The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-26

and resumed their work OF taking testi-
mony in investigating the riot of Sep
TENDER 90. The first witness was Willis
s. Wilson, who was placed on the stand
at 1910 o'clock.
Mr.. Wilson said-'I am member of
the Roanoke Light Infantry. About
noon received an order to report at
the armory at 6 o'clock. About 4:3O
received an order to report at once.
When 1 received the second order re-
ported at the armory. 1 waited at the
armory until we were sent for and then
went to the Jail. i was placed on duty
on the second floor in the window look
ing out on the Thomas building. was
ordered out to the front. l was not out
OF the Jail until l was ordered out and
disbanded. / wasn't where I could see
the people, but 1 heard tremendous
noise. did not hear any orders to fire.
I did not see any firing after came
down.
The fire was over when 1 was called
from the second story. 1 saw flashes.
One man emptied a pistol from behind
the fence in the rear of the jail This
was during the general firing. When
we disbanded l don't think it was o
o'clock The orders were to 20 home
and keep away from the crowd. There
were other men started up the stairs
with noe. One of them was Private
Van Lew at the window next the court
house.
private Gregory was up there at the
window facing Greene Memorial
Church. While the firing was going on
/ walked over and looked out of that
window. saw great number OF peo-
pie and pistol flashes"
MAC MORRIS STATEMENT.
M. G. Morris-"I was special police
man September 90. l was stationed in
front OF the mayors office. About Z
o'clock went home to supper and few
minutes after l returned yell and a
crowd came up by the hotel. Invent out
in the middle OF the street.
"a boy II or IS years old, Will Davis,
in his shirt sleeves, who lives on Fourth
avenue and Old Lick road, was in the
crowd. | caught hold of him as no ap-
preached the Corner of Campbell
avenue and Commerce street. The
crowd jerked him loose. | hung on to
his shirt sleeve and it was pulled off. l
said. Il have better sense than to hit
boy When the second rush came l
This same boy and Mrs. Bishops son
were in the lead.
Mayor Trout called out, Il call on
you as good citizens, for Gods sake to
go home. beg you as good citizens to
CO. saw the military poke their guns
out of the window and got back from
that side. fell back to the window on
the corner. There was firing out of
that window. My intention was to come
to the front and they were firing there
and got between the window and the
corner of the house. went to Sergeant
Griffin and asked for pistol. He sent
me to the chief I didn't find him.
had no pistol. 1 haven't had pistol
since last winter.
Mayor Trout ordered tho crowd back
two or three times. At night did not
see any pickets down on the corner.
was called in by Captain Bird. The
first firing 1 saw was from the window,
the upper window on the west side Of
the mayors office. There were three
or four shots there at first. | did not
hear any orders. Mayor Trout came
out in front and begged the people to
go home.
"The last time saw Mr. Trout he
was in front of the jail did not see
any firing in the crowd. There was
great confusion and noise. Sergeant
Griffin caught hold Of the Davis boy and
told him to go home. l stayed all night
in front of the Jail. l left at o'clock
next morning. l went to breakfast and
came back and remained on duty until
IL o'clock.
~ heard Captain Bird make some
proclamation from the window and say,
nNk h2 all -. Y
the window and hollow | didn't under
in not more than one minute. / didn't
see a police officer shoot. MIR. Trout
passed through the crowd and said, For
Gods sake go home as law abiding citi-
zens. The guns are loaded with bullets
l was in a position to see the crowd l
think / saw no firing from the crowd
before the firing from the window. 1
heard Captain Bird warn them once.
Mr.. Curry, member OF the jury, was
then by me.
A. l.. PAYNE's TESTIMONY.
A. L. Payne-"Wednesday evening
at o'clock went to the clerks office
noticed the crowd assem- bling. l then
went to Hotel Roanoke and took dinner.
Then walked up toward tho courthouse
/ went around Salem avenue and Roa-
noke street to the south side of Camp
bell street and walked down Campbell
avenue to the front of the mayors
office. recognized no one in there ex.
cept Chief Terry. At that time the
crowd surged on the door on the west
side. All at once l saw three militia
men rush across the room toward the
window. In a moment afterward /
heard another blow on the door. At
that moment / saw the men raise their
guns and Are. At once there were