The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-01
WANTS COMPUTATION
FOR YOUNG BARRETT
Attorney William Lancaster Gives An
Account Of the Trial OF the
Barrctts.

Mr. william Lancaster is making an
effort to secure Communication OF sem
tence for Aubrey Barrett. the colored
youth, who. with his father. has been
sentenced to die August 81 for the
murder OF W. r Roach, In Charlotte
county.
Mr. Lancaster. counsel for the
youth. submits the following state
ment of the case:
The undersigned was personally
present and took notes in the case OF
Commonwealth VS.. Albert Barrett.
charged with the murder OF w. T.
Roach in the circuit court OF Char
lctte county and as the Eapers give
so different an account OF the facts
as existed | will try TO have you pub
lish correct statement.
Albert Barrett and his son made
in substance, at the trial the same
statement as they first made to the
parties who caught and arrested
them, and all OF the witnesses who
were placed upon the stand by the
prosecution related ns The voluntary
confessions of Albert Barrett and son.
in substance, what :rev stated upon
the witness stand. which statement
and evidence, for there was none
other In conflict. that Albert and his
son at about midnight went to the
wheatfleld of MIR. Roach and stole
load of wheat in the straw end re-
moved 1t to the wheat field OF Albert
Barrett The next morning Mr.
Roach and Mr. Cullen, OF Collins
tracked the wheat from the field of
Mr. Roach to Alder; Barretts and
identified the wheat. Then they COM
peIIed Albert and mis- son TO return
m. wheat. whereupon all four OF the
sarties were again In Alberts wheat
I'f1eld Mr.. cullen. by request of MI.
Roach. went for a warrant of arrest
Albert tried to ssttle ,. compromise
by Offering to pay MI. Roach rathee
than be prosecuted, bun he refused
thereupon Albert ran and Mr.. Roach
ran after him. Mr.. Roach Zen,
arose and continued pursuit. Albert
rter running some $50 yards, fell
over a brush pile and Mr.. Roach
caught him while down and was
choking him, when he. Albert. called
FOR his SON to come and strike MT.
!, Roach or help him. HIS son took
IN a chestnut stick mot an IRON bar1
ard struck Mr.. Roach on the back OF
/ his head. The stick had knot on IL
and the lick pierced TO the brain ne
father said that next day, AFTER ne
/ and his son had gone and were ABOUT
/ ave miles from home, his son gave MN
| Mr. Roach,s watch and the boy kept
/ a15s Of his. money. The boy spent
NE money and he had on the watch
when arrested, The boy says that
when Mr.. Roach fell in running he
dropped his watch. money and Knhe
| and he picked them up ana gave the
watch to his father when ne "as
! about five miles from home the neH1
dav. DR.. Walker said the wounn OF
lick was a fatal blow and that some
Of the brains Of Mr.. Roach were
ooz,np out. Albert turned Mr.. Roaen
off of him and grabbed a rotN ~.
size OF his two fists and struck Ar.
/ roach three blows. two on the heao
and one on the chest. Then Aloer'
uetad Mr.. Roach's body some nVe
stems having hold OF one leg AND
| one arm and deposited beside ios
hatween II and small pine tree ano
] there covered 1t with leaves III
! walker stated that the three wounds
bled scarcely any. II at all. the mos
blood coming from the wound on the
back of the head. where the brains
/ were oozing From appearances Mr
Roach was dead or the blood was NOV
circulating freely when the othe'
wounds were inflicted. The body was
IN a state of putrefaction when he ex-
! amined It, especially about the aldo
msps He said. also mat one OF ME
hips was dislocaSed A.
Orered Three Instructions.
! The counsel for Albert onereo
three instructions: ~ That every
homicide is prima facia. murder IN
the second degree. etc. 90 That II the
fury believed from the evidence tina,
the killing was done in the heat OF
| blood or upon a sudden passion In an
ARRAY 1t could not be more thar
voluntary manslaughter. (a) That II
one was arrested. detained or IL
| legally restrained or imprisoned
, without a warrant In case where
| warrant was necessary. etc, that the
| party arrested. etc. has right &c
resist and with such provocation II
he Killed the other who was perform