The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-09-29
EYEWITNESS TELLS
HOW THOMPSON DIED
Evidence Today May De-
eide Fate of Prof.
Harris.

wARRENTON. Va. Sept. 2e.-Vheth-
er Prof J. D. Harris, himself, forced his
arm around and placed the revolver
against the stomach Of Editor W. A.
Thompson before firing the shot that
killed him, was the point over which tive
attorneys i'm t0day's trial struggled
With Mason Strotcher. an eyewitness.
Gn the stand he Common Wealth tried
TO show that the act was voluntary on
the part Of Prof Harris Attorney Mar
shall Mccormick. FOR the defense, ie-
veloped the fact that Strother saw the
hand OF another holding the right arm
of Harfls. snC TIA, H faight have been
the strength of The other man which
brought tho pistol into position for do
ing the killing
Three Men In Struggle.
Strother declared that three men were
ia the fatal scuffe Harris. Thompson.
and irwin Maxheimer; who held Harris
hand he could not say. Richard Hail
stalk. a coIored man, who saw most
OF the encounter saw only two men
fighting Strothar stated that he was
walking down the street with Prof
Harris when they were overtaken by
Thompson who ripped out an oath
which Harris took to himself
Hs iris backed into the street. and called
to Irwin MaXheimer. who was approach
ing Take Thompson away. I don't
want TO have any trouble with him"
Before MaXheimer could interfere. de-
ciared StrOther. thompson made a quicK
step forward. gTashed Harris with his
left hand. and struck him I'm the face
Maxheimer then interposed. Strother
saw two shots fired toward the ground
Then, as with an effort. Harris moved
around. bringing the revolver against
the body Of the editor.
Strothers Sees Flash.
Strother saw the flash and heard tho
muffled report, he waited no longer. ard
dill not hear the fourth shot. StrUther
was not able TO say whose strength
brought Harris arm around into posi-
ton. There EHS considerable excite
ment among attorneys and Jurors when
Prosecuting Attorney Keith attempted
10 open the rusty revolver with which
Thompson was killed. II had not been
opened since the killing. and they knew
there was one loaded shell i'm it. As the
muzzle was pointed toward the jury
box. the jurors ducked their heads and
held up prOtestinS hands
The gun was identified by o. B. Cal
lahan. into whose hands IL was given
by Irwin Maxheimer. who took II away
from Harris. Callahan has kept the
gun locked in a safe since that night
The blOod-stained garments OF ThOmp-
son were identified by c. NJ. Petite and
Albert Fletcher. Interest in the trial
IS intense here. Twelve friends and
relatives of Prof. Harris. from southern
Virginia and North Carolina. are at
tending the trial.
State Will Conclude Early.
When court adjourned at J. o'clock for
lunch. Prosecuting Attorney Keith an
nounCed that he woald call only one
more witness before the State would
rest. This witness is expected to tes-
ufy. as have four others, that Editor
Thompson had been drinking heavily
ON the night Of the killing. He was
able TO walk alone. according TO these
witnesses. but that was about all.
The State put four physicians on the
stand TO prove by their testimony that
Thompson came 90 his death from gun
shot wounds. Drs. SeIbv and Mathis
stated that they accompanied ThomD-
son TO the Providence Hospital ih
Washington and Witnessed the opera
tion i'm which il was discovered that
there were eighteen perforations OF the
ntestncS.
Attorney Marshal Mccormick, for the
defense. announced that Prof Harris
would be his first witness Immediately /
after the state rests its case.