Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-10-17
TIE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.

The public was alarmed by the news
that riot had been precipitated in
Penitentiary Bottom and the evening
had flaming headlines which
would indicate that the Afro-Ameri-
cans were in a STATE of insurrection.
The cause of the trouble was the ac-
tion of Officer W. T. FOSTER, who is
known to be absolutely without Judge
ment in the matter of making arrests
and has tendency to make trouble
rather than sbate it.
A boy threw a rock on last Sunday
morning. The officers were in citi-
zens clothes and attempted to arrest
him. A colOred man named Mr. Ed
WARD BRowN said something that Mr.
FOSTER did not like and ne arrested
him
MIR. BRowN's daughter interfered
and the gallant" officer with his legs
in the air and coat-tails flying pursued
a fleeing woman. She retreated to
PEYTON Cox's house, and the otncer
without a warrant entered within the
peaceful confines of his home while he
was at dinner, and because he resist
ed, arrested him, broke the glassware
by over-turning the side-board and
created confusion in general.
Mark you, the officers were in citi-
zens clothes. They had no right tC
enter that residence had they have
worn the uniform of the police-officer
The colored people referred to,-Mr
PEYToN Cox, Miss SUSIE BROWN were
carried to the station house, and nov
languish in Jail.
1t is needless to iufer OF intimat'
that the colored people of this com
munity are riotous or fail to respec
the officers of the law. When tn
"blue-coats and brass buttons" ap
pear. peace reigns.
How did these colored people know
that these white men were officers o
the law?
We do not believe that another Pc
lice-ofiicer at the 2nd Police Station
would have had the same trouble.
Suppose these people had beel
white, suppose these officers ha,
struck white woman, dragged he
through the streets on a Sunda,
morning for a trivial offence. Thes
people had committed no crime. The
had stolen no property. They ha'
committed no murder.
1t was a beastly exercise Of brutal
ty. 1t was base misrepresentatiol
of one OF the kindliest races of peopl
on the face of the globe.
No, we believe IN respecting tn
law. We have one of the finest set O
police-officers anywhere in the coun
try. They are in touch with the PEG
rle, both white and colored.
1t is with regret then that we recor'
our disapprobation of the action o
Officers FOSTER and PoITIAUx, VIII
caused the trouble and added insul
to injury by invading the sacred pre-
cincts of Virginian's home.
Mr.. Cox could have been made t
give up the prisoner or be punishe'
for failing so to do, but he had RICH
to defend his home against any sue
invasion, be the person intruding a
officer or citizen.
1t is strange, too. such conduc
should occur in police precinct, pre-
sided over by such an able and eff
cient officer as Capt. ANGLE, gentle
man noted for his executive abilit
and surrounded by sergeants, VIII
are shrewd, capable and patient.
There was no riot in Penitentiar
Bottom. There was no danger of any
There were two officers flounderin
around on a Sunday when they shout
have been at church and trying to ar
rest people, who had not been guilt
of conduct of sufficient Importance
justify such conduct.