Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-09-26
From Roanoke,

The citizens committee Of thirteen
have issued the following address to
Mayor Trout:
"We, the undersigned, constituting a
committee representing the citizens of
Roanoke, after full and deliberate
thought, have determined to write and
ask that you return to Roanoke as soon
as the character of your injuries will
permit of your travelling. we desire
the return with you of all parties who
may nave left the city on account of the
trouble last Wednesday night. 1t is
proper for us to assure you in making
this request that you will be secure
from molestation, and we know we
speak for the vast majority of the citi-
zens of Roanoke, who desire and intend
that there shall be thorough, full and
legal investigation of the causes leading
up to the loss of life on Wednesday
night and we are equally firm in our
desire and intention that this investiga-
ton shall be conducted according to
legal forms and precedents and under
control of the officers of the common
wealth without fear or favor. 1t is our
purpose to demonstrate to the world
that the charge that we are under mob
rule and the course of law cannot be
pursued on account of intimidation and
threats is false"
Roanoke was never. quieter than to-
day. Capt. John Bird and his COM
pany are all back at their usual posts.
No one has disturbed them by word or
deed.
The coroner's inquest was continued
yesterday. A. L. Payne, lawyer, testi.
fed that he was in front of the Jail
when the firing began at the side,
which was followed by pistol shots all
around him. He got out of the way
because of this firing, and men were
killed where he had been standing by
the militia after he left. Late yester-
day afternoon Capt. John Bird took the
stand. His testimony has been looked
forward to with intense interest. He
gave detailed account of the manner
in which the troops were called out,
the guard about the Jail, his picket line,
etc. He was at supper when the
mob marched up the street firing. He
rushed to the Jail, finding his picket
line all right. He instructed the Off
GERS of the guard to hold the crowd
back. He soon found that this could
not be done, and the guard was called
in. After the guard was broken over,
he considered that he was dealing with
mob, and not citizens. The soldiers
were jeered at by the mob, and his
warning to the crowd on the west side
of the Jail was answered with bricks
and shots. Finding ali warning in
vain, he ordered the squad at the win
dow to fire. AS soon as the crowd had
been cleared from the side, he rushed
to the front and ordered the men there
to cease firing. After the shooting was
over the prisoner was taken out. He
then had no further business there, as
his instructions were to guard the pris-
oner. Captain Bird will be cross-ex-
amined to-day.
A reporter in Richmond last night
showed Mayor Trout copy of the let
ter addressed to him by q committee of
the citizens of Roanoke, pressing him
to return there and giving all assur-
ance that he would in no way be mo-
Tested if he did so. Mr.. Trout express
ed his qualification at the contents of
this letter. He has never doubted, the
mayor said, that the Roanoke people,
after deliberation, would take the
proper view of the part which the Off
cials of that city were compelled to
take in the recent lamentable affair.
Roanoke, Mr.. Trout said, had hereto
fore been peaceable and has as law
abiding citizens for its size, considering
the cosmopolitan population, as any in
the country.
Mr.. Trout expects to leave for Roam
oke as soon as he receives the letter ad-
dressed to him by the committee of cit
zens, which will probably be to-day.
Two new cases of yellow fever were report