Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-17
THE CASE OF BARRETT,
For the Shooting Of John
c, May
At LOUISA COURTHOUSE,
The Trial Commenced On Yesterday
Morning.
. JURY QUICKLY OBTAINED.
The Court-Room Crowded-Much In~
terest MapifesteJ-An Array %
CounseI-sIauy Witnesses 20 he In-
troduccd by Both sides.

LOUISA COURTHOUSE. VA. August.
lG-(special.) 1.-The case OF the Common
wealth against r. /. c. Barrett charged
with shooting John G. May. was called
in the County Court OF Louisa this morn
Ing
The shooting occurred on the 9th ot
last May and the account given OF tho
/ affair at the time was as follows:
"A difficulty and fight had taken place
about noon between John g. May and X.
l.. c. Barrett. and late I'm the evening DIR.
Barrett, father OF the latter met May
near the post-ofiice and asked an cxpla-
nation OF the difficulty with his son. May
replied that he did not care 10 say any
thing, and tried to leave him. when DIR.
Barret, it IS alleged, used offensive LAM
guage to May. causing him TO turn and
resent II. A fight occurred on the side
walk, both using chairs as weapons, and
finally they clinched. Just at this juno
ture young Barrot rushed across tho
main road. aud when within few feet
of May shot him in the stomach once
with a 32-calibre bail
Young Barrett az once surrondred HIM
self To Mayor James t.. Bib. who bailed
him for a hearing in the sum Of 81 ,0Oo."
Later the case went to the County Court.
Judge T. w. Sims is well enough 60 sit
through the trial. Mr. Gordon. Commons
wealth's Attorney is assisted I'm the pros
ecution by General james G.. Field. and
the lawyers for the defence arc Messss.
W. Il. Bib and James l.. shelton, OF
the Louisa Bar. ana A. *. Leake. Of
Goochland, and Judge j. T.. McCabc. OF
Leesburg Va.
Both sides announced their readiness
to go into the trial Of the case. Tho
jury was obtained by o'clock Rev. |.
n. May sat by the side OF his son Uhe
young man who was shot, and the
parents Of the prisoner were by his side.
The accused. when arraigned and asked
III ne was guilty or innocent, said. In a
clear and audible tone. IL plead not
guilty"
The list of the jurors Is ~ follows:
Alessrs. Il. l.. Watkins r. r. Winston.
Captain William Overton. Afessrs. George
r. Harrison. Thomas McGehee. --- Land
ford, Qui9 Walton. A. y. PVklns. X A..
Ware John w Buck, Il. r. Holland, and
J. L. Eastman.
May is now regarded as well OF his
wound. The accused, n biack-haired and
handsome young man OF 10 years. has
been through q spell Of sickness since tho
unfortunate occurrence, but he Is now
In fine health.
The courtroom was crowded. and great
interest was manifested by all present.
! The testimony thus FAR heard is not
strong against the accused. IN fact # Is
as favorable TO the accused as 20 the
Commonwealth. Tho Commonwealth has
May more witnesses and the defence has
many Witnesses The jury is most in
tenigent one, but IT will be- several days
before the case viii be given into their
charge
The evidence thus far would seem 60
show that the pistol would not have been
fred had NOT r. J.. o.. Barrett believed
at the moment that Il was necessary 70
save his father from severe and pro-
badly fatal, blow on The head from a
heavy wooden chair in the hands of J.
O. May No testimony has been adj
duced 20 show reconciliation ON the part
Of the prisoner. Young Barrett stated
Immediately after he shot May that ho
fred only 10 save his father. The case
win be called again tomorrow az . A.
NJ. and Mr. j. G.. May will be- examined
first. The trial Is young yet. and nto-
resting developments are looked for