Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-10-04
THE TROUBLE ON CHURCH-HILL.


Church-hill in this city last Saturday
afternoon was nothing more or less than
an effort made by the colored citizens
in that locality 20 prevent the lynching
of the colored man, WATKINS, who was
alleged to have shot white motor
man.
If this is a correct view, the colored
men arrested should be upheld at all
hazards. If ON the other hand, they
were of the lawless, disreputable ele-
ments, bent upon making mischief,
their severe punishment is demanded.
What are the facts in the case? lay
ing aside preiudices and viewing the
situation in the cool. calm light of rea-
son. 1t should not be forgotten that our
officials are sworn to recognize all men
as equal before the law. Let us pre-
sumo that all parties to the controversy
were either all white or all colored, or
that the colored men were white and
the white, colored. What would be
the complexion OF the case?
The report that EDWARD B. WAT
KINs had killed the motor-man made
the street-car employees determined to
kill him. We have heard no denial of
this. WATKINS asserts that these men
actually had a rope around his neck and
was saved only by the GOODNESS of white
men who knew better. He testifies to
the efficiency of the police force here,
for it is openly asserted by colored men
that these officers did their duty.
One of them showed us a lick on his
hand gotten in the attempt to maintain
the majesty of the law. The colored
men were arrested and hauled up to
court, some Of them were responsible
citizens and not law-breakers as many
would have us believe
The white men who were attempting
to lynch WATKINS were guilty of at
tempting to commit a felony. They
were attempting murder. Two of them
boldly declared the part they had taken
in the affair, saying that they had shot
to kill and that they did not kill colored
men was due only to the bad aim The
intent was there. This testimony was
given before His Honor, Justice JOHN
]. CRUTcHFIELD, and yet it is a sad
commentary upon the justice in this
locality that not single white man had
been arrested up to that time and if one
has since been arrested in order to vary
the monotony, we have not heard of it.
We ask in all reason, is this fair? Is it
just? Can such position be defended?
Q, lored men were actually afraid to
come forward as witnesses, knowing
that such action would lead to their ar
rest and Incarceration in filthy Jail,
without bail.
We regret to be TO ced to write this,
but what are we to do?
/ colored merchants and working
men are to receive the same treatment
as the dive-keepers, bar room sots and
Jail birds, what inducement is there for
u man to respect himself in this COM
munity? Colored men, who had taken
no part in the disorder were charged
with melting riot, while Whitley men,
who admitted that they had made am
attempt to commit Sssmurder were:not
even arrested. - sSls: - - :. -. -
We challenge any swhite citizen in
this community to meet the issue or to
successfully ..adefendsEthe position taken
by those in authority. ssWho sresisted
the police officers? Not the colored peo-
pie. Who attempted to take fromssthe
police officers their prisoner? Not the
colored people. Who assaulted WAT
KINs in particular and the police officers
in general when they attempted to re-
move the prisoner? Not che colored
people.
Somebody did it. Why is it that they
have not been arrested? Thank God,
there were cool-headed white men
on Church-hin, who did their duty
They were hooted and jeered, but not
by colored people. But whom have
they arrested? All colored people
Gentlemen, it will not do Punish the
guilty colored man and the guilty white
one, but this 'jug-handle' business viii
not do.
szOolored people Care great imitators
Many OF them believe that whatever a
white man does is all right, When
they learned that two white spolice- of.
ficers came to blowsand one shot the
other, they realized that license was be.
ing allowed in place of liberty ZZ5:SWben
one of the officers who was admittedly
guilty Of felony was not onlySbailed
but was subsequently discharged; thew
could not see why colorediman should
not be accorded a sirnilar..favor. When
gamblers, white men, who had been vio-.
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