Lewis
Collier
Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, Tuesday, 12 July 1870, page 7
ROW AT THE NEWPORT BARRACKS-Among the spectators at the dress
parade at the Newport Barracks on Sunday evening were two young men from
Cincinnati named William Tillman and Robert Morehead, who, we understand, were
formerly United States soldiers. A discussion had taken place at the Barracks
before the parade in regard to the ability of Sergeant Berry to put men in the
guard-house.
A colored soldier, named Lewis Collier, remarked that Sergeant Berry was the "best man" in the Barracks, to which Morehead dissented and angry words finally passed between them. A few minutes after the parade, Morehead made an attack upon Collier, striking him once or twice and tried to cut him with a knife.
The affair caused a good deal of excitement and it seemed at one time that there would be a serious disturbance. The row was, however, fortunately quelled. The part that Tillman took in the affair was to break a broomstick over some colored soldier's head. The parties were arrested by Constable Jackson, and upon an investigation of the case before the Mayor yesterday morning, Morehead was fined $20 and costs and Tillman $5 and costs.