The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-31
POLICE CALLED TO
SUPPRESS A RIOT
DENIZENS OF BIRD-IS-HAND EN-
GAGE IN FREE-FOR-ALL FIGHT
IN DAYTIME.
ONE is SHOT IN LEG
STICKS AND STONES FIGURE IN
MELEE AND ONLY TIMELY Ar
RIVAL OF OFFICERS PRE-
VENTS KILLING.
ONE is SHOT IN LEG

With the mingling of crowd OF
white men an> several negroes. one
Of whom was a woman, the Blrd-ih-
Hand district on East Main street be-
came a scene of serious disorder at
! o'clock yesterday afternoon, ana
riot call was turned into the flrst
police station and later 70 ponce
headquarters. During the melee Rob
bert Massie was shot through the
right leg by some unknown an
tagonist, but did not realize that ne
was shot until after the fight had
ended. He came to the First police
station last night, and asked that
they call the city ambulance. Dr. n.
A. Bullock responded. and iressed
the wound, which was found to he
not serious.
W. II. Spangler, one of the white
men, who was said to nave been
passing innocen.ly down the street
unaware that a fight was in progress
was set upon and struck in the head
with n big stick. welded by one OF
the negro combatants.
Seeks Refuge i'm Factory.
Utmost fainting, he ran into the
=. H Mayo tobacco factory for as
sistance, and from there ran INTO
Blankensnip's saloon, Twenty-hftn
and Main streets, TO seek refuge. A
crowd of angry negroes followed him
Hi, was admitted through the front
door. and made his exit through II
side gate. He was almost overcome
from exertion. and his life was prob
ehly saved by the friendly efforts OF
those In the saloon who helped him
None OF the other combatants, 1t
was said. were hurt except for a few
bruised heads and Sims.
Policeman Spur. who. patrols the
beat in the Bird~in Hand district,
which runs from Twentyfourth and
Main streets nearly to Fulton, was In
Fulton at the time He vas notified
Of the fighting by a street car con-
ductor. and took car to the scene
Bv that time the fighting had oecome
general, and a riot call had been turn
ell in. Captain Barfoot received the
news at the First station, aud gum
moned Policemen Bette Reid and
Bertucci TO aid in suppressins the dis
tGrfance detective Sergeant Bailey
was despatched from headquarters.
General Conflict.
In the meantime crowd Of about
500 negroex. mingled with few
white men, had engaged in the gem
eraI conflict, and when the police
arrived StlCkS anu EkoufS "tFt IiJ Az <
IT. every direction, and there was an
occasional shot.
The fight is said to have been pre-
ciritated by William Higgins, alias
Dutch" Higgins. whs, is said 10 have
struck Cora Robinson, colured wo-
man, without provocation. Bleeding
from the mouth. she ran from tbs
man, and then several negroes an
| dcitook to go TO her defense. White
men interfereg, and for a time the
situation assumed dangerous proper
tons.
When the police interfered they
found the whole crowd in the midst
Of strenuous melee. They arrested
Cora Robinson, colored; Benny Jones
colored; ". II. Spangler, Willie liie-
gins, John Massie, Robert Massie and
Oscar Mcclellan, alt white, charg'
ing them with fighting IN the street
/ The coiored woman. Spangler, wnC
seems TO have been innocent Of hav-
| ing participated in the riot. and BEN
ME Jones, colored, were bailed.