Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-14
He Addresses a Meeting About the
Killing Of Foster.
CRITICISM OF TEE Law OFFICERS
Public Meeting Under the Auspices
of the Protective Association.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED

the killing of Reuben Foster, the young
cclored man who was shot by Policeman
Green near Anacosda on the 4th instant,
end to devise some plan for bringing the
officer before a court of law. The meeting
was held under the auspices OF the Citizens,
Protective Association, an organizauon OF
colored people Col. Perry Carson PRESIDED
and also made the principal address OIL the
evening. Addresses were made also by Dr.
Rev. Mr.. Taylor.
Resolutions expressing the indignation OF
the meeting at the killing of Foster, con-
demning the District authorities for per-
hitting the officer to continue on duty and
authorizing the appointment Of a commit
tee of eleven to wait upon, the District
Commissioners, and a. committee OF the
same number to wait upon the President 10
secure the better protection OF cltizens'
were unanimously adopted.
Among those invited to address the meet
ing were Rev. ]. E. Rankin, ex-Mayor
Bowen, Prof. w. H. H. Hart. Dr. =. D.
Purvis. VIM. A. Cook and Dr. Robert Rey
burn, but the latter was the only one VINO
attended. Colonel Carson waited for them
until $50. however, and then called the
meeting to order.
Selections from the Scriptures were read
by Rev. Geo. w. Lee after which the Rev.
VIM. Troy of Richmond Va, invoked the
Divine blessing. Then followed lengthy
address by Colonel carson.
Perry Carson's Views.
Colonel Carson said that he had always
been ready for action ever since he was
thirteen years of age. But, he said, 1t
was a mistake when 1t was announced that
he was one of the speakers. He was known
as a leader, as one who acted rather than
talked. Out of almost a sick bed he had
come. but he was determined to make the
effort, although told that his death might
result He had but one life to yield, and
he could not die in a better cause than
fenseless young man. 1t had been said
that the character of Forester was bad,
but it was as good as that of Policeman
Green. People, said Colonel Carson, did
not know Green well as he did. But"
said he, Il know him and know that he
shot at two or three white men in the first
ward, and that he was sent to Anacostia
because the people in the first ward de-
manded 1T. So you see Mr.. Green was in
the habit of shooting at people, and the
killing of Foster was not such an accident
as some people imagine"
A voice-'It was a good shot, anyhow"
Yes, my friend" continued Colonel Car
cident."
But he shot the boy in the back. All
towards shoot man in the back. And
you'll find that those officers who go
around shooting people are towards every
time. and that kind are selected from the
slums Of the earth. You never find rep
utable policemen shooting down. men in
order to arrest them. Ask Inspector Hol-
linberger, Lieut.. Kelly, Sergt. Falvey,
Sergt. Byrnes, Detectives Weldon or Lacey
or any other good, sensible officer If they
ever had to shoot man to arrest him, and
they'll tell you no. there isn't any occasion
for 1t. Yet some of them have been on the
force for thirty-two years, in times, too.
when this place was much worse than it
is now
COlOred Policemen.
Col. Carson thought that the District au-
thorities were responsible for acts like that
of Officer Green, for the reason that they
failed to select good material for police
| men. why" he exclaimed, eff they can't
get good white officers, Is 1t they don't
take colored menu"
Change the major of police" shouted
some enc in the audience, land then you'll
| get cOlored men on"
Now, my brother" shouted back Col.
Carson, don't get hot. Keep cool, or Well
| have to send you over to Anacostia."
That raised quite laugh at the expense
| of the unknown opponent of Maj. Moore.
| the killing of Foster justified the colored
people of the District in going to the Com
missioners and telling that such things had
gone on long enough. But" he exclaimed,
| we've got President. He's a democrat
and Pm a republican, but he'll do what
right. He's done lots for us colored peo-
pie, and" he shouted amidst great cheering.
| Il believe he'll stand by us in this thing.
| We don't care about the grand jury. The
| people of the District are our jury, and
that jury is right with us. Funny thing
| about that grand jury. l can't see much
| I'm getting along now, sixty lone years old
but what I do see 1 sees well. Yesterday
| afternoon l see one of that grand jury
| come down the city hall steps, after they d
| adjourned and l see him give some of
I - frir dc tI,o -irG Inn rad hot
| that means, SO l goes to Mr.. Birney and
tells him that they're going to ignore the
| case He says, L think not but see whos
| right now.
Didn't Want Blood Money.
II was over in Anacostia early Sunday
morning." continued Col. Carson, in re-
| Spouse to the encouraging cries of the
audience, land 1 see the relatives anG
friends of Green driving this way and tina
way but amt going to tell you what they
| were DOING
"Tampering with the jury?' asked some
| one in che audience.
"Well," replied Col. Carson, laughingly
you said it, but l amt going to tell any
| thing"
Flows Moss?" yelled some one
''Oh, he's all right shouted Col. Carson
but he'll have his time hereafter. Blu
| don't ask me to talk about Moss; 1 wan
to talk about something worth talkin.
| did you? Well, l was told that there wa
500 in it for me if I'd keep still. But
told the mani won't give you his name
I amt taking blood. money just yet. Onl.
got two mules and a horse or two, but
amt taking blood money.
Now, did it ever occur to you peopl
that there have been twenty-six colore
people shot down here? Well, they have
and thirteen were killed instantly. I tel
you folks, I'm afraid of the police. But
tell you another thing. If Foster had beel
my son wouldn't have asked anybody to d
anything. No, sir. Now, folks are yo
going to let the Commissioners keep Gree
and men like him on the police force?"
A mighty shout of mo. no." went u
from the audience. and then Col. Carso
told the people before him that if the
would follow him for three months the
would not only have Green off the fore
and on the road to the penitentiary, but h
would see to it that no more such so-calle
accidents occurred. But you colored pee
ple," remarked Col. Carson, "soon forge
things. Most of you seem to have forgo
ten that grand old man who left US tn
other day-Fred. Douglass. But haven
. and I'm going to wear this piece of creL
until / CO. too If that old man was aliv
today the killing of Foster would have bee
. all over the country before this. We mis-
him, but we can get things right If we e
about it right. First, we will go to the p,
, lice trial board. for officer Green violate
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