Another Victim
August 29, 1896
Summary
Some witnesses speak out after Charles Robinson is killed in a very public altercation.
Transcription
Charles Robinson, colored, was found weltering in his own blood on 18th St , Wednesday, August 19th. He had been struck with a brick thrown by Willie Hubbard, also colored.
The testimony shows that the altercation began about a matter too trifling to be mentioned. The result is however that one man is in his grave and the other awaiting trial for murder.
The coroner's inquest was held at the City Hall, Coroner W. H. Taylor presiding. The following is the testimony adduced:
Eddie Miller (white) was sworn and deposed: “I live at 213 N. 18th Street. About 1 o'clocl last Wednesday night, I was on 18th Street, between Franklin and Grace Streets, I met Charles Robinson walking along the street and Willie Hubbard walking behind him about three feet. There was no one with these two. I know of no quarreling between them.
Willie Hubbard threw something at Robinson, I don't know what it was. He struck him on the side of the head somewhere. Robinson had his back to Hubbard. Robinson at once fell on his face. He did not make another step. He did not speak. Robinson was going away from him when he was struck.”
George White was sworn and deposed: “I live in the neighborhood of Cold Harbor. I was in Charles Donati's bar-room, Wednesday night, Chas. Robinson and Willie Hubbard were disputing about something.
Hubbard had been drinking heavily. He tried to make Robinson know who he was. Robinson said he did not know him and then Hubbard cursed him. Hubbard was not drunk enough not to know what he was doing.
I had gone in there to get a quart of whiskey for my boss. I put it in my cart. After that I think I saw Willie Hubbard running around some carts, on 18th Street near Grace, as though he was looking for someone. He afterwards went towards the junk-house. Then he came from there and went where Robinson was standing. While I was standing in Donati's, they did not have any idea of fighting.
Hubbard walked up to Robinson and told him, “You say you are going to cut me." Robinson said he did say it, but he was done with him and wasn't going to have any more fuss. Robinson went away from him and stopped in front of the stable. Hubbard went up to him and said, "You said you were going to, cut me, and G—d—n you, you can do your cutting," and no sooner than he said that he struck him. He threw something at. him. What it was I don't know.
Robinson fell flat on his face. Hubbard ran away. I heard no one else quarreling with him or trying to hit him.”
Abraham L. Williams said that he saw them quarreling and was the first to get to Charles Robinson after he was struck.
…
The testimony shows that the altercation began about a matter too trifling to be mentioned. The result is however that one man is in his grave and the other awaiting trial for murder.
The coroner's inquest was held at the City Hall, Coroner W. H. Taylor presiding. The following is the testimony adduced:
Eddie Miller (white) was sworn and deposed: “I live at 213 N. 18th Street. About 1 o'clocl last Wednesday night, I was on 18th Street, between Franklin and Grace Streets, I met Charles Robinson walking along the street and Willie Hubbard walking behind him about three feet. There was no one with these two. I know of no quarreling between them.
Willie Hubbard threw something at Robinson, I don't know what it was. He struck him on the side of the head somewhere. Robinson had his back to Hubbard. Robinson at once fell on his face. He did not make another step. He did not speak. Robinson was going away from him when he was struck.”
George White was sworn and deposed: “I live in the neighborhood of Cold Harbor. I was in Charles Donati's bar-room, Wednesday night, Chas. Robinson and Willie Hubbard were disputing about something.
Hubbard had been drinking heavily. He tried to make Robinson know who he was. Robinson said he did not know him and then Hubbard cursed him. Hubbard was not drunk enough not to know what he was doing.
I had gone in there to get a quart of whiskey for my boss. I put it in my cart. After that I think I saw Willie Hubbard running around some carts, on 18th Street near Grace, as though he was looking for someone. He afterwards went towards the junk-house. Then he came from there and went where Robinson was standing. While I was standing in Donati's, they did not have any idea of fighting.
Hubbard walked up to Robinson and told him, “You say you are going to cut me." Robinson said he did say it, but he was done with him and wasn't going to have any more fuss. Robinson went away from him and stopped in front of the stable. Hubbard went up to him and said, "You said you were going to, cut me, and G—d—n you, you can do your cutting," and no sooner than he said that he struck him. He threw something at. him. What it was I don't know.
Robinson fell flat on his face. Hubbard ran away. I heard no one else quarreling with him or trying to hit him.”
Abraham L. Williams said that he saw them quarreling and was the first to get to Charles Robinson after he was struck.
…
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Liam Eynan
Citation
“Another Victim,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed August 13, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1651.