The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-22

The coroner's jury reconvened ut the
Hotel Lee yesterday afternoon at
O'Clock, pursuant to an adjournment of
the morning session, which rendered
verdict upon the death of Thomas
Smith, the negro fend. 1t was COM
posed of the same gentlemen and DR..
Gray continued to act as coroner. There
was also present Judge Brand, VINO
appeared at the request of the relatives
OF some OF the men killed in the riot.
Early in the day Attorney Thomas w.
Miller rendered his services to the Jury
to advise them in legal matters and he
was also accepted with the services of
his stenographer, who took verbatium
report Of the proceedings.
AS there were o number of witnesses
to summon, Deputy Sergeant R. FL.
Wright and several policemen were im-
pressed into service and it was not till
$3.50 O'Clock that the testimony was be-
gun. The jury had, previous to this
viewed the remains OF the deceased SO
as to proceed without further inter
ruption.
The first witness was Police Justice
Walter H. Turner. He said that all
day long he had feared some outbreak
and breach of the peace and hadsused
his best influence against any
violence. he and Mayor Trout
were together when the crowd gathered
at the jail shortly after Smith was ar
rested, and the mayor made the appeal
to the people to 60 quietly to their
homes and avoid any disorder.
AS he went to his supper he saw that
the crowd around tho Jail was too small
to occasion any apprehension, but feel
ing slightly uneasy after supper he Dor.
rowed horse and went down town to
look around. He heard great cheer
from the neighborheod of the Jail, and,
leaving his horse at Williams stable, he
ran around and got there only four or
five minutes before the firing began.
When he reached the building Mayor
Trout was standing on one of the lower
steps OF the front door. and in front of
him were six or seven members of the
Roanoke Light Infantry. Inside the
building in the police court room were
Captain Bird, Lieutenant Moss, Lieu.
tenant Hatcher, Lieutenant Colonel
Pole and several militiamen. At this
time tho crowd outside the Jail num-
bered over 1000, and they were evil
IDENTIFY getting restless.
Mayor Trout proposed to address the
mob, but the tumuit was such that it
would have been quite impossible. Just
at this critical moment some one or
several persons began battering on the
western door of the jail, and immedi-
ately rock crashed through the win
dow.
Then it WAS that someone cried, sect
back, "Get back" and moment later
shots were fred. Whether the firing
began on the inside or outside ne was
unable to say, but no sooner was the
first shot fred than tho fusilade in
stantly became general.
There was no order to FIRE that he
heard and none could have been given
inside of the room without his having
heard 1t.
He saw parties in the street firing
pistols but could not recognize them.
The chief Of police was standing near
him and he saw him firing out the win
dow in the direction of Greene Memo,
rial Church. He saw one man fall in
the middle of Campbell street but could
not tell who shot him.
Shortly after this he was called into
the corridor and remained there
till the fusilade ceased. After it was
over he saw Mayor Trout come in the
door and the mayor SAID to him, 81 an
shot in the foot" Upon CHANGING st his
iooe the plooo conlu % seen ooZtng out
OF the shoe.
The next Time he saw the mayer he
was in the lobby of the Ponce de Leon
Hotel, when the mayor said to him that
he must go to Captain Bird and tell him
that this killing must be Stopped, which
he did, whom Captain Bird told him he
was getting the negro out as fast as he
could. The whole thing took only about
five minutes.
When asked who ordered the troops
| out, he said the mayor had written the
order In the afternoon, but as this
order was not witnessed by two citizens,
as the law requires. it was brought
back by Lieutenant Moss and w. o..
Hariaway and myself witnessed 1t.
| He was asked IL Mac Mer,s was in
the station and said he was not. In
addition to the troops downstairs there
were some troops upstairs, but of these
! knew NOT hinp no did not 90 M thnpa