The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-06
AFFAIR
DRAWS BIG CROWD

Beo3amin Burton. oiored, 22lS
Moore street was taken into custody
last night by Policeman @. A. Jen-
nings on a charge of assaulting Street
Car Conductor r. J. Arbaugn, whom,
II is said, the negro had knocked down
following an alteration over trans
fer. He was admitted to bail for his
appearance In police court.
Conductor Arbaugh made state
ment after the incident in which he
said he shot at Burton with his pistol
as soon as he recovered himself from
the effects of having been knocked
from the car. The little conductor,
who ID much smaller than his alleged
assailant, took Burton prisoner and
escorted him to a garage at Harrison
and Broad streets. where he summoned
tho police.
His statement of the affair follows:
THE man boarded my car at Han
cock and Clay streets The car was
well filed with negroes and there
were very few white people on board.
When he paid h!s fare he asked for n
transfer to East Main streets 7 gave
1t to him and vas leaving him when
he called out that the transfer was
wrong. He wanted a transfer to West
Main street told him he had asked
for the East Main transfer He i'm
in a loud voice that I should give him
what he wanted. I was fixing the
transfer for him when he suddenly
struck me In the face with his fist.
was taken b. surprise, Before I
could get back at him he had Knocked
me on the car and was Jun ping on
ne rer1crT7 hcrrt -ttss.of 4 "A
drew It. firing 1t him ! think ! shot
twice Y missed him and am sorr''
did " had II II 40 over again l
would DO nxactlv what did except
that J wouidr't miss him.
= Burton lis a brawnv six-footer. 81
tight yellow COMPLEXION. wearing 4
tiny mustache Bssstaaders were
stirred ~ ex9seaS3cre~ 81 admiration
for the oluckiness OF TIC little c7r9"o-
tor who han pursued anf captured his
assaflant THO ncRro's nerve evidently
abandoned hinf The moment he saw
the conductors pistol for he imme-
alately took to his heels He would
nave eecaped bat for the command 10
halt shouted b. the conductor and
the fear of getting 4 bullet.
4 score Of negro passengers on tNe
car watched the AFFAIR until ArbaIGh
turned the tables on his assatlant
Most Of them were laughing. Wher
the conductor struggled to his feet
and started firing the negroes fed
from the car n confusion and tright.
Arbaueh was followed hv a crowd Of
negroes who had gathered in the
street when he took his missioner To
the garage at the corner OF Broad and
Harrison Half a dozen white, men
attracted hv the pistol shots. coined
the growing throne. Several negroes
followed the conductor and his pris-
oner into the garage and surrounded
Burton while Arbaugh was tclenhon-
ing to the police station for and Off
Ger 10 taKe the negro into custody.
Burton attempted to leave the
garage when re discovered what the
conductor was doing At the telephone.
Arbaueh intercepted him. barring the
way 10 the door.
I'm going out OF here. Let PIE out
Of that door" the negro demanded.
''Tou can't leave this place. You
are under arrest You are going to
stay right here said the conductor
The crowd on the sidewalk outsae
Md grown to about eco Through the
Rig plate Riass window they could
see what was transpiring. They closed
In on the entrance lust ms the police
and magistrate arrived in the patrol
wagon.