The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-27
REFERRED TO ANOTHER
| Eost Unique Verdict By The COTOntFS
Jury in Roanoke,
BIRD LDEITS TSGlYlNG THE FATAL ORDER.
lie. However, Hesitatcd Some Time and
ordered the Mob Back-Lieutenant
Moss Testimony.

ROANOKE. VA. Sept. %.-Special.-
s-bs most important witnesses before the
Cor,ner's Jury since last report were John
bird and W. r. Moss. Captain and First
,isltenant. respectively. Of the Roanoke
Iirht Infantry. With the exception Of
l,ayor Trout. Captain Bird knows moro
shout the occurrences So and around the
tn wednesday night than any living
nan.
He testified IN frank, straightforward
manner. that he regarded on all such oc-
oasions Mayor Trout as his superior Of
hccr IIe had thirty-eight men on duty
nt the j1n and placed them in squads
for its protection. Mayor Trout, after the
sscmd crowd came 20 the jail, asked him
n he could hold II. and he answered, yes
Sir He tried very hard TO impress on
The crowd that the guns were loaded with
bail cartridges and he would shoot II
ntc0sary. After placing four men at
the west window he warned the people.
Who we're making the attack. to get back.
He vas answered with n brick hurled
tr1Ugh the window. and jeers from the
mtb.
Tie warmed them cgain. and in a loud
voice gave the command Ready aim"
Araln he warned them. saying, Men, I
give YOU fair warning. my guns are load
"a with ball cartridges" The only re
81 Snse he rot was more rocks. and some
pistol shots through ths window. lie
tfeu said. STEADY. boys, don't fire until
.H ftssafs Tasf affffr
lie saw then that there was nothing else
% DO. and he said. I'm low tone, 10 the
s1uad only, "Fire" After one round the
crowd gave way and he rushed to the stair
way and said to the boys to reload and
fire n Il got too hot for them.
Mayor Trout, after being carried away
wounded. sent word 10 remove the prs-
oucr and "fOr Gods sake not 10 kin any
more men" lie said then that his or
ders were good no longer and disbanded
his men.
Lieutenant Moss. who had charge Of the
squad in front of the jail whore there
WIS no attack. Il will be remembered by
readers Of these dispatches testified that
he gave no orders 10 fire there. He said
that either Mayor Tr0It, Captain Bird.
Colonel Pole or himself had the right
10 order the Light Infantrymen 10 fire.
The jury retired for consultation and
after celebrating for a long time returned
tie following verdict.
An inquisiuon taken m the undertaking
rooms Of Oakley d Wo0iWine. on Septem-
Der q. 1893 upon the view Of the bodies
Of George r. White. George +. Settles,
Charles Whitmyer. William Han Joseph
Tyler W. H.. Sheets, John r. Mills and s.
a Wick. then lying dead the jurors
sworn % inquire when how and by what
means the said persons came 10 their
death, upon their oaths do say that the
aforesaid parties came TO their death on
the night of September %. 1893. by wea-
pons or arms fired In the hands Of the
men or soldiers belonging 10 the Roanoke
Light Infantry, under command OF Cap
tain John Bird. and other officers
The jury recommends that the grand jury
or other competent court or authority, take
charge Of and investigate the legality Of
the acts Of the aforesaid officials, do and
carry ont I'm any other manner, the law
best calculated 10 bring peace and order,
Justice and quiet 10 our city and the pre-
vention Of crime hereafter.
The Mavor guI Hera