The evening times., 1899-10-20
THE DAR1EN RIOTS.
Southern Race TROUBLES Discussed
mt a Mass Meeting.


Southern Race TROUBLES Discussed
at a Mass Meeting.
mass meeting of colored citizens OF the
District on the recent race riots at Darien,
Ga, was held last night in the Second Bap-
tist Church, OF which the Rev. Dr. Bishop
johnson Is the pastor. The meeting was
called to order by DIR. johnson at o'clock
He explained that the gathering was not in
any sense a Indignation meeting, but was
an assembly Of the colored people of the
District of Columbia to hear the story oil
the Darien riots told by member of their
race who was present, and to give as much
aid as possible to those who had gotten
into difficulty as the result. DR.. Johnson
chen introduced Col. Perry Carson as the
presiding officer. After a few remarks
Colonel Carson introduced DR.. E. NJ Draw
ley, OF Darien.
In speaking of the race riots of Darien,
Ca said the speaker, lit seems that ap-
parently the proper idea of the affair has
NOT been obtained The event which led
up to these riots, as they are called, was
Ine arrest of Henry Delegate. charged
with the .negro's crime. No difficulty was
mad by the authorities in apprehendins
MIN. When he discovered that a warrant
was out for his arrest, he surrendered him.
SELF
1T was believed by both the black and
the white population of Darien that an at
tempt would be made to lynch him. The
negroes OF Darien said that l. they could
prevent it there would be no lynching.
They were perfectly willing that the man
should be hung, according to law il con-
yicted, but they insisted that a fair trial
must be given. 1t was thought that Dele
gale would be carried to Savannah for safe
keeping, to be followed by a trial in that
city, and the colored people believed that
should this be done, the prisoner would
be lynched before he reached his destina-
tion.
"On the first night after the colored
mans arrest the negroes assembled at a
prearranged signal and surrounded the Jail
for the purpose Of guarding 1t against the
white people. The result was that there
was NO iynching that night. similar
guard was maintained the second night.
When the talk of taking Delegate to Sa-
vannah was made the colored people said
they would prevent it and the State troops
were sent for. Six companies OF the State
Militia came, and the next day the man was
carried to Savannah. The coiored people
did not object. A portion OF the troops,
however, remained in Darien and the fol-
lowing day seyenty-five colored people.
among whom were four women, were ar
rested and put in Jail, charged with riot
ing. The trial came up the mex. week
amid intense excitement. Fifty-one were
acquitted of the charge and twenty-four
convicted. They were sentenced TO State
prison for one year, or to pay file of
$1,000. These men are among the most
reputable citizens in Darien. Some of them
are deaeons and trustees Of my church.
They are hard-working. industrious men.
In my church, with membership of more
than 800. every family, with the exception
OF one, owns its own home in many in
stances humble enough, but showing that
they are thrifty people.
THE case OF the twenty-four men con-
yicted OF rio:ing was carried to the su-
preme court, and the trial will be begun
next week Ii is a significant fact that
bonds TO the amount of $4,000 were paid
fer the men. and that OF this amount not
one penny was subscribed by white man.
Every man was given his liberty on BAIL
with the exception of four.
When the trial OF Delegate came up the
strongest efforts were made TO convict him
but in spite of the fact that the woman
testified against him, and the fact that the
jury was entirely white, he was judged not
guilty and he is at liberty today
The injustice did not end here His
wife was also arrested. The trouble she
has had has made her lose her mind and
she has been taken to an insane asylum.
John Delegate, a son OF Henry. shot
and killed a white man named Townsend
who headed a mob and without a warrant
attempted to arrest him. At the trial it
was established that Townsend was not a
deputy sheriff. John Delegate was SEN
fenced to Imprisonment for life
DR.. Brawley spoke in the highest terms
OF the white men who had worked for JUS
tice for the negroes.
1T is a hopeful sign" he said. when
white men will defend a negro, especially
when he is charged with such a crime"
Short addresses, in which the assistance
of the colored people was asked to help
defray the expenses of the defence OF the
negroes Of Darien arrested for rioting were
| made by W. A. Pledger. Judson Lyons, the
Rev. G. w. Lee W. H. Brooks, Bishop
Johnson, and Prof. Lawson.
DR.. Brawley reached Washington yester-
day morning for the express purpose Of
making an appeal TO the eolored people
| OF this city. Speaking to a Times reporter
last night, he said that there would be no
clash between the races in the South if the
colored man would keep out Of politics.
| The white man. he thought, was perfectly
| willing that the negro should earn mis- liv-
| ing, but he was not willing that he should
| hold Office. He felt sure that the colored
| man would not surrender his manhood BY
| keeping out of politics, and confessed thai
| he could not see the solution of the ract
| problem.