Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-08
.LAUPP IS SET.FREE
-,
Exonerated of Any Blame for
His Brothers Death.
HEARING At MOUNT RAINIER
e ,.- -.
His Arrest due to Idle Gossip" De.
clares Justice Joyce.

Charles Laupp was eXonerated Of any
responsibility for the death of his brother.
Robert Laupp, who was found dead in
bed at the Rams Horn Inn. near Hyatts-
vile. June 90 last. at a hearing before
Justice of Peace Robert Joyce at Mount
Rainier. Nd, last night =.
|. In dischargtne Mr.. Laupp Justice Joyce
remarked: 1T seems to me there has
been nothing but a lot Of idle gossip In
this case. There was not even a theory
to build case on
The hearing was held in the rear Of u
poolroom in Potts Hall. In this room
were crowded nearly 100 residents Of
newspaper men. During the progress Of
the hearing a large wooden girder. the
main support of the building, gave way.
under the room. and for a time there was
scramble to the doors and windows
to withdraw. and the hearing was RESUME
ed. 1t was not long, however, before
nearly al of the spectators had resumed
their places in the room.
l. Attorneys Robert W. Wells and George
p. Hoover of this city appeared for Mr..
Laupp. Upon the reading Of the war
! rant by Constable Reybold. charging
Charles Laupp with being responsible for
MS DTOLQeT 3 OedtTs Attorney NellS en-
tered a plea Of mot guilty.
Identifies Revolver as His.
julius Reineis was the first witness
called. He testified that the revolver
found under Robert Laupp had belonged
to him. He stated he had traded it to
Laupp the Sunday previous to his death.
He said Robert had threatened to commit
,s<.;l A1ox I'D hat
him during the entire week following the
trading of the revolver. Reineis also tes-
titled that he had heard the Laupp BROTH
ers quarrel, but had never seen any
blows struck.
DR.. G. w. Latimer of Hyattsville tes-
, titled as to his having been called to the
Rams Horn Inn Sunday morning, June
ID He said he arrived there about 8
o'clock in the morning, and found the
body Of Robert Laupp lying on the bed.
He testified that the revolver was lying
beneath him, which seemed to fndica te
that he was sitting in the bed when the
shot was fired and then fell backward.
He said he thought the man had been
fed that he thought the pistol barrel was
held in the mouth when 1t was DISCHARGED
and that powder marks on the right fore
finger indicated the revolver had been
fired with the middle finger of the right
hand, with the forehnger cid along the
barrel.
DR. Latimer testified further that in
his opinion he wound in the mouth was
self inflicted.
Heard No Shot Fired.
Richard Moody. colored. a waiter en-
ployed at the Rams Horn Inn, testified
that he did not hear any shot fired the
night of June % last or the following
| morning. He added that the Laupp
brothers had quarreled several times. but
only on one occasion did they come to
blows.
| Jacob Schiller. another employee of the
| inn, testified that he was standing in the
yard of the inn Sunday morning, June
26, about 1915 o'clock when he heard q
noise like the report of pistol or some
thing falling on the tin roof In the front
part Of the house He said he went
around the house and made an investiRa-
! ton, but did not find anything. He said
he did not know Of Mr.. Laupps death until
several hours later, when Mrs. Laupp.
| the mother. sent him to Roberts room 10
| find out why Robert had not arisen. He
also testified that he had heard the
brothers quarrel and that about two years
ago Robert had gone after Charles with
| q gun. He also testified that he heard
Charles say he did not believe his brother
| had committed suicide.
Others who testified We're Dr. J.. c.. OH
lendorf, Constable Johnson of Hyattsviile
and E. z. McChesney.
Constable Offers Exclamation.