Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-09-08

voted wife and a sixteen year old boy,
who Is now behind the bars in the
same institution Barrett had a good
reputation and If he had ever before
taken his neighbours goods, the court
house rccorda do not show 1t.
Roach charged him with taking al
load of his wheat from his farm and
hc alleged that he tracked the wagon
wheels TO Barrett's promises. Barrett
returned to Roach the quantity of
wheat alleged to have been taken
and 1t Is in the testimony that he
offered to pay him. Roach insisted
upon turning him over to the county
authorities and proceeded to arrest
Barrett upon his own premises with
out the authority OF law. He sent q
Mr.. Collins to secure warrant for
guard over this colored man on the
colored mans own premises.
Barrett ran away from Roach and
Roach pursued him. Barrett stumb-
ling over a pile Of brush fell and
Roach got on him and was choking
HIM, when Barrett called on his six.
teen year ola son, Aubrey for help.
Aubrey came to his fathers aid with
stick and he dealt Roach terrible
blow, which fractured the skull. The
two hid the body IN orler to give
them time to leave the ncighborhood
and they made their escape, being ar
rested near Lynchburg. Attorney w.
IL. Lancaster of Farmvillc represent
ed the prisoners. He protested against
the ruling Of the Court and upon
seeing that the case was hopeless
withdrew from the boys defense,
leaving him without counsel.
Helpless and alone, Judge Hundley
over his own signature admits that
no tried this boy, who was without
counsel and that no sentenced him to
DO elcctrocutcd. Attorney Lancaster
gave as his reason for not represent
ing the boy, that he felt that he could
not Gocure for him that justice to
when he was entitled. 1t has BEEN
shown, despite His Honor, Judge
Hundley's statement to the contrary
that he was without any discretion
III the matter, that he could have sent
this boy to reformatory he being
under the age limit, eighteen years
being the number OF gears specified
In the Virginia statute.
The only rcdccming feature about
the whole matter is the fact that Vir-
glnians came to the rescue of this
helpless, sobbing, frightened black ur-
chin, who had in time OF dire dis
tre3s rallied to the aid of his father.
IYl may say what you will, but to our
mind, he needs no reformation. Let
us suppose that the color OF the par.
ties in this controversy could he re-
Vcrsed. What If Roach had been n
colored man and Barrett a white one?
Would not Aubrey Barrett have been
nailed as hero, instead OF now be-
ing within the shad wv 80 tho electric
clair, where his unfortunate father
has already paid the penalty for his
hasty action?
1t Is sad story. 1t has aroused
tho latent feeling OF sympathy in the
white men OF this commonwealth.
Numbers of white citizens have sign.
ell petition to the Governor for the
communication Of the sentence OF death.
We would to God that they had gone
Il step further and released from
confinement one tho most remark
able children OF paternal fealty ever
III the history OF any common.
wealth. 1t may be that his Exccllcn-
cy, II. c: Stuart, Governor of Virginia
may see it in this light. Certain It is
mat he has been deeply moved by this
tragic happening and in the turmoil
or passing events may exercise his
powers to the end that life imprison-
".ent shall not be the portion of a do
voted son, who went just a little too
lar III executing the command of q
loving lather.