ROBERT BARBOUR FACES SECOND TRIAL FOR MURDER; HEARING NOW IN PROGRESS AT DALHOUSIE.

Taking of Evidence Began Tuesday And Will Continue Until Tomorrow -- J. Allan LeBlanc Conducts Vigorous Defence -- Barbour Appears Calm And Composed.

Trial Began Tuesday

Dalhousie, NB, April 25 -- Walking with firm step to the prisoner's box and looking pale after a year in jail, Robert Barbour, 25, went on trial today for a second time on a charge of murdering his "girl friend" Margaret Harris.

The 24-year old girl died last April of head injuries allegedly inflicted with a hammer. Convicted and sentenced to hang. Barbour won an appeal for a new trial.

Only one witness, Mrs Richard Barbour, sister of Margaret and sister-in-law of Barbour, was heard today before the Restigouche County Circuit Court adjourned until tomorrow. Mr. Justice J. H. L. Fairweather is presiding.

Owing to illness of the witness the courtroom was cleared during her testimony. She repeated evidence heard at the first trial and described the Barbour home which has been torn down since the events of March 30, 1938.

The accussed was at home when she went out that afternoon, the witness said. Summoned back by a boy she saw Margaret lying on a bedroom floor. Her head was bleeding. Her mother and a sister of Barbour was there. The mother Mrs. James Harris, was holding a blood-stained hammer.

Selection of the petit jury today took almost an hour. Barbour, neatly dressed in a dark suit, pleaded innnocense in a clear voice.

Petit Jury Selected

The selected of the petit jury was anything but a speedy proces. A large number of those called were exempted on various grounds and the panel was almost exhausted before the quota was finally filled. The petit jurors selected were: James Cantwell, Campbellton; Wallace Steves, Durham Center; G.H. Dawson, Manns Mountain; John S. Shannon, Campbellton; William Cook, Jr., Doyleville; Albred McNeill, Seaside; David Cooling, Dawsonville; Joseph Hill, Atholville; Alphonse Roy, Charlo Station; George Burns, Atholville; James Cooling, Dawsonville; Alex. Turvey, Jacquet River.

The full quota of petit jurymen was finally empanelled at 2;50 p.m. and the charge read to them by the clerk of the court, Benoit Michaud. During the proceedings Barbour remained calm and un-emotional and for the most part sat with bowed head and down-cast eyes.