The times., 1898-12-06
ON TRIAL FOR HIS LIFE
Opening Day ofl.fhe Barron
Murder Case.
NAY PLEAD SEEF-DEFENSE
The Accused Prepares for Deter
mined Fight - Eminent COunseI
Empioyed-The Stories of the Wit
nesses for the State-A Lively
Legal Battle.

Rockville, Nd, Dec. 5.-Today marked
the opening of the trial of Guy c. Barron,
charged with the murder of w. Howard
keyworth, on the 9Th day of July last
The case was brought here for trial from
Prince George County on a change of
venue. Chief Justice McSherry and Asso-
ciate Justices James b. Henderson and
John C. Motter occupied the bench.
The prosecution is represented by
States Attorneys Belts and Rogers. of
Prince George County, and kigore, of
this county, while former Senator ], c. 5.
Blackburn, Edward c. Peter and Robert
w. Wells appear for the accused.
The men on the jury are Reuben c.
Riggs, Henry G. Wood Daniel T. Shreave,
William C. Huskinson, Julian Z. Osborne,
Gustavus F. Cashell. Allen Freas, Frank
NJ. Page, Samuel L. Eastburn, n. II. Rob
ertson John II. Hilton and T. NJ. McCul-
Tough.
Barron, in charge of Deputy Sheriff
selby arrived in court early. He took
his seat beside his mother, brother, and
aunt.
States Attorney Kigore opened the
proceedings by explaining the four counts
in the indictment. He recited the facts
in the case.
The defense Reserved its opening state
ment. 1t is generally supposed that the
plea will be self-defense.
The first witness was DR.. G. \. Rich
ardson. He attended Keyworth after the
shooting, and described the character of
the wound
Philip Clarke, the next witness called,
produced photographs of the scene of tine
shooting. Drawings of the bar and ad
joining room were also submitted as evil
dence through L. o. Wisman.
Joseph Koch was next called on be-
half Of the State. He lives with his aunt,
Mrs. Keyworth. wife OF the deceased.
He said: "a was bartender at Keyworths
place at the time of. his death. 1 was
there when Guy Barron entered with Mr..
Parker and went into the back room.
where Mr. Keyworth. Mr.. Brooke and
Mr.. Grey were sitting. Barron, Brooke
and Keyworth began playing. They
played for about an hour,
Then l heard loud talking and saw
Barron go out the side door Parker fol-
lowed him. returning in about two min
utes. and came up 10 the bar. saying.
Koch, is my pistol over there?' | re-
piled that l thought 1t was. He said:
Well, never mind About three minutes
before leaving however, he said: Never
mind, will get even with the -
-. Mr.. keyworth was still at the card
table About half an hour afterward
Barron returned, followed by Parker He
entered the room and faced the bar be-
hind which Keyworth was standing with
his back toward him. rolling cigarette
No words passed between them, Barron
simply asking for a drink. which / told
| him / would give him in a minute.
went into the adjoining room, when l
heard the pistol shot, I rushed back into
the room and Barron was standing be
side the bar with pistol in his hand
Keyworth was staggering toward the
door.
II seized Barron and rushed him back
! into a corner, saying: Guy what did you
shoot my uncle for2 He replied: I don't
| give a -: | am willing 10 have my neck
stretched for the - - While l
was holding him Mrs. Keyworth, Mr..
Brooks and Mr.. Grey rushed in to the
! room. 1 saw htNWOTtn ABOUT lUEtt EDlIi-
utes later. when ! had released Barron.
| AT the time of the shooting Mr. Keyworth
was in good health. Barron had taken
possibly four glasses of beer. Mr.. Key
worth, when ! saw him. did not have the
| beer mallet Throughout the entire ex-
| animation of this witness the jury was
attentive.
Joseph Grey was the next witness for
| the State. He testified: Il live in Hyatts-
| vile. and was in Mr.. Keyworth's place
! of business on the 9Th of July. | found
| Mr.. Keyworth, Mr.. Barron, Mr.. Brooke
/ and Mr. Parker there. They played cards
for about three-quarters of an hour when
Keyworth said: Guy, you can stop play
ing now and go out of my place Barron
walked out and remained a few minutes
and then returned. standing in the door
| way leading from the room to the bar
| Keyworth turned and said: Are you not
| satisfied, and he left the bar again. The
| next time | saw him he was entering the
| door with Parker. When the shot was
| fired Keyworth was at the bar. The first
sound | heard was the report of the
| pistol. l went in and saw Barron with 9
pistol in his hand leaning on the bar
| Keyworth was coming toward: the dool
| with his hand on his chest in stoop
ing manner. He said, oh, my. l an
shot, Joe Barron was there at the time
| KeyWorth had nothing in his hand Bar