Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-09-08
(Signcd) GEORGE HUNDLEY.
Farmvillc, Va, August IS, 1917.
ACTING PROSECUTOR
ALSO ISSUES STATEMENT

The statement OF former Judge A.
ID. Watkins. who was acting Common
wealth's Attorney in the Barrett cas-
cs. follows:
TO The Editor Of The Times. Dispatch:
Sir:-A brief statement of my recol-
lection OF the evidence in and con-
due, Of tie trial Of the Barrctts for
the murder OF " lillian ~ Roach. OF
Charlotte County follows:
1t was disclosed in the evidence
that on July 10, 1917. Roach. togeth-
or with Collins, went to Barrctt's
farm. suspccting that wheat had been
stolen from his field The Barrctts.
after being convinced of the fact that
Roach had the proof Of the larceny.
admitted it. Roach sent Collins for a
warrant Of arrest. The elder Barrett
tried to make a settlement with Roach
to avoid arrest and trial. This Roach
would not agree to. When Collins
was away the elder Barrett attempted
to run away. Roach ran after him
and caught him. Both fell to the
i ground, the elder Barrett admitted
! that Roach held him by the coat, and
claimed that he though Roach was
trying to choke him; that he called
i,
to come and get Roach off; that the
boy did come. and. having picked up
chestnut stick, dealt Roach blow
on the back Of the head; that the
father with large Rock finished him
that the body was then carried to the
place where found: that after the kill
ing small sum Of money and watch
the property Of the deceased, was talk
Ell by the boy: that no rock or stick
was found near the scene or claimed
to be the instruments used; that both
prisoners voluntarily confessed to the
killing each giving substantially the
facts above narrated.
! DR.. Walker, who made the eXamina
ton Of the dead body Of Roach, testi-
| fled that he found wound on the
i back OF the head, the skull broken in
and the brains oozing out; that the
, wound had bled considerably; that
this wound was sufficient to produce
death; that on the front Of the head
was wound in and across the face
In and near the eyes; that this wound
was inflicted by some instrument
which clcaved the skull Just above
the eye, and that this wound was suf
ficient to cause death, and that it was
was inflicted after the wound on the
back of the head, as was indicated by
the small amount Of bleeding there
rem; that three other wounds were
found upon the top OF the head, each
made by some instrument which
clcaved the skull, all OF which did
not bleed, the wounds penetrating the
brain.
/ That upon the trial of the older
Barrett and after the evidence was
III Mr.. Lancaster, counsel for the ac.
cused, offered an instruction in plea
OF justification based upon the ground
or arrcsting, imprisoning and detain-
Ing the prisoner without war
rant of arrest was necessary. This
warrant Of arrest was necessary This
instruction the court refused and com
sci for prisoner excepted to the ruling
of the court: that counsel for prisoner
ala undertake to argue upon tho ia. Is
he claimed to be grounds for tho in
struction rejected and refused by the
court; that tho court did call coun-
sells attention to the fact of the re-
fusal OF the instruction and remind.
ed him that he must not again under
take to argue U recall no threat OF
a flne) upon n question Of law which
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