Charlotte Hearing Gets
Under Way Once More
Charlotte, Nov. 6—Taking the stand as a witness for the
prosecution at the resumption of the hearing of Chief of Police Orr and 30
policemen of his department charged with the murder of five men killed during
the riot here last August, H.B. Caldwell, a motorman, wilted under the cross
examination of counsel for the defense and admitted the crowd at the bar on the
night of the trouble was in a dangerous mood.
Asked by Heriot Clarkson, attorney for the defense, if he
attempted to “smooth over the trouble” Caldwell replied in the negative, and
added that any man who had counseled the crowd to disperse “would have got his
head knocked off.”
Under further questioning Caldwell said the crowd was big
enough “to do anything” but he didn’t think they intended to act ugly.
Prior to his cross-examination Caldwell made the prosecution
an admirable witness, although the only important point he brought out was the
Chief Orr had cursed him and struck him with a pistol.
J.C. Bell testified that Chief Orr cursed him when he
attempted to speak with him just before the shooting began, and swore that some
one struck him on the shoulder with a pistol just as Orr was addressing him.
Several other witnesses were presented, but their evidence
was of little importance, the most striking statement being the testimony of
one that he heard it rumored in the crowd that help was coming from North
Charlotte and Spencer to oust the strike breakers, and that dynamite was to be
used in blowing up the barns.
Lloyd Curlee was positive Chief Orr fired the first shot in
the affray.
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