Evening star., 1926-12-02
RULE IS CONVICTED
Of MANSLAUGHTER
Defense to Appeal From
Verdict - Court Adjourns
Without Passing Sentence.
BY staff Correspondent of The star

ROCKVILLE. Md, December -
After deliberating more than tiI-ee
hours, a jury sitting in Circuit Court
here early this morning decided that
Richard Henry Rule, %, of 1921 Six
teenth street, Washington, was not
justified in killing William j. Barbee,
19-year-old student, living at 1922
Vernon street. during a fight that
developed from a Halloween jest, and
found the youth guilty of man
slaughter.
Defense counsel Immediately served
notice they would seek new trial
and court was adjourned without pro-
nouncing sentence. The maximum
penalty in Maryland for manslaughter
is 10 years Imprisonment and fine
Of $500.
The verdict was rendered at 12:39
am. after day filled with sensa-
tional moments, before a large au-
dience which packed the courtroom
Sitting beside the defendant were his
father and mother. Mr. and Mrs.
Henry Rule, and his brother Gordon
The parents of the slain boy had been
in court all day, but left shortly after
the case was given to the jury.
Rule Returned to Jail.
Rule and his family heard the ver
dict calmly, with no show of emotion.
The mother kissed her son and he
was returned to the Rockville Jail to
await a move to release him on bond,
pending decision as to a new trial.
The defendant was charged with
murier, but the State, in its conclud-
ing statement, did not ask the maxi
mum penalty because the testimony
any "premeditation" in the Staying.
Special Assistant States Attorney
Robert B. Peter, jr., asked a verdict
of n1anslaughter.
The tragedy occurred at midnight,
October 80. in front of a shack on
the Colesville pike about four. miles
north of Silver Spring, Md, which
Rule and a group of Boy Scouts had
rented as a camp. Testimony showed
that while the defendant and a dozen
boys and girls were staging a Hallow-
cen party there. Barbee and about 90
other youths bound for a fraternity
dance in the vicinity stopped to ask
directions; that a fight ensued when
Rule was "kidded" about his Scottish
kilt costume, ending in the death of
Barbee when Rule fired a pistol.
Admits Firing Pistol.
On the witness stand Rule admitted
he fired the fatal shot. but declared
the gun went off accidentally while he
was attempting to raise it to fire into
the air to frighten the crowd away.
and that he feared he and his friends
were about to be assaulted.
States Attorney Joseph C. Cissel, in
his final argument to the jury, deliv-
cred a scathing arraignment of mod
ern youth, who, he declared, had re
volted against law and authority"
| youths of today seem to have over
ridden all the restraints to which we
were subjected in our youth" he
cried.
1T is time that some one says to
them stop, you have gone too far
WEAPONS were made for legitimate
purposes. and not for beardless
youths to carry to parties or to dis
charge to frighten children with
even for foolish youths of %. We
must show them that human life is
precious, that there is a price set
upon killing human being. We can
not let sympathy interfere with our
duty"
Mr. Cissel referred to the testimony
of Rule and his friends that he had
early in the evening of the tragedy
fired his pistol number of times as
part of the Halloween fun to
frighten younger members of his
party.
The States attorney reminded the