The Washington times., 1895-03-08
ColOred People Full of Indigna-
tion Over Fosters Killing.
MASS MEETINGS TO BE HELD
District Attorney Birney Will Say To-day
What He Will Do-Preachers to Denounce
the PoIiceman's Act from Their Pulp1ts-
Interviews With Prominent Colored
Oitizens-Much Praise for "The Times.''

ol heuDeh roster at AnacoStla on Monday
met yesterday morning with the purpose of
at once procuring warrant for Green's
arrest
Their first step was to repair at once to
the police court, where Murdock and sayles.
eye-witnesses to the killing, asked for the
issuing of the papers. Warrant Clerk Wash
burn stated that as the coroners jury had
made its report, which had gone to the dis
trict attorney, he could take no action on
the matter
District Attorney Birney was then called
upon by Col. Carson and other members of
the committee. He stated that he had not
as yet found time to investigate the matter,
but that it would receive his immediate
attention. He promised 70 receive the COM
mittee again to-day and acqueipt them with
the result of his research. In case Of his
finding sufficient reason, as the committee
confidently expect win be the case, a war
rant VIII either be issued for Green at once
or the case carried before the grand jury
The district attorney stated he had no reason
to think that Green meditated running
away.
MASS INDIGNATION MEETING.
A private meeting OF the committee was
held in the afternoon at the Philadelphia
House on Pennsylvania avenue. Col. Car
son presiding The above facts were re-
ported and announcement made of a mass
INDICATION meeting TO be held 81 the Fifth
Baptist Church on Wednesday evening
next, at T:30, at which numerous prominent
colored people viii speak. The Anacostia
contingent is also making arrangements
for meeting at HIsdale on Monday or
Tuesday
A committee consisting of John w Free
man, +. Il. Welborn, Lewis H. Douglas, L.
Z. Bailey, and l.. q. Fletcher was named
by Col. Carson to report on committee OF
permanent organization, which VIII have
charge of the details of the Indignation
meeting Wednesday
Before adjourning the committee in
dorSed the stand taken by The Times and
Col. Carson urged the colored people TO
support it as being right as far as the
negro is concerned and as far as humanity
is concerned -
The pamphlets urging the denunciation
OF Green from the pulpits on Sunday VIII
be distributed to-day.
The shooting of Foster has aroused more
feeling among the colored people OF the
District than any event since the shooting
Willis Washington by Policeman Terry
during the Jack the Slas her excitement
last winter. A Times reporter interviewed
many of the leading coored residents of
the city yesterday and their opinions are
here given:
HEARTILY INDORsEs THE TINES.
Hon. John R. Lynch said that he had not
read of the incident at the time of its
occurrence, and it was not until this
morning that he had gotten a clear idea
of the situation from The Times. He
thought it was a matter which should be
thoroughly investigated with q view of
having justice fairly and impartially
done. He heartily indorsed the position
taken by The Times .in the case.
Mr.. l. c. Bailey, treasurer of the Capital
Savings Bank. said that he does not see how
the affair can be looked upon as anything
but an unprovoked and wanton murder.
The fact that the man had bad reputation
was no reason why he should be killed
while merely trying to escape. Had he
committed any great crime, y said Mr..
Bailey, land resisted the officer it would
have been quite different, but under the
circumstances there is no question in my
mind but that the officer should be pun
ished''
Rev. George ". Lee, of the Vermont Ave
nue. Baptist Church. said that although the
officer may escape verdict OF manslaughter
from the coroner's jury he cannot escape the
censure of public opinion. A great deal
had been said in regard to tn vicious and
dangerous character of the man, but il
seemed to him that on that occasion was
rather more of coward fleeing from
justice than a bad and dangerous man. He
said that he did not see how tn C jury and the
coroner could return the verdict they did in
the face of the evidence. There could be no
EAnt fan caid Offf Toll
erately draws a deadly VI eapon with which
he is familiar and signifying his intention
10 fix his man shoots him in a vital spot.
The man may have been worthlessscound-
rel, but if he was to have been killed the law
should have regulated the manner.
UNWARRANTED AND NEXCUSAB BILE.
Mr.. George F. T. Cook, principal of the
colored schools, said to Times reporter
that he considered the affair unwarranted
and inexcusable. 81 do not wish to con-
done crime" he said. land | think that
every one, no matter what thciTra ce or color.
should receive proper punishment for any
violation of the law. But do not think that
in the case of Reuben Foster the means,
adopted by the officer to rctakefis prisoner
were either proper or necessary
Rev. f. j. Grimke, pastor of the Fif
teenth Street Presbyterian Church. char
acteTized the action of the officer as an out
rage. He said that the previous character
of the man had nothing to do with the case
whatever, so far as be could see. The pub
lie certainly have some rights. he said,
which these so-called protectors of the
peace ought to respect. He said that the
editorial which recently appeared in The
Times was an exact statement Of his opin-
ion in the matter, and he did not see how
any fair-minded man could hold any other.
Mr.. Lewis H. Douglass. son of the late
Frederick Douglass, was very emphatic
in his denunciation of the action of the Off
GER He said: I'm regard to the shoot
ing by policeman of Reuben Foster l have
to say that the affair was an outrage in
every sense. / think lat but for the feel
ing in certain somewhat Influential circles
here that it is no crime to kill a nigger,
the shooting would not have been done. Fur
ther South the mob does the lynching; here
it is done by the police"
Rev Dr. Alexander Crummell former
rector of ST. Luke's Church. said that, in
his opinion the previous bad character
of the victim had nothing whatever to do
with the case. The act under consideration
was the killing OF the man. Now"
said he, the question is whether a police
man has a right to kill man under such
circumstances. That is a question which
must be settled by law. 1t is natural
that when men do wrong they try to escape
detection. 1t begins in our childish life.
When you and l. Mr.. Reporter, did wrong
in the family we strove to escape the detec-
tion of our parents That, though, was
no reason why they should kill us
POLICE ARE RECKLESS.
Ex Senator Blanche X. Bruce said:
The courts of the District of Columbia
are remarkable for the justice with which
they handle all cases coming before them,
whether the suitors be colored or white
Against these no just complaint can be made,
in my Judgment but 1t is a lamentable
fact that on the police force of this city,