Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-12

ings he swore out warrants charging Rev.
s. &. Hatcher, young Methodist preacher,
and Meesrs. j. X. Phillips. John Gaines.
". I. Wright. and Garland HAYNES with
trespassing on his premises and attempting
to shoot him. -
When it became known that Rev. Mr..
Hatcher, who is most estimable young
man, had been taken into custody the IN
dignation of the public was thoroughly
aroused. There was no earthly reason Tor
connecting him with the affair, and to
make matters worse 1t was whispered
abroad that all the arrests had been made
at the lnstigation of Mr.. Russell Wyatt,
young man who appears to be great
friend of the negro Jones. MIR. Wyatt
lives near Jones's place, ana claims to have
been greatly disturbed by the alleged
"Kukluxn who visited the abode OF the
negro.
The charges against tho gentlemen ar
rested were investigated by Constable w.
j. Tyler in tho "wigwam yesterday at
ternoon.
When the proceedings commenced the
room was crowded with spectators and the
greatest interest vas manifested by the
lookers-On.
ALI OF the accused were present. and
judging from the appearance OF their faces
they were not tho least disturbed By the
novel situation in which they were placed.
Rev. Mr.. Hatcher. who is rather hand
eome young man, looked as cool and neat
as possible in his black suit and immacu-
late white cravat. The prisoners were
reprosented by Mr.. w. II. Beveridgo and
Mr.. ". II. Garnett. the Commonwealth's
Attorney Of Manchester.
JONES HAD NO LAWYER.
The negro Jones employed Mr. W. NJ.
Justis as counsel, but as the lawyer did not
show up no conducted his own case.
A large number of darkies wore sworn
as witnesses in the case. Among those
whom Magistrate Tyler called up 70 kiss
tho book" were two little negro girls:
They were both as black as the proyerblal
ace Of spades. and there was en- air Of In
tense stupidity on their faces.
DO you know what book this is?"
asked Mr.. Tyler. showing them the Bible.
One said she did and the other saId she
didr't. Neither OF the girls knew what
an oath was.
The Justice asked one of tho pickanin,
nies where sho would go when she died
IL she did bad and the child. after think
ing 4 moment, replied: TO JAIL"
The LAWYERS decided that the children
wesa incompetent witnesses, and 80 thay
did not testify.
WILLIAM TELLS HIS STORY.
William Jones, tho ugly. bullet headed
negro who figured as the complainant IN
the case. was the first witness examined.
lie was an insolent fellow, but displayed
considerable "horse sense" and any
amount of self-conhdence. He said:
Il saw Mr.. Garland Haynes and Mr..
Gaines at my house that night. | can't
swear | saw Messrs. Phillips and Wright,
but think they were there. Their faces
were disguised. never saw Dir. Hatcher
before in my life and can't swear TO him.
but at tho same time he was there. AS
came home from church about o'clock IN
the morning | noticed lot Of men in my
path. They were coming towards my
house. | thought they were going 10 my
watermelon patch. but didn't say nothing.
They went up to the house and called out ;
Where is Jones 2 They said; 'D--n
him; If we see him we'll put load IN
him. / thought they were going IN 70 Kill
nv wife, so | ran over and called Mr..
Wyatt. / got him to loan me his revolver.
He asked what was the matter. and on
being told, warned me not TO shoot. but TO
hail them. This did. They didn't an
swer. and was so skeered' l Just shot
right at them. They shot back at me three
times. Mr. HAYNES hollered out: Sur
render, surrenderl' He bad been at my
house that day looking for cow.
If the revolver hadn't broken / might
haye killed somebody. As | couldn't tx
1t went back to Mrs. WAITS.
II know thev shot az me and SAID,
D him kill him. It was near
o'clock at night. and the moon had gone
down. Mr.. Gaines was so near that II the
pistol had gone off It would have killed
him.
SAID TIE PREACHER WAS THERE.
The prisoner was subjected to O most
rigid cross examination by Mr.. Beyerldge.
He said he made his living by. selling
vegetables, farming, and dong odd jobs
about Barton Heights.
Jones said he couldn't swear the preacher
was in the party, but added again that
"he was there jus. the same"
The witness stated that Mr. Bennett and
two other gentlemen came to see him 20
pet him TO compromise the case, promising
70 nav the damages. which amounted 10
$50. He told the gentlemen that ne
wasn't going to sign any paper unless ne
knew what he was doing.
He denied that the charges were trump
ed up in order TO procure money by keep
ing the thing quiet.
The witness swore positively that he saw
Messrs. Gaines and HAYNES on bis pre-
mtses. He said that nearly all the men
wore gowns and had handkerchiefs over
their faces.
HAD BEEN ENTIRELY MIsREPREsENThD.
Mr.. Russell Wyatt. who seems to have
been suspected of having instigated the
negro TO swear out the warrants. stated
that on the night in question Jones woke
him up and asked the loan of his revolver.
Il wish to say / have been entirely, mis-
represented IN this matter" added Mr..
WYATT, but the Court silenced him.
The witness stated that he heard the
pistol-shots, but he only saw one man. lie
recognized no one. bat knew that some
body was at the place. as he heard the
conversation. One bullet passed Just over
his house. Jones fired only once and then
returned TO his house with the broken pis-
tol and asked for another.
Mr.. Wyatt asked leave 10 explain MS po:
sitiop. and he was allowed 10 make brief
statement.
He said he thought his household had
been encroached upon by the alleged
Kuklux. The day after the occurrence,
whom he saw the account OF the thing III
one of the papers he noticed several IN
accuracies which did Jones an injustice
and be called the attention of tho editor
TO them.
He was asked to tell what he knew about
Rev. Mr.. Harchers connection with the
affair.
Mr. Wyatt said he had heard that the
young preacher was one of the party, so
be went to his house TO question MN;
ION seeing him," said Mr.. Wyatt,
asked: Were you at that picnic the
other night?' He refused TO answer my
question and l said, 'Silence means con-
sent I added that ] intended to punish
the marauders. and Mr.. Hatcher replied,
: Do your worst and slammed the door IN
The witness said that Mr.. Bennett ard
several other gentlemen had seen him in
order TO get him TO advise Jones not to
IA ke any action in the matter.
II have given no advice to Jones ex.
cent to tell him TO act by civil process. :
add1d Mr.. WYATT. Mr.. Hatcher has not
been arrested at any suggestion OF mine,
nor nave any Of the other gentlemen. l
al vised Jones not TO sign any papers with,
out consulting me, as no could not read
or write.n
Mr.. Wyatt denied most tmphaticalIy
that be gave Jones's the information upon
winch NJ Ha.oher was arrested. IN fAes