Copyright Robert Goddard. All rights reserved.

​​​Max Barnes is on trial for the murder of his former wife,  the murder of a deputy sheriff, and the assault and attempted murder of a second deputy sheriff.

The circumstantial evidence against Max is overwhelming!

Against all advice, he represents himself. 

Is Max going to die because he can't prove his whereabouts for one and a half hours of his life?  

The jury, made up of members of the audience, will decide!

​​​​CHARACTERS

BAILIFF......................................Uniformed officer of the court. (40s/50s) 

DEPUTY.................................... Uniformed deputy sheriff. (20s/40s)

COURT CLERK..........................An officer of the court. (30s/50s)

COURT RECORDER.................(30's/40s)

JURY..........................................Twelve members of the audience.

B.J. ROLLINS............................The judge. (50s/60s)

MAX BARNES...........................Defendant , high-school graduate plus trade                                                             school for construction. (30s)

BRADLY SCOTT........................Prosecutor. (40s/50s)    

WITNESSES, IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

BETTY JEAN SIMMONS...........Mary Lou Barnes older sister.  (40s)

DR. NORTON............................Medical examiner. (50s/60s)

ELIZABETH JONES..................Mary Lou Barnes' former neighbor. (60s/70s)

LUCIEN BERGERON................Former employer of the late Mary Lou Barnes.  (50s)

MATT TAYLOR...........................Deputy sheriff. (30s)

ETHAN JOHNSON....................Detective with sheriff's department. (40s)

EUGENE WILSON.....................Employee of county waste authority. (20's)

SALLY HOLLAND.......................Lead crime scene investigator. (40s/50s) 

JOSEPH BLAIR..........................Former employee of defendant. (early 20's)

MATEO CHUA............................Former employee of defendant. (mid 20's)

PAUL FONTENOT......................A  heavy-set, tough looking guy. (40s)

MONA WIGGINS........................The late Deputy Wiggins' widow. (30s).

SETTING...................................Fictional Riverdale, Mississippi, near Jackson, in the main  courtroom of the fictional Flint County Circuit Court.

TIME..........................................The present, four months after the murders.

A Matter of Circumstance 

(A full-length dramatic play in two acts.)