Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1902-09-13
CITY SERGEANT
NOT GUILTY.
INDICTED FOR MURDER
OF JOHN BIRD, BUT
CLEARED.
The Sergeant and Peter
Cloves Fully Exoner-
ated.

SC4lOm mas a aflC> LILY AiAuu Jury |
had TO perform as much work in this !
court as the one that sat this week T. |
investigate the Labor pev fight, now
comiaorly called the riot" For two
DAYS the grand jury examined witnesses
Two surprises were the outcome of
their DELIBERATIONS. The greater. per
haps. was the Indictment OF Sergeant X.
:. Lawson and Peter Cloves for the
murder ct John Bird. Jr. The other was
the Suding of not a true bilI' against
George Cunningham, the negro who
was thought TO be the sole cause Of the
trouble that led up 20 the unfortunate
killing o. young Bird.
IL viii be remembered that when the
excursion train pulled in from Richmond
the night OF sept 1st row broke out
near the depot among some colorcd men.
IL resulted directly IN the cutting OF
Cunningham and Jea Hoskins. colored,
| and John Cloves. white. a bystander
| Cunningham fed up town 10 the house
OF ohm Bird. OF Boundary street Here
IL was Sergeant Lawson and bis deputies
went 20 arrest him. John Bird Jr.
came 20 the door. was taken for Gun
uingham. told 20 surrender. turned into
] the door, and was shot WitncSscs
swore someone fired on the officers "a,
that point. The latter returned The FIRE.
and mortaily wounded the man. BirG
The officers Jhonght that they were
hriug on Cunningham, and did not know
they had shot anyone for an hour there
after Cunningham IN a few minute,
after the shooting sprang out OF The
front door. and over icncc. and hid Il
the weeds. The square was surroundc,
By guards and the next morning he wa
captured.
Cunningham was tricd before a justic
and sent 70 she grand jury. After Bir.
dicd "a coroner's jury investigated th
shooting aud found that PETE
Benjamin Cloves sired the fatal sno.
G but cxoueTated him from Intentions
. violation Of The law.
Monday the grand jury went into a
& investigation oi the whole trouble. The
: came 70 the conclusion that Cunning
ham was the attacked party, and tia
< be Mas defending himself only The
discharged him. and indicted the follow
ing colored men. VIM. Davis, Norborr
Baker. Nm. Debriss Isaiah Whitb.
~ JEFF and Joe Hoskins. As the charg,
= against them are for assault aud no
Be- and are misdemcanors Only. their cas-
y VIII be certified 10 the Mayor for tria
Il TRlAL OF rHR SERGEANT.
Sd Sergeant Lawson Hnd AR Glow
JIG were placed on trial Thursday. All d.
:, witnesses were examined, and q lar
IN crowd was in constant attendance. 7
prisoners were represented by Messrs.
d. Peachy and y. /. Henley. and I
state by Commonwealth Attorney
il 7. Armistead. Both sides made a ha
d. hght.
~ The case was given 20 the jury az
- 10 O'Clock. and at 1890 they reached
7 verdict. IL was mot guilty" The y
dict was q complete vindioauon of DO
-, the Sergeant and Mr.. Cloves, and Do
Isl. now feel much relieved
NJ, The grand jury was requested
Of Israel Booth a eolo'ed man. who "
shot at Toano on Aug. 81. not - pro
cute Tom Edmunds. Booth swore
d.. was playing joke on Edmunds vi
20, the later shot hi.n. The grand j.
. il indicted him. and the court has &c
81 90 fed the case back 70 the magistrate
49, trit-L
sed /