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

charge in the indictment, that then
the court caused evidence to BIO TAX
en-, which was as to tho killing. in
what has been stated above
and in addition, evidence was taken
upon the question Of the age OF tho
prisoner, and it was shown that he
was between sixteen and seventeen
years of age. One witness. who claim
Gu to have known tho prisoner all his
life, stated that the boy might be q
little more than seventeen or a little
less.
Signcd) Il. ID. Watkins.
Acting Prosecuting Attorney.
Farmvillc, Va, August 2S. 1917.
LANCASTER DENIES THAT
HE REPRESENTED BOY
w. l.. Lancaster. OF Farmvillo,
who appeared MS counsel for the elder
Barrett, issued tho following signed
denying that he had roprc
sentcd the boy. or had advised him
or publicly:
TO The Editor OF The Tinies-DjsDatch
Sir: -Ex-Judgc A. d. Watkins Civ
cs his version Of the Barrett cases
whether at the request of Judge Humid
ley OF not. who cares
a. ID Watkins, my friend (anu, 7
am glad to say, distant relation) is
under All cgrcgieus mistake. II he had
read what ] wrote. |. G. that refused
to plea or advise Aubrey Barrett what
plea to enter. saying l would not as
sumo the responsibility, I know he
would not deny the same unless. in
HIS goodness of heart or his weakness
or mind. he would allow truth to
slumber for the sake of pleasing n
TREND or protecting himself. Asa
says when Albert Barrett, failing to
compromise, attempted to escape, Mr..
Roach laid hold on him, and in hold
ing him they both fell to the ground
and in the same breath he SAYS: "Tes
timony was that the older Barrett
called Tor his son to come and tnkc
Roach eff. The younger Barrett took
up large stick and struck Roach on
tho back OF the head. Roach was
stunned, and partially fell to the
ground
Now, II Roach was on the ground
In the first instance, could he be fell
cd to the ground, either by a stick or
large stick?
If eX-Judge Watkins Is so fair, WHY
ala he not say that the testimony was
that Roach pursued Albert 100 yards,
Albert fell over a brush pile, and was
down, being choked, when Aubrey
barrett struck the fatal blow with
inc chestnut stick, by request or
command Of his father?
nave stated that the words at
trlbutcd to Albert, 81 have finished
him." were not uoed. Should I have
falled to hear this, I cannot fail TO
KNOW and no truthful man In the
courtroom at Charlotte who could
near but knows, that I withdrew from
Aubrey's case. did not advise or plead
Tor him, and he had no counsel. either
III myself or another. and that 7 did
not waive the jury for him.
Jucgn Watkins says that intimat
ca to him that I would plead guilty
1or the hoy, or had advised the boy
to plead guilty. This statement can
be accounted for only as follows:
when the petit jury was in its room
considering it's verdict in the Albert
barrett case, l asked Judge Watkins,
IN the presence of Mr. Light and Tom
watkins, considering the boys ago,
could he not, upon tho plea Of guilty
ne confined in the penitentiary or
sent to the public roads or even to the
reformatory, Theroupon Judge Wat
kins suggested that talk to Judge
Hlndley, and I went to him while up-
on the bench and asked him ff the
boy, Aubrey pleaded guilty could he
not, under law, considering the boys
age, send him to the reformatory or
put him upon the public roads. To
this question Judge Hundley made no
satisfactory answer. I then asked him
IT, upon the plea Of guilty, he could
not Xix some punishment less than
the death penalty. He replied: IT
Will make no promises" or IT will
make you no PROMISES
l repeat that I neither advised the
boy, privately nor publicly, what plea
to enter.
Take the statement Of Judge A. d.
watkins In full and add nothing Of
mine or any ol.o else thereto that
Roach restrained and held Albert with
out warrant, ana I vouch for 1t
that no lawyer will say that the
homicide was murder, let alone a
horrible murder" in the first degree
The mob was promised a speedy trial
II they woulr give up their prisoners
and | also presume they wore prom!s-
cd conviction and the death penal
w attached thereto. Thus far tho
promise has been lulfuille.
Respectfully
(Signed) w. T.. LANCASTER.
Farmville. Va, August 28, 1917.