Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-27
WILL SOON RETURN HOME.
Mayor Trout Receives the Letter-Detec-
tive Baldwin Discusses the Trouble.

Mayor Trout. of Roanoke. yesterday
from the Citizens Committee of
that place requesting him to return to
the city, and when seen by a Dispatch
reporter stated that he would 90 back In
a day or two. lie remains firm In his
determination not to talk about the riot
for publication. and TO make his first
statement TO the proper authorities at
Roanoke.
Detective W. G. Baldwin, who arrested
the negro Smith, reached the city yes
torday. having come here on personal
private business connected with an IN
surance policy on his life. The agents
OF the company here, he said, had tele-
graphed TO him cancelling his policy.
There had been a Misunderstanding re-
garding the reasons for the action OF the
agents and he had thought himself badly
treated He had found out. however. that
the agents were right. They had lsSue1
him Il $500 policy, when the rules OF the
company did not permit Of the carrying
Of over 5000 on one engaged In MS DuSl-
ness.
Mr.. Baldwin IS a detective in the employ
Of the Southern Express Company ana
the Norfolk and Western Railroad Com
pauy He is man Of little over mediuIil
height. with dark hair. slightly tingcd with
eray. and dark eyes, and has prcpossess-
ing face. He talks exceedingly well anu
was dressed with quiet taste.
lie freely admitted 10 q Dispatch re-
porter that when he was rushing the
prisoner 10 jail after he had been taken
before the injured woman he toll lhe
crowd that she had not recognized Sinlu'
as her assailant He did this, he said'
90 throw the crowd Of
30 FEELING AGAINST THE MAYOR
Mr.. Baldwin left Roanoke Monday nght
There is. he says no ieelhB asd'Ii9'
Nlavor Trout there; that the people luiiy
rarncni2e that ne only did his duty ana
he IS confident not five men coulu w
gotten together who would 40 the Hd@''
aarm. on Saturday night Davis VINO was
,.r. ~ tho riug-leaders of the mob, told
him tBald7im ihat he would shouIdeI d
rnusJ,et TO defend the mayor, and thal
,.bat he had done was under excitement
There never was, Mr.. Baldwin aNerrcu'
such q change Of sentiment in a comHu-
nifty lust before he left Roanoke Mon
dav NIGHT lo saw paper "ii'h wa
being circulated and numerously sieh'I
by all classes pledging protection 10 Mayor
Trout and all others against Whoih It'lI,iH
ran high at first, and declaring ''i"' wy
signcrs would put down any attempt "'
laWlessncss or disorder.
TIE MILITARY ACTED NlSEli'
When asked If the military did NOT
make a mistake I'm disbanding' MI ba''
win replied promptly in the neBa"'. =.
.The Mayor had" he continued V'l
taken away wounded, the prisoner va
gone. the city Sergeant ana me- ,.,
police were gone. and there was nolil"I :
60 dafend but the jail The mob hau
st,rtcd TO break into the gun stores anu
u,cre determined TO secure dynamite anu
,,ouId have blown up the buildlhS'
h,vo seen four mobs. but that was lht
r,ost frantic one i ever witnessed Anu
inst here I would say that there was never
, braver band than those boys or the
Roanoke Light Infantry. After the nrlhE
,yept M to the jail and found lying
in front of it awaiting orders 'ish' o'
those youths. They were nolhlhS l'oi
1',, bovs hut they were as cool as Nele-
~ 1;tsv could hear the cries of the
,,,h for vengeance. but they never linen
"a or pavc the slightest sign OF rear.
.rI.c orc wore not more than - -actual
ri,tcrs but these were encouraged ny 'i'c
,,r.eanrc Of the immense number OF looN-
ar--on | was a loOkcr-on, ana II i ""'
beop shot | would have no one 10 n'aIn'
,.,t myself II was n very sad afalr ana
| il is a p.tv that innocent persons sulicI'N'
but il could not be helped.
FRIENDS FORCED HIM TO LhAN T.
Mr.. BALDWIN said it was great mis'aA,
to refer TO Mayor Trout as having h','
10 civ "Nravor Trout" he resumed
"would be in Roanoke to-day IT III MS
r,iends had not forced him to leave. H[
refused positively three times to 60 ana
was enally ovcrpersuadei by his friends
The principal argument used to ,i,i induc{
| him 10 leave was that his departure wouI'
prevent further bloodshed. MS ~ ",' ~,
| ,gand is what influenced him. Some ol
hie friends advanced the plea that III,
lie was in danger, but that was ho' ~
what weighed with him. Mayor Trout Is
n brave man. His war record proves thaI
| bnt he Is as tendcr-haarted as ne - pray
| and he Is universally beloved III hudio%'
~ ,,,., s,.,rnathizes more deeply than he
| does with the friends and relatives oil
rho killed and wounded