Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-07-26
GOVERNOR TRINKLE ACTS.

The action of Governor e. Lee
Trinkle in granting to Aubrey Barrett,
| the sixteen year old colored boy con-
| ditional pardon brings to the surface
| the fact that the better class of white
people Of this commonwealth are per-
meated with the principles of true re-
ligion and in aiding suffering human
ity, racial Determinations are forgot
ten. The story told by the distinguish
ed, brilliant editor Of the Richmond,
Va, News-Leader and the naming of
Editor Walter Addison, State Senator
as being so interested in the helpless
Negro boys case that he came to this
city and interesting a local humanitar-
ian in the case adds new aspect to the
situation and emphasizes the fact that
our people can still rely upon the white
people of this Grand Old Common
wealth for support and encouragement
in proving themselves worthy of such
treatment. IS ~
White people Of the right sort and
kind will not stand for rank injustice.
This is why we have urged our people.
wherever possible to remain in the
Southland and win the esteem and
respect of this class of people. who wish
them we'll and who will do all they can
to aid them along right lines to become
useful and responsible citizens despite
the drawbacks they meet from white
people of the Negotiating type. The re
cital, which we are reproducing in
these columns reads like novel. We
are not forgetful of the fact either that
we, too published an account Of this at.
fair seven years ago and that the same
summons to Editor Douglass Freeman
of the News+Leader to appear at Char
lotte G. H, Va, before Judge Hundley
to show cause why he should not be
punished for contempt of court was is
suad against John Mitchll, Jr., for the
same reason.
The editor Of the Richmond, Va,
News-Leader says:
Sentiment was strongly for the court
and vehemently against The News
Leader A minister, who went througn
the country to ascertain if he could pro
cure signatures to petition for COM
mutation of sentence came back not
only discouraged but actually alarmed.
1t would not be safe, he said for a rep
resentative of the paper to go among
the people of Charlotte. He would GER
tainly be insulted and might be attack
ed, because The News Leader main
tanned that the Negro boy should not
be electrocuted.
The News Leader charitably remarks
that the white minister's. statement
might have been exaggerated. II then,
the white editors life was in danger
| in Charlotte county, what chance for
his life would the oolored editor
| have had had he appeared in Char
lotte county to answer the contempt
proceeds, inaugurated by Judge Humid
ley, who since that time has gone the
| way of all the earth?
Later, wiser counsel prevailed AM
| Judge Hundley agreed to withdraw the
proceedings instituted. Legal docu-
ments were filed by both the white and
| the colored editors in the proceedings
at Charlotte C. H., Va upon the basis
1 of which the cases ended One Of tle
most remarkable characters in this
State and one of the most fearless jur-
| lists in this is Judge Asa D. Watkins,
commonwealth attorney. He is actual
ed by the fundamental principles Of
right and he believes in melting equal
and exact justice to all men. 1t was
through his transcendent ability and
mediating attitude that this jurist was
induced to change his attitude and il
was upon his recommendation that
! Governor E. Lee Trinkle granted this
conditional pardon.
! 1t is needless to comment upon the
attitude of Attorney W. L. Lancaster
and his associate at Farmville. Mr..
Lancaster had followed up the case
closely, had made sacrifices in defend
| ing Aubrey Barrett and his father In
this connection, it may be said that
| the unfortunate white man, who lost
his life went to the Barrett farm with
| another white man and in the alterca-
tion had Barrett down on the ground
beating aim. The boy, Aubrey Barrett
went to the assistance of his father and
the white man was killed. The father
was found guilty of first degree muir
der and when the boy later threw him.
self upon a plea of guilty upon the
mercy of the court. Judge Hundley, up
on his own motion sentenced him to
| death.
The News Leader asks if their are
other Aubrey Barrett cases? The ques-
ton answers itself in the affirmative,
| but there arc not other Editor Walter