The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-22
THE BEDFORD WHITE CAPS.
An Interesting History Of the ofrensss
and the Trials.

An Interesting History Oh the CHsnSeS
and he Trials
The Bedford Bulletin complains edito-
rally Of the manner In which the State
press reported the wllite-cap cases OF
that county.
The Bulletin publishes the following
history of these cases. which. though
similar to the reports published in this
paper, give details that will prove OF
interest. The Bulletin says:
When the sixteen prisoners charged
with white-capping at Goode We're
brought before Justices Burt and Stump
Thursday morning the courthouse was
full. The trial lasted all day. Graham
Clayton represented the Commonwealth
and N. Sale the defendants. All the
prisoners proved alibis by their relatives
and were acquitted. They were charged
with and assault on Reuben Voolfolk
and Peyton Galloway last April.
These two men Negroes) were taken
from their homes at Goode. at night, by
a masked band, and whipped The case
was reported to the justice, who in turn
reported to the commemorative Attor-
ney. Voolfolk and Galloway both said
they could not identify any of their as
sailants, and no warrants could be is
sued. They were summoned before the
grand jury, and again said they did not
know the parties.
In June an assault was made on Thos.
w
ties were arrested. They We're tried, and
about eight persons convicted.
Sometime after the trial of the last of
these it was reported that Justice Jop-
ling, who is also depot agent at Goode-
had been fired at in his room at the sta
ton. The building was riddled with shot
and bullets, and Mr.. Jopling was wound
ell in the hand. Rewards were offered
by the State and county for the perpe-
traitors of this deed but it has been i'm
possible for any information as to the
identity of the parties to be obtained
A few weeks ago Detective ]. +.
Hatcher appeared on the scene, and after
q short while had secured the arrest of
sixteen persons, among them being Joseph
Arthur, of Lynchburg, and Emmett
Brown of Goode. They were all brought
here for trial.
After Arthur was arrested i'll Lynch
burg Hatcher sent q decoy telegram to
Brown, signing Arthur's name. Last
Thursday Hatcher was arrested on q
warrant sworn out By Arthur and Brown,
charged with forging the formers name
to the telegram. He was placed in Jail,
but after the trial and acquittal of the
prisoners, Arthur and Brown withdrew
the charges on Hatcher'S paying the
costs of the trial. amounting to S75, after
which he was released and left for Roa-
nOke.
He wrote the following letter to the
Globe Clothing Company, OF Lynchburg,
which employs Mr.. Arthur:
Gentleinen-I beg to state that Mr..
Joseph Arthur has proven himself
tireIy clear of the charge that was
brought against him on Saturday night
last. and l must say for Mr.. Arthur that
I have never met a truer or more of a
gentleman than Mr.. Arthur, and that he
has been imposed upon greatly, and I
hope that you will not think any the
less of Mr.. Arthur for this unfortunate
affair. am yours respectfully.
J. E. HATCHER.
When the sixteen prisoners were
brought here it was supposed that the
charge against them was for shooting
at Bennett Joping. but this was nor the
case. It was for the assault on Wool
folk and Galloway, both of whom We're
opposed to bringing UP their cases, be-
cause the matter had been about forgot
ten and they We're satisfied to let it stay
forgotten. The only direct evidence
against the parties arrested was the sin
gle statement OF one who claimed to be
one of the gang. He was impeached by
dozen witnesses and admitted he was
very drunk that evening, and then only
recognized them by their voices. The
defendants not only swore positively that
they were not there but each proved by
from three to six witnesses {iEcluding
mothers, wives and sisters that they
were at home on that night. Under the
law and rules of evidence it was not
possible for the justices to have con-
victed them.
Although the detective was in JAIL it
made no difference in the result, as he
said he knew nothing but what he had
heard and could not have been used as
a witness.