Arizona republican., 1914-06-25
ems6~. &a;Rl(l&&}, ! U G1ze U Great Trials %
 History
TRIAL OF JOHN BARBOT

The unfortunate gentleman who lest his life in the melancholy affair of John Barbot was one Matthew Mills, who owned considerable es- tates in St. Christopher, Antigua and in different othe.' West Indian isl ands-
 On the fourth of January, 1153. Barbot, who was an EngliShman and born in London was indicted for the murder of Matthew Mills, gentleman. On the following day the prisoner was arraigned before the court of eaol delivery held at Basseterre. in St Ch-istopher's, which court was presided over by William Matthew cil in the island The prisoner pleaded not guilty, and on his re- quest was allowed Mr. Frye as counsel to argue points of law and to examine and cross examine him. The case was opened by John Baker. the solicitor general of the island. Addressing the court, he i followed the case all the way through. "The controversy he said, | which eventually led to the death, started when Mills put for sale some | land which he owned This was sold | by auction, and all present were surprised to hear the prisoner bid much more money than he was ! worth or could in any way com mand. Mills then drew the prisoner aside and told him that once be- fore he had done the same thing and the purchase money never had been paid; that he should not do it this time, for he (Mills) knew that the prisoners purpose was to break up the sale. The prisoner had replied
 in some hifaluting term, and the | matter was dropped However, near l lv two weeks later Mills was found | dead-shot in the side-lying on the sands"
 Two doctors. Hamilton and Ed 1 wards, were then sworn and when
 asked if they had been called to in- spect the body of the deceased, re plied in the affirmative. Dr. Hamil-
 ten was closely questioned as to whether or not the shot could have
 been fired while the deceased was
  CT it was fired from behind without Mills seeing the assassin. to which Hamilton replied that he positively could not have been in 9 posture of self defense. as the ball had entered
 on the right side, nearecr to the back than the front of the body.
 pr. Horne who was also with Hamilton after the death, on being questioned replied that he could say
 TO more to throw any light than Hamilton had already related.
 Barbot, in his defense. tried to prove that he was not at Basseterre at the time of the murder and called
 some witnesses to bear out the fact
 that he was at that time at Nevis.
 but the same witnesses. upon being closely cross examined did not speak
 ethe- clearly or firmly and they
 were often contradicted by them
 selves and by the evidence on the
 ether side.
 The jury then retired, and after
 consulting half an hour. came back
 with the verdict of guilty. The Irresident then sentenced him to
 death. Upon hearing this, Barbot
 burst out to the court: May it
 please your honors, since it can no
 longer avail me to conceal the fact.
 will make flank confession of
 the whole. He then started the
 story of how he attended the land
 sale at which he had been insulted
 by MT Mills and upon his expostu- | bn IaaaaCed pa.l oripH "Sir
 you are an impertinent puppy upon
 which he had demanded an apology
 to which Mills had replied to the
 effect that he was always at Bar
 bots service when properly called
 upon.
 The prisoner then told how or
 the following Thursday morning he had written a lettes to the deceased bidding him keep his promise to
 meet the writer at the dawn of day Tear LoWland church, armed only with a case of pistols. This meeting never occurred, for the deceased ] W rote back a letter in answer and in all there were six letters passed be-
 tween them before a meeting could
 be properly arranged. The last let ter written was by Mills telling Bar bot to meet him at F'rigate Bay. The following morning he had gone out in a canoe manned by some colored men and rowed to Frigate Bay. talk ing ashore with him the black boy ! W ho carried his case
 Not long after, the deceased came ! up riding furiousy on q horse. Mills { then jumped off his mount and talk ! ing the pistols from the holsters both he and Mills presented. H. then told how he fired first, anC . Mills dropped. crying: Sir yot have killed me; you have killed me i sir" Whereupon he replied, "I an heartily sorry sir, l pray to God tt Hess you. but 1 can stay no longe. here" He then ran to his canoe ant jumped in with the colored boy, ant went back to town until his arrest
 He said also, that when he aske,
 the boy if the pistol of MT Mill
 had been fired, he said it hal snapped
 After this confession, there coul ; be no doubt as to his guilt, and ac !