The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-15
ROANOKE GREEKS
APPEAL TO CONSUL
Mayor Cutchen Says Riot
Brought Blus h Of
ShametoC Citizens.
QUIET RESTORED
In CITY AGAIN
fourteen Establishments Wreck
ed-Many Persons Hurt, In
Guiding Mayor, but Rioters
Can't Be Found-N. M.
|. Cadets Sent to
Guard Jail.
QUIET RESTORED

Il {,
ROANOKE, VA, July l4.-Roanolse is
quiet to-day after folir hours OF riot i
ing last night when a mob wrecked |
nine Greek restaurants, three Creek Il,
shoe shine parors and two syrian
shops. The riot was caused by dis
pnte about five cents between Greek Fl,
en1ploye In The Belmont Greek res;an Il
rant on Salem Avenue and an AnericanI
who went there to buy a Fandwch.l (,
Seven places were wrecked an Salem 4
Avenue. three on Jefferson street. one
on Nelson street and one on Railroad]
u Avenue. Five men have been arrested Fl
and lodged in jail, and one OF them
has been released on $3.50 for his ap-
pearance at the hearing of the case In
the Police Court next Thursday. None
a OF the Greeks Is under arrest
All the wrecked places to-day the
proprietors set to work cleaning out
the debris SO as to be ready TO resume Il
business. The Greeks have employed
counsel to look after their interests.
and have called the attention of theI
Greek consulate In this country to the
affair.
Mayor Hit by Rock.
While the disturbance was in prog
i1ess last night Mayor Joel l.. Cutchen
iWho was in the street begging the
crowds TO disperse, was struck on the Z
legs and severely bruised by rocks !.
stones also struck Police Justice j. r.
Bryan, Police Sergeant Overstreet and
Policemen Manning, King. and Evans
land Chief Engineer John Waggoner of /
the Central Fire Department. Wag-
goner is on crutches to-day. The firef
department was called out to throw
water on the crowd and when the /
hose was unwound there were cries of
Cut the hose and Shoot him" One
man stuck a knife in the hose butt
was driven off by the big stream that
WAS played on him.
The Mayor ordered the police to !
guard the hardware stores t5 prevent
the mob from raiding them In search
Df firearms. ta
The larger restaurants which were
deliberately furnished with mirrors had
Their interiors demolished.
The only Greek places not wrecked
were two large confection stores run
by men not Identified withN the res
taurant business.
May Go to Federal Court.
United States District Attorney
rThomas l.. Moore tonight. when asked
If he would take any action in the
matter Of the rioting. said that the
case is not covered by the Federal
statutes, al no conspiracy is charged.
The procedure would be for the offerd-
ed Greeks to appeal to their govern
trnent. which would hen apiy to the
limited States for protection. and the
Washington government referring tbs
matter to- the Governor of Virginia.
]. S. Johnston. counsel for the Greeks.
tonight made the following state
nent:
'The Greeks have confidence in the
sense of fairness and justice OF the
Roanoke people, and believe will be
reimbursed for the damage they have
sustained"
= : ! = 4 q .- /. 81 & . !
Referred to Greek Consul.
Nicholas George, head of the Greek
rolony. said he had referred the mat
Ter to D. n. Botess. Greek consul
general at New York. with the request
that he.take 1t up with the Washing
ton authorities George declares that
il has not been decided when the
Greek restaurants Will be reopened.
He says that unless they are guaran-
.teed protection he will go with his
lawyer to Washington and make an
effort to obtain protection.
:. Blush of Shame, Says Mayor.
In an official signed statement to-
night Mayor Joel II. Cutchen says the
"regrettable occasion Of last night
when nine Greek restaurants and three
Greek shoe shine parlors and one OF
two Syrian shops We're attacked and
wrecked by mob of several hundred
people has brought the blush Of shame
Ito every good citizens of Roanoke
HOW IrOuDle Began.
The Mayor says the riot occurred
soon after midnight. The city was il
the semi darkness, the police force OF
tseven men scattered over the city
without any facility for concentrating
them at the scene. and that the three
officers nearest the point of attacl
were unable to cope With the crowd
The Mayor and Chief of Police wer'
quickly summoned, but meantime TIL
mob had increased in number to owe
4 900. Following repeated efforts t
disperse the mob, fire hose wa
turned on them to scatter them so tn
police could get to work" and mean
time. says the Mayors statement
"stones and bricks We're thrown int
lthe various places wrecked scattere
tover several city blocks
Can't Find 4Rinslenders.
The Mayor adds it was impossibl
to find any one who did the throw
ing, the crowd showing dispositio
to shield each other. Citizens volun
teered to aid the police tut 1t wa
Impossible to avail of their services 10
lack of equipment. Half dozen Nir
ginia Military Institute students wer
furnished with riot, guns to pr0tec
the Jail. Two of the day !nen report
ed for duty, making nine men In al
and the chief of police soon had al
!. rested and locked up every one IN
citing to violence and disorder, Th
police cleared the streets ard the cit
was again quiet.
There is no resentment against til
taireels on the part Of the city go,
eminent or any of the law-abiding eli
a1ens of SsAAaoke. Tho city govern
Mlent Will continna to offer the Greek
1svcry protection in its power and II
proper reparation will no doubt /
4 made for any damage sustained l
those who have suffered at the hant