Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-10-29
LIQUOR

We would be untrue to ourselves
and to our people il we did not ex.
press our regret over thy killing OF
Sheriff w. G. Bond and Chief Of Police
j. M Boyer two oil the most popular
officials IN this State and the wound
ing of Messrs. Willard Browning, II.
G. Warren, ]. A. Spicer, Graysol
Brooks, Julius Gravette, J. S. Martin
and Manly w. Carter. The families of
tire officers killed are the chief suffer
ers. The affair has its tragic side. It
is needless to say that the whole UNI.
fortunate happening was caused by II
lack Of good Judgment tu the part
OF somebody.
Z Waiter Ware, the co,ored man, who
defended himself to the last would no
doubt have won the admiration OF
every one for his fight against such
heavy 9fds and tlen for his nerve in
killing himself whoc lie dcfied his
captors had he staged his defense IN
behalf of a worthy cause and had he
not been flied up with the liquor, he
waa charged with having distilled.
The offensc charged against him was
only Il misdcmennor and the punish
ment was only fine and q few days
To-, 4
this, in his frenzy, heI killed with un
erring accuracy two Of the best white
citizens in the County.
That he was crazy drunk is evident
in THAT he threatened 10 shoot down
his own father, who urged him to sur.
render to the authorities. In most
cases. boot-leggers Of this description
are the agents of white men or they
soil their products to both white AMI
colorcd. He could not understand why
he should be singled out for urres.
and lie made up his mind to "die with
his boots on" The relationship be.
tween the white people and the coor
ed people OF Orange county is most
friendly; and this outbursts of passion,
which ended in this gruesome tragedy
will be generally regretted.
After Wafer Ware found out he had
killed those two white officers, he knew
only too well exactly whht was in
store for him. His mission on this
earth had ended. He was SLATED for
tho quick route to the hereafter anil
lie TOOK the shortest cut to rea.
there. IT'S disfigured body tells the
sacrifice which he made. He had W.
lhted the law and he took the penalty
without waiting for any one to metc it
to HIM. We are glad to know that
there was no lynching and that the
white people resented any attempt to
bring troops to that law-abiding coun
ty.
His EXccllency, Westmoreland Davis,
was prompt TO vDit the scene of tho
tragedy and to use his Influence to
SEQ to it that other colorcd DeoD.4.
connected with Waiter Ware by relo-
tlonsiflp were not slaughtered. This
"hSkey business has cau.cd many
tragedies in this State. IL will cause
many more unless some discretion IS
used in dealing with these kind of neo.
PIE. They are desperate. They hayo
learned to expect no quarter from the
onlcers OF the law ana when it is
known that white men of seeming 70.
spectability have been killed for mis-.
aemeanor oifenEses it has led others ia
, make ur thfIr minds to be on tlrcir
guard and to sell their lives as dearly
as possible.
Colored men, obey the law, observe
lCs precepts. See 'to,it that You are
within your rights and when the Office,
comes with the proper authority, sub
nit to arrest and your friends will
see you through at the trial tribunal
"h1te men and colored ones have the
'hurrah'' feeling over the manner q;
his death, but cool, sober Judgment
should prevail. Let us avoid the nee.
essity for such happenings.