The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-08-19
BARRET-MAY
Second Day OF Trial at Louisa

Thursday was the second day of the
trial at Louisa Of X Il. q. Barrett,
charged with shooting }. q. May on
May eth. and the case has progressed
more rapidly thar was expected. Eight
witnesses were examined for the Com
monweaith. The defence began exam
ination OF their witnesses ~ 10 90
O'Clock.
From the testimony in the case the
cause that gave rise t. the shooting IS.
that j. q May was not satisfied with
young Barret's being so much In com
panyIwith his wife. and he told the
latter that their associations must
cease.
Young Barrett got an intlmatiOn Of
Mays objection To his further visits To
his wife and sought an interview with
May at his law Office \ fight resulted
there between the two men, neither get.
ting much hurt Young Barrett had
heard that May had miStreated and
struck his wife. who. before their mar
riage, was his sweetheart He inform
ed May in his Office that he should not
mistreat her, and that he would be a
brother to her and protect her whore
upon May said 10 Barrett that he was
Oflcious, and after charging him with
impotence, struck him The combat.
ants separated and agreed to let the
matter drop. The fact Is, that May had
not abused his wife, but he objected %
young Barret's attentions 10 her. and
demanded a cessation Of his visits
DIR. Barrett could not get his son %
tell him anything about the hsticuii he
had with May aud he then sought the
latter on the sidewalk Of the town
May likewise refused to tell anything
DR. Barrett became irrltated and IN
suited 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 l. nds Mr. May
kept his chair nplifted over DR. Bar
ret head as the later rushed under
TO seize him, and IL was AT this mo-
ment that young Barrett fired the PTS.
toll.
The testimony Of many of the Com
mOnwealth's witnesses Is, that young
Barrett said he fired TO disable May so
striking him on the head
The turning point in the case Is,
&" whether Barrett had legal right.
under the circumstances. 20 shoot
May. "
No testimony was before the court e.
show that Dr. Barrett and his son had
planned the sad affair On the con.
trary, in the light Of the evidence. 10
appears that the shooting was sur
prise to young Barrett
The lawyers for the defence put sev-
eral ministers Of the Gospel and many
substantial citizens on the stand These
testified that no young mans character
was ever better than Barret's, that they
had known him from babyhood, a1d
that his reputation was good and hls
habits quiet, courteous, and Christian
like.
DR. Barrett 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 c. May and his uncles-
Dr. p Z. May and George W May
and his father. Rev l. y May DR.
Barrett disclaimed any generalization on
his or his sons part, but declared that
the whole aim Of his visit was TO fad
out If his son was in fault and % cor
rect him, if such was the case He
said that MAYS answer, when he asked
him TO tell about the fight with his son,
was, ITS is none If your business -
This, DIR. Barrett construed as offensive,
and il was then that he used language
that precipitated the fight between him
and May.
Mrs Martha w. Gordon, widow Of
James l.. Gordon, former Common.
wealth Attorney Of this county, sat by
tho side Of Mrs Il. l.. Barrett in the
courtroom The crowd present was
was large, and great interest was mani
tested.
Miss Jennie Cutler. daughter Of Rev
l.. A. Cutler. and sister Of Mrs. j. q
May, was on the witness stand She
stood the severe crOss.examinati0n re.
markably 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.