Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-07-29
CONVICTED OF MURDER
IN THE FIRST DECREE
Jury Out Only Fifteen Minutes
at Trial of Pink Barbour


at Trial of Pink Barbour
In the Pink Barbour trial at Har-
risonburg, which has been going on
for several days, for the murder of
James Lee, which occurred ON July
4th, all of the evidence had been sub.
mitted, as we stated in yesterdays pa
per, on the previous days and the ar
gument would commence on yesterday
morning. At the session yesterday
the case was opened by the common
wealth by George N. Conrad the
attorney for the state was followed
by Captain John N. Paul and E. G.
Martz for the defense, after which
the case was closed for the common
wealth by Attorney Conrad and sub
mitted to the jury. The jury to try
the case consisted of Messrs. T. E.
Yates, John M. Hill, M. H. Allebaugh,
r. F. Rodeffer, Chas. B. Cline, Clin-
ton F. Harnsberger, Jacob j. Coles,
Bergman Hilbert, F. J Argenbright,
w. H. Myer. Andrew W. Miller and
J. L. Marshall The evidence in no
material matter varied from that
published at the time of the homicide.
The first witness for the common
wealth was Mr.. w. d. CARRIER who
was the employer Of the deceased. He
stated, in substance, that Mr. Lee had
seen Barbour with some whips, that
he asked what he was doing with
them aud he said he was just looking
at them. Mr. Lee told him to get
out, which he did in a hesitating
manner. Mr.. CARRIER then told him
to ge out OF ne would call the police.
Barbour moved very slowly and Mr..
Lee told him that he would paddle |
him out'', picking up a small. board
Barbour then went away to Water
street aud Mr.. Lee threw down the
board. Barbour pretty soon returned
and said to Mr.. Lee, '.I'll get even with
You. When Lee picked up the plank |
again, CARRIER turned away and when
he looked again Lee had gone around
the corner. The next CARRIER heard |
were reports of pistol. He could
not see the shots fired but on going
around the corner saw Barbour run
ming away CARRIER produced the board
in the evidence, it was about % inches
long, 2 l-2 inches, wide and 1 inch
thick, of white pine.
Jacob Lamb, a special policeman,
helped to arrest Barbour; said he
seemed to have been drinking and
three quarters of an hour after he was
put in Jail, fell iuto drunken stupor.
Flint Gassway saw Mr.. Lee with
his hand raised, with the board in it
and about to strike Barbour and he
was in that position when he was
shot Lee had been talking abusively
to Barbour.
T. S. Sandy, one of the first to
grab Barbour after the shooting, un-
1erstood him to say, "I'll shoot You
if you don't turn ma loos - saw no
stick in Lees hand; did not hear Lee
say anything.
Chas. A. johnson, was the very
first man to siezs Barbour, saw him
coming from the stable and Lee after
him; Lee had no stick; Barbour turn
ed while Lee was standing still and
fired three shots in quick succession;
did not think Barbour was intoxicat-
ed.
P. r. Minnich said shots were fired
as fast as Barb Jul could pull the trig
ger; did not see Lee.
Chas. A. HOcketG, for whom Bar
bour had worked on Keezletown Road,
saw Barbour before the shooting and
said that he was drinking but not
Trunk This closed the case for the
The defense put on several witnesses
and all of their evidence was directed
towards the actions of Lee toward
Barbour and the question of whether
Barbour was. drunk and to what extent
The prisoner himself then
went on the stand and stated
that he could not remember
having shot Mr.. Lee; that he had
been drinking; that he had taken a
number of drinks with some Grottoes
fellows; that he was not in the habit
Of getting drunk and had not been
drunk since winter before last. This
concluded the evidence and the case
was then adjourned over until yester-
day when the argument began as
above stated.
At % minutes past three o'clock the
s.eament wss concluded. Judge Haas
then charged the jjsry And they retir-
ID to their room Fiftsen Miie...ttes
later they returned anu through the
foreman announced that they lad nm
decided upon verdict of
murder in the first degree, which car
ries with it death in the electric
chair.
A motion was made by the attorneys
for the defense for new trial, which
motion Judge Haas agreed to hear
this morning.
The public generally, it is under
stood, approved the verdict and believe
that Pink Barbour was given fair
and impartial~trial.
pECETVEC App0INTMENT