Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Roy E. Barrett, 1920
10 Aug 2007
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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BARRETT, ROY E.
(5 Mar 1920, Friday, Sayre Democrat, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Earl Barrett from near Carter, is charged with the murder of his own baby
the first of the week and is being held in the County jail awaiting a
hearing.
It is alleged that the baby was unwelcome to him at the time of its birth
and that soon after the baby was born he caused the child's death and
buried it in a shoe box in a section line that crossed a field.
Some of the neighbors coming to the house to inquire after the mother of
the child noticed that the baby was not there and called an officer. 
Barrett seemingly did not care to discuss the matter with local officers
but on the arrival of County attorney Minton and Judge Andrews, Coroner,
who went to the place where the baby was buried and unearthed the body.
An autopsy was held after which Barrett was arrested and brought to Sayre.
Barrett's preliminary hearing will be held on the 12th of this month.
(19 Mar 1920, Friday, Sayre Democrat, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Earl Barrett of Carter, who is charged with the murder of his own child
was bound over to the district court at the preliminary hearing Tuesday
before County Judge McComas.
The trial was a sensational one and brought many people to Sayre from the
southern part of the county so that at the time the case was set for trial
the District court room was packed, not even standing room was left, and a
large number were listening to the trial from the office of the Court
Clerk.
The testimony brought out in the hearing was of a nature that caused
public sentiment against Barrett, it being shown by the testimony that the
child was buried in a shoe box in the section line but a few inches under
the surface of the earth.
The testimony of Dr. Shadid of Carter who attended the mother at the time
of the child's birth testified that the baby was at the time of its birth
a very normal child.  There was a number of witnesses testified after
which Judge McComas bound Barrett over to the District Court.
Barrett cannot make bail because of being held charged with murder.
(1 Apr 1920, Thursday, Sayre Democrat, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Earl Barrett is Released on Bond.
Earl Barrett of Carter, charged with the murder of his own child, was
released on a bond of $5,000 this week.  Barrett's attorney, Melrose
Minton went to Mangum the first of the week to get an order for bond and
was successful.