Copyright Robert Goddard. All rights reserved.

A Matter of Circumstance 

A dramatic play in two acts.

Unproduced 

​​​Max Barnes has been charged with the murder of his former wife, Mary Lou Barnes, the assault and attempted murder of Deputy Matt Taylor, and the premeditated murder of Deputy Ed Wiggins.

The circumstantial evidence against Max is overwhelming and all the attorneys he has tried to hire have insisted that he plea bargain for a life sentence, as his case was hopeless. Max refused to plea bargain, choosing to represent himself.

The circumstantial evidence against him is overwhelming and he has no alibi. His only hope is to cast doubt, create uncertainty, and suggest alternative theories in the hope of getting at least one juror to feel sympathy for him.

Will it be enough to save Max's life? Is he 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)

THE WIDOW

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

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

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