The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-27


pact crowd reach?"
Answer-"I would say ten or fifteen
steps would cover the compact crowd on
the west side. There were boots and
cries from the crowd on the streets. Of
course the knocking was done by those
closer"
THE ACTING MAYORS STATEMENT.
r. A. Buckner, acting mayor of Roa-
noko-"In the afternoon after supper
won't to my office and walked up to the
jail! to give assistance to the mayor. He
and L went around the jsil We first
went to the back Of jail We agreed
that II any attack was made it would
come from the back OF jail. There were
q lot Oh people on Commerce street. We
went back to the Jail. I heard quite n
commotion down the street. I told Nj
Trout would go back to the express
office and see what was done. When |
reached the corner l heard banging on
the door and saw flashes Of the pistols
all over that crowd.
My opinion was changed when saw
the crowd break through the lines.
Then 1 saw all wanted to break in. |
didn't appreciate the danger fully until
l heard some one cry out, oh, God,
am shot Mayor Trout went to dis
perse the crowd. 1 never saw cooler
man in trying 10 uphold the law he was
sworn to enforce l n ade no speeches,
put did all could to sustain the mayor
and try dispense the crowd. Up to the
time 1 saw that crowd break through
Campbell street | hoped the prese nee of
the military company would keep the
people away from the Jail"
Question by Juror Willinms-"Doy YOU
know OF any orders by Mayor Troutq"
Answer-"I don't know. The pres
ence of the troops thought was sufiic-
lent to inform anyone to know the laws
would be enforced. When the negro
was put in jail dropped out OF it.
The question then was whether the
laws of the State would be enforced and
carried out. The pounding on tho Jail
was very loud; thought at the time it
was by sledge hammers. l thought it
was boing broken open. After tho
hiring there was a stampede and tho
crowd collected on Commerce street.
naturally wanted to confer with the
mayor. | started in the hotel. | hoard
some parties say, Watch Buckner and
wo Will see where Mayor Trout is
was told not to go near the mayor as
tho crowd wanted him."
Question-"W there anything to
distinguish the difference between tie
rioters and tho onlookors?"
Answcr-"I believe nine-tenths were
there through curiosity but l don't
Know of any way to distinguish the
difference. | heard Mayor Trout tell
the people for Gods sake go away.
that they were encouraging tho mob"
The jury then adjourned until 3
o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION. .
Tho afternoon session began at
~ ooh ~, 1,,Io
mony. The first witness was James II.
Johnson. who testified as follows:
81 am lawyer, and on the night of
September 90 | went to supper at
o'clock, then came to the Terry build
ing; then came up to the co:ner of Com
merce street. then crossed over and
walked up to the Methodist Church,
then walked down 10 the hose house
and was standing there when the shoot
ing commenced. saw one OF the
militia walking on his beat near the
hose house, but the crowd broke through.
| was looking On.
There was great deal OF noise
about tho Jail. l could see stones flying
and heard the noise. About that time
there were three or four guns run out
of tho window. Thon | saw revolvers
flashing across Campbell street near the
Then saw the guns go up at the win
dow. Shortly after this l wen. around
behind the old hose house. The guns
were at first poked out straight, but
afterwards were raised at an angle of
about forty five degrees.
Tho first firing saw was from ps-
tolls across the street from the Jail. Tho
first firing was from tic north side Of
Campbell street." Again in answer TO
direct question the witness said THE
first firing was from tho north side of
Campbell street. ] saw the flashes of
five or six revolvors"
A REPORTERS STATEMENT
Harry Jack-"I was in the city on the
night OF September 20. started up the
street from Jefferson street and met Mr..
Nicholson. He said there would likely
be trouble. l passed THE TINES office
and went from there to Comnerce
street. | remember the pickets there
Officer MerrymaD stopped me. Then
pushed over to tho other side. I-saw
the crowd come up from the direction OF
Jefferson street headed by young Bishop.
Between Salem avenue and Campbell
street on Henry street, young Bishop
took his pistol out and fred several
times | saw them pass through the
line on Commerce street.
Tho squad seemed to keep the mob
off and they passed over to the west
side, when they went to the door. The
people all around wore bowling that
there was nothing but blank cartridges
in the guns. did not realize the danger
at the time. I saw the leader OF the
mob, but didn't then know his name.
heard since it was Davis.
81 saw young man throw the first
stone through the window. The first
shot came out OF tho window next to the