Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-09-08
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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 rccordl do not show it.
Roach charged him with taking a
load Of his wheat from his farm and
he alleged that he tracked the wagon
wheels TO l'arrctt's premises. Barrett
returned to Roach the quantity of
wheat alleged to have been taken
and it 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 Il
Mr.. Collins to secure warrant for
Barrett and in the meantime stood
guard over this colorcd man OH the
colored mans own premises.
Barrett ran away from Roach and
Roach pursued him. Barrett stumb-
ling over Il pile OF brush fell and
Roach got on him and was choking
HIM, when Barrett called on his sin
teen year OLD son, Aubrey for help.
Aubrey came to his fathers aid with
Il stick and he dealt Roach a terrible
blow, which fractured the skull. ME
two hid the body III order to give
tEcm time TO leave the ncighborhood
and they made their escape. being ar
rested near Lynchburg. Attorney w.
il. Lancaster Of Farmvillc represent
cd the prisoners. He protested against
tnN 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 Hundlcy
over his own signature admits that
no tried this boy, who was without
counsel and THAT he sentenced him to
be clcctrocutcd. Attorney Lancaster
gave as his reason for not represent
ing the boy. that he felt that he could
not "erure for him that justice to
which he WAS entitled. 1t has been
shown, despite His Honor, Judge
liundley'S statement to tho contrary
lhal he was without any discretion
III the matter, that he could lNve sent
this boy 80 a reformatory he being
under the age limit, eighteen years
being the number OF years specified
in the Virginia statute.
The only rcdccming feature about
the whole matter is the fact that Viz
glnlanS came to the rescue OF this
helpless, sobbing, frightened blacl, mr.
chln, who had i'll time Of dire dis
trc3S rallied to the aid of his father.
lYl 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 be re-
NcrSed. What il Roach had been a
colorcd man and Barrett Il white one?
Would not Aubrey Barrett have been
halled rs hero, instead OF now be-
'n& within the shaf "w 80 the cloctric
CHAIR, where his unortunatc farSer
has already paid the penalty for his
hasty action?
1t is a sad story. 1t has aroused
the latent feeling OF sympathy in the
"hlte men of this commonwealth.
Numbers Of white citizens have sign
cd petition to the Governor for the
communication Of the sentence of death.
we would to God that they had gone
a step further and released from
confinement one the most remark;
able children OF paternal fealty ever
III the history of any common
wealth. 1t may be that his EXccllcn-
ry, II. c: Stuart, Governor OF Virginia
may see it III this light. Certain It is
That he has been deeply moved by this
tragic happening and in the turmoil
Oh passing events may exercise his
powers to the end that life imprison
tent Shall not be the portion of do.
voted son, who went just Il little too
lar in executing the command of a
loving rather.