Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-18
THE LOUISA TRIAL.
MANY WITNESSES EXAMINED IN
THE HARRIET CASE YESTERDAY.
SOME OF The FACTS DISCLOSED.
II Appears That the Shooting Was
Not Premeditated, But the Result
of a Sudden QuarreI-verdict May
Go Against the Commonwealth.

LOUISA, VA, August 17-(Special)-
This was the second day of the trial OF
r. l.. c. Barrett, charged with shooting
]. G. May on May 9th, and the case has
progressed more rapidly than was ex-
pected. Eight witnesses were examined
for the Commonwealth. The defence be-
gan examination of their witnesses at
1880 o'clock.
From the testimony in the case the
cause that gave rise to the shooting is,
that J. G.. May was not satisfied with
young Barret's being SO much in COM
pany with his wife, and he told the lat
ter that their associations must cease.
Young Barrett got an intimation of
Mays objection to his further visits to
his wife and sought an interview with
May at his law office. A fight resulted
there between the two men, neither get
ting hurt much. Young Barrett had heard
that May had mistreated and struck his
wife, who, before their marriage, was his
sweetheart. He informed May in his
Office that he should not mistreat her,
and that he would be a brother TO her
and protect her, whereupoD May said
to Barrett that he was officious, and after
charging him with impudence, struck
him. The combatants separated and
agreed to let the matter drop. The fact
Is that May had not abused his wife but
he objected to young Barret's attentions
TO her, and demanded a cessation of his
visits.
THE FATHERS PART.
DR.. Barrett could not get his son TO
tell him anything about the hsticuff he
had with May and he then sought the
latter on the sidewalk Of the town. May
likewise refused to tell anything; DR..
Barrett became irritated and insuted
May, and they fought with chairs. Each
struck at the other with chairs. The
chairs clashed, and DR.. Barrets was
broken and knocked some distance from
his hands. MIR. May kept his chair up
lifted over DR.. Barrets head, as the
latter rushed under to seize him. and it
was at this moment that young Barrett
fired the pistol.
The testimony Of many of the Common
wealth's witnesses is, that young Barrett
said he fired to disable May so that he
would not kill his father by striking him
on the head
The turning point in the case is, "whe-
Their Barrett had a legal right, under the
circumstances. 10 shoot May"
No testimony was before the court to
show that DR.. Barrett and his son had
planned the sad affair. On the con-
trary, in the light of the evidence, it
appears that the shooting was a surprise
to young Barrett.
YOUNG BARRET'S GOOD STANDING.
The lawyers for the defence put seve-
raj ministers of the Gospel and many
substantial citszens on the stand. These
testified that no young mans character
was ever better than Barret's that they
had known him from babyhood, and that
his reputation was good and his habits
quiet, courteous, and Christian-lke.
Or. Barrel took the stand and stated
that he regretted the whole occurrence
as much as any one could because he
was on the most friendly and intimate
terms with J. G.. May and his uncles-
De-. p. p. May and George w. May-and
his father Rev. |. n. May Dr. Barrett
disclaimed any premedlta ton on his or
his sons part, but declared that the
whole aim of his visit was to find out
If his son was in FAULT and TO correct
him, If such was the case. He said that
Mays answer, when he asked him to
tell about the fight with his son was, 1T
il none of your business" This. DR.
Barrett construed as offensive, and it was
then that he used language that pre-
cipitated the fight between him and May.
ACQUITTAL PROBABLE.
The Commemorative testimony, UNI
doubleday, will not sustain the charge in
the indictment of malicious or unlawful
shooting, and your correspondent thinks
that the prisoner will be acquitted At
this writing g p. NJ the attorneys are
arsuing the instructions, and the argu-
ments by counsel will begin tomorrow
morning.
Mrs. Martha W. Gordon. widow of
James l.. Gordon, former Common
wealth's Attorney of this county, sat
by the side of Mrs. II. l.. Barrett I'm the
courtroom to-day. The crowd present
was large, and great interest was mani
tested.
Miss Jennie Cutler. daughter Of Rev.
Il. ~ Cutler, and sister Of Mrs J. G..
May, was on the witness-stand to-day.
She stood the severe crOss-examination
remarkably well.
The defence put her on the stand TO
establish the fact that young Barrett had
no intimation before the morning Of the
shooting that Mr.. May objected TO his
waiting on his wife.