The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-27
IHE ROANOKE IIMEs. WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER AZ 1sss

have that Salem company wired Captain
G,iihn to come on the next dummy
that the mob Ws coming ed
returned to headqlSyters and found the mob had
6roken through thsnicket lines and was then in
around the door. Mayor Trout was endeavoring
to address the crowd, but did not succeed, for
cautioDing the men to keep down the points OF
the hayonets and not allow the mt, to press
'.The picket line was formed at little after s
O'clock by relief OF fifteen men in addition to
the eighteen who were first brought from the
warner, The guard was stationed on the South
eide Of Campbell street at the intermission Of
up on the south sido OF the curb stones on the
feet west OF the Jail. The line then ran on the
OF the jail. There were two men in the rear of
inc 1ail and two on the east OF tho Jail in the
vi cant state what the orders were as was
not present. They were given by Captain Bird.
Sergeant Warner received them and has them in
e , not 70 allow the men to press on the guns
the leader strengthened the mob around the west
leader then went into the police court room
stationed and found several men on the steps cps
the lobby heard the first blows on the door.
"Attcr the lines were broken by the mob the
Bird placed himself in front of the window and
sac said' ,fon men must get away from that door
Tne captain sent for thr,e men. They cent
Just as the three men raised the window
Captain Bird again called to the people outside
orders to protect this Jail and will certainly Gre
II 1t Is necessary. II am compelled 10 fire It
certainly will be DONE
"There was one stone thrown before and tbis
was the second stone thrown through the win
a f,, nc said: Men, give .you fair warming
back Then a shower OF stones fell upon the
d 40. Immediately followed by two shots from
Before the last caution he had ordered rsadv
linen after the two ehots were fired Captain
Bro gave the command OF fire. / noticed par
AIM and then at this time the rocking of The
doors was almost deafening and two pistol shots
but not until he again cautioned them that he
would shoot and the guns were loadcd with
bullets. That wss all the command heard y
On Cross examination Colonel Polo said: "This
window was raised Just before Captain Bird an.
peared at the window. lie approachcd tho win.
you must get away from that window The irst
stone came through the window Just rs he reached
the window. Tho second time he cried in q loud
are loaded with bullets; you must get back 7
don't think there was any doubt a bout the crowd
az don't know anything about the firing in front
OF the building and don't know who had charge
OF the guards upstairs He didn't ask my advice
had arrived before the shooting took place /
would have been in command from their arrival
cav the mob march up to the guards aud after
side.
al shou!d think there were abou, $50 peoplc IN
front OF the Jail that started to the we ct side but
whether all OF that crowd around there weic TAX
Ing an active part, don't know.
"rhcrc were two shots henrd by me distinctly
on tho outside. There might have been shots /
olun pear. The noise was dcafcning."
Question ros o syd Dr. ySu regard the firing
Answer think that for Captain Bid to
carry out the instructions he had received he
tluestion-Do you bear the responsibility of this
thing: " '''''
Answer-"I was not consulted in placing the
guards p"
QUESTIONABLE the young men. the soldiers,
eIonorated and do the authorities hear the re-
spOnsibilityy
Answered. think the orders were properly
given
Question these young men killed some.
they be exonoratcd:
Answer-"I think the military should be OK
onOratcd."
Question by Judge Brand-Was there any
necessity OF the troops firing?
Answer-'I think the circumstances ut the
time the command of fire was given made II
necessary. They had no other means according
to my idea, Of protecting the prisoner"
Ponce de Leon?
Answer-"I did"
Questionable You have any conversation on
Answer-"It was reported that the mob was
breaking into the hardware stores to procure
arms and dynamite and l saw they had broken
into the stores''
Questionable you converse with Captain j.
Crane:
Answcr-"I can't saw
Questionable you cay they could not blame
the military, as we had orders" but at the same
not to have been any blood shed.
Answer-"I might have said the command had
to be obcyed; probably said it was great pity
that we should lose our citizens on account of y
Question-Did you give the advice that it
would be better to surrender the prisoner:
Answer-"I did not"
Question Gould not the two shots you smoke
ofshave come from the upper window OF the
Answer-"I can't say from which point other
than on the west side OF the building; | didn't
see the fash"
II. LACY HoGE's STATEMENT.
b. Lacy Hogc-"About o'clock saw a friend
of mine IN the crowd and told him he had better
leave as believed the military wonld shoot; that
there was no law to shoot blank cartridges l
also spoke to Mr., Wick and told him the same
crowd to dispense passed on through towards
home. met Lieutenant Hatcher nno said I'm
afraid yon will have trouble lie replied he was
afraid they would but they would stay as long US
they had orders. Some one III the crowd said
they would only. shoot blank cartridges
"Licutcnant Hatcher said, You are mistaken
If we shoot at all we will shoot bullets Alter
supper came back and saw some one outside
fire pistol in the air, and while was near the
Presbyterian Church heard the beating on the
door. Then heard the firing of five OF six pis-
tolls. then wheeled around and saw the yoiley
from the military. told DR.. Campbell at the
time that the first shots were from the outside. :"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Hogc's testimony the
Jury adjourned until 10 o'c'ock Monday.
The coroner's jury met at the Hotel
Lee Monday morning at 1890 o'clock
and resumed their work of taking testi-
mony in Investigating the riot of Sep
TENDER 90. The first witness was Willis
S. Wilson, who was placed on the stand
at 1O:40 o'clock.