The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-23

recCly reported In The TINES. What
MIR. Jamison intended to state was that
the first shots he heard fred was from
pistols held by persons in the rear of
the guard that was placed around the
door of the jail, that Is by persons out.
side the jail and between the jail and
soldiers or perhaps inside the Jail but
at any rate in the rear of the guard
around the steps.
The jury then adjourned to meet at Q
o'clock. Shortly after 9 o'clock the
jury again mot, and Capt. j. r. Terry,
chief OF police. was FIRST placed on the
stand. Capt Terry said: II was sus-
pended Thursday evening by Acting
Mayor r. A. Buckner. l was at the
mayors Office all the afternoon and
evening. Mayor Trout and I were in
the street trying to reason with the peo-
Pile and keep them back from the Jail.
The first firing was, think. done out
side the Jail. heard no orders to fire.
The people were throwing rocks and
bricks against the windows and door,
and Captain Bird several times told
them to get away. l fred two shots
through the window up in the air to
brighten the people away.
Ever since Mr.. Trout has been
mayor he has said that there never
should be a prisoner suffered to be taken
out OF the Jail by mob, At o'clock
wanted the prisoner sent to Radford on
the 1880 train and sent Mr.. Buokner to
see Mr.. Trout about it. He came back
with Mr.. Trout and they seemed to
favor 1T. Police Justice Turner was
opposed to 1t, and said city of 25, 900
people ought to be able to take care of
its prisoners.
"Mr. Trout said we must protect the
prisoner. If necessary we must FIRE on
the mob. The general instructions
were to resist the mob with firearms
If nothing else could be done.
Immediately after the brick came
through the window the firing began. 1
did not shoot at any one. 1 fired in the
air. Mayor Trout was in chief com
mand, should think. I thought they
were going to shoot from the position
they had taken and started to ask Can
tain Bird not to shoot but saw the
mayor near him and kept silent"
Capt. VIM. c. Baldwin-"I refused to
assist in guarding the Jail, because 1
positively did think there was danger
of an attack on the Jail, but did offer to
take the prisoner TO my Office and guard
him with five men. Five men in the
Jail properly armed with Winchesters
could have protected the prisoner, but
A. II. Griffin, sergeant OF police force,
acting chief-"I was at police head
quart era and heard the chief order to
keep the crowd off of the vacant lot be-
tween hesjail and Greene Memorial
Church, and TO keep the north side OF
Campbell street clear. went into the
court house and cleared it. The people
were orderly and left when asked. The
mayor entreated the crowd to 60 back
or they would get hurt but they re
fused to listen. The mob gathered on
the west side of tho jail. Some one
threw brick or stone at the door and
broke out the window.
Then the shooting commenced at the
lower window on the west side of the
jail. l don't think any police officer put
his hand on his gun. l told the chief
and Judge Turner at o'clock to send
the prisoner out of town. The Judge
opposed it.
Inc orders were to use guns on the
mob If sufficient cause was given, but
didn't see any use of shooting at re-
treating men. After the shooting several
parties asked me to take away the pris-
oner but refused until ordered to do so
by the chief or mayor. notified the chief.
He said: If that's the situation turn the
negro out and let him take his chances
l refused and said l didn't want to be
lynched. after wards sent the prisoner
with Officers Eakin and Austin and they
took him to Reeds carriage shop. I'm.
q. Morris had gun don't know it. I
heard no orders given to fire."
DR.. w. S. Gregory, OF Roanoke Light
Infantry-"I was one of the guard at
the inner door with four others. l was
ordered to one of the west windows
Was ordered there by Lieutenant Col
onel Pole. He, Captain Bird and the
mayor begged the men to leave the
windows and doors OF the Jail, and said
they would be shot.
1.-TWO rocks were thrown against the
door and two bullets came in through
the windows before anyone inside shot.
Then Captain Bird said, Boys, we can't
stand this. We will have to fire once
and then retreat to save ourselves
Befoye we fred an outside man fired FIVE
or six times in the direction of the win
dows."
At this juncture the other military
men were asked by the coroner to leave
the room. A few minutes later the
other witnesses were also sent out
"The soldiers" he continued, Ibid
not appear to fire but one volley. The
man outside said Shoot the God d-m
sons OF B. and then fired number OF
times. All this occurred before the mill
tary fired. There was feeling Of per. |
feet security. We had no intentipuof /
firing ana didn,tSbsifa4e thegsvouldsfige 4
at US Avg gunesweyea notsloadedsspntil 4
we .saiSs aHnta tKa GihaoaG TSaguns
Ys5s eR Btg, whan thsdmeb4waa 80 pNas
az tne oooSbi1oys ehf NJ 3ss9
The SHccessioQaof shQtS and the two
bullets hkohgbet6e @spdSGc Was before
there N@Ah8T firing fr6mAtt 9 ,haide.
"AANR sthe firing Eaton 3Rahd olph