-
lied upon his innocence which he was
confident would be set forth at Til" ex-
| animation Saturday In most pathetic
tone he said: Il hope people won't Judge
| me guilty until am given chanc, to
prove am innocent"
Sergeant Traynham here terminated
the interview and closed the iron DOR
upon the men. Descending the narrow
stairs which. in case of an attacl: upon
the Jail. could be fortified into an i'm
prcgablc position and held by one man
against a thousand. the city sergeant
told the lines reporter that their be-
havior was the most exemplary: they
gave him no trouble. he said and made
no attempt TO surrcptitiously c0mmuni-
cate with the outside world. They en-
durcd their situation with becoming de-
1 mranor, and acted like men entirely
confident Of their speedy release from
ARE ST and also from suspicion
y great many people have associated
the nInc of T. W. C.i:ill') Redd with
John II. Redd, and the association has
usually been coupled with the state
mcnt that Bill Redd was the instigator
OF the terrible Danvilc riot 70 trace
| the degree Of cJnsangunity. T!MMs
reporter call d upon j w. Rcdd at his
com bin'd barber shop and or, ,ryon
the north side. just beyond John Davis
Opera House"
Hcdd was found within. and readily
conscn Cd TO talk. He said that he had
no knowledge OF the accused Redd
previous To meeting the latter here the
past summer, but has sircr The Massic
affair, learned that the similarity of
names arcsr from the fact that the
mothers of both had been slaves. the
property of Mrs. Ruth Redo, of Henry
county. this state.
D. W. Rcdd says he has not lived in
DinviIlc for some years. on since about
year and ii half before the affair with
Wllch his name has been unplcasantly
ass, ciatcd.
lie strenuously denied all knowledge
oil inc riot before its occurrcnc, and
says That prominent people here are
really to vouch that he had nothing u