The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-06
CITIZENS VERSION
OF BARRETT CASE

Editor virginian:
Sir,-We have read an article in
your paper Of AUGUST %. stating that
Aubrey Barrett, the youthful negro.
who was sentenced to die In the cleo
trio chain August al, was allowed q
respite of thirty days by Governor
Stuart
It states that Barretts case has at
tracted statewide attention. owing TO
the statement of W. L. Lancaster, at
torney OF Farmville. that the boy was
not know whether to enter plea OF
guilty or not. without counsel or ad-
wise.
This article. as we'll as others. we
have read in different papers. is mis-
leading and false In every particular.
except the fact that the younger
criminal had been granted a respite os
thirty days
We would Ike the people who have
| been nisled by Mr.. Lancaster. and
some other defenders of these Grim
tnals. TO know tho real facts IN con-
nection with the case. We wish them
to know all that we know-we who
, live right here where the crime was
committed, and know all the details In
connection with it. so far as Is possible
60 i1stGw
In the first place this last article
referred To would give one the IDEA that
the murder was committed the same
day. or at the very time the wheat was
stolen, and traced to Barretts corn
house, The truth is the wheat had
been stolen several days before the
murder WAS committed.
The day Mr.. Roach expected 10
thrash, hut was prevented by rain. he
I.0A = Y xG.,re
load Of wheat had been taken from
his stacks It was but little trouble
TO track It TO the woods, where 1t had
been loaded on wagon and taken
in the direction of Barrett's place.
Mr.. w r Roach, Eugene Roach,
Troy Dunn and Charley Hurt track ed
the wagon to BarTetts corn house and
there found the wheat Barrett was
called out and asked about the mat
ter. whereupon he denied the wheat
belonGnd to Mr. Roach Mr.. Roach
told Barrett II he would take the
wheat back where he got 1t, there
Wott1d he nothing further done.
The following night Barrett moved
the wheat out Of the corn house AMI
shocked it in = field where his wheat
was shocked. This was easily detected
as Mr.. Roach's wheat was cut with n
binder. while Barretts was cut with Il
cradle. One was Little Rer variety,
the other. Leafs Prolific
When Mr.. Roach found the wheat
in the field, shocked with Barrett =
(this was sunday. he told Barrett
again II he would return the wheat
he would drop the matter. and that
would settle all the trouble
Barrett then agreed to return the
wheat Monday morning. Mr. Roach
found that barrett moved the wheat
again Sunday night. from the field into
the woods. and Monday morning he
started after q warrant when he met
Mr.. Joel Collins and took him as wit
ness. TO see where Barrett had moved
the wheat from the field. On reaching
the place they found Barrett and his
son moving II again. farther into the
woods, It was from this place Mr..
Roach sent Mr.. Collins back to the
village for q warrant while he stayed
and looked after his wheat This was
on Monday about o'clock In the
morning. When Mr.. Collins retnrned,
Mr. w. c. Jackson accompanied him.
They went where Mr.. Collins had left
Mr.. Roach, tut failed to find him, or
either of the Barretts. They supposed