The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-01
SPRING SURPRISE
At MURDER TRIAL
Defense Creates Sensation in
the Vondcrmiller
Case.
BOYS STATEMENTS VARY
States Witness Has Signed
Paper Favorable to
Prisoner.
BOYS STATEMENTS VARY

Washington. June 30.-EXhibiting to
the court a statement. signed by Yawr-
ence O'Connor. SIXTEEN earold boy,
who was a witness for the state. that
Louis Nondermiller. when seen by
o'Connor crouching III the bushes near
the scene of the killing of John Reeves
and just prior to the tragedy, acted
like crazy man. the defense sprung
monwealths Attorney Crundal Mackey
and Judge Thornton. who is trying the
case in the county court OF alexandria
county. vondermiller is on trial for
his life on the charge OF numbering
Reeves his brother-in-la law. at SyphaX
Station, the morning of June ).
O'Connor had just testified. on cross
examination. that Vondermiler did not
look or act like a crazy man al the
time. The defense. represented by the
firm of Moncure. Wampler Cloth.
called his attention 10 the statement
he had signed only the day before ana
asked him If he had not been repeat
eddy asked before he signed the state
ment II Vondermiller's actions did not
suggest insanity.
The commemorative attorney called
the attention OF the court ii the fact
that the defense had obtained the
statement from one of the witnesses
under summons by the State. Coun-
sci for Vondermiller explained that the
defense had not willingly been unpro-
fessional. and had no way of knowing
who were witnesses for the State. and
declared their Ignorance of the fact
until the boys appearance on the
stand.
The State probably will complete its
case against Nondermiller late to-day.
Eight witnesses were introduced yes
terday BY Commonwealth's Attorney
Crandal Mackey: eight witnesses gave
their testimony this morning before
adjournment: dozen more will end
the States presentment
Frank Dennis Testifles.
The chief witness this morning was
FRANK Dennis, special county police
man He narrated circumstance of
his meeting WITH Vondermiller the
night before the tragedy; of his part
In investigating the tragedy; of the
location of the gun with which the
deed had been committed. OF re-
VoiVer that Vondermiller is alleged to
have snapped at Reeves the night be-
fore the tragedy. without its going
on; OF finding an area of grass beaten
down, where IL was assumed that Won
dermiller had waited for the coming
OF Reeves to the station to catch his
morning train to Washington and of
the arrest of Vondermilier.
The gun and spent shells. the re-
volVer. the go-y clothing OF the dead
man. his bullet-holed straw hat and
the contents OF the pockets were put
in evidence by the State.
Inere were many passages-at-arms
between the commemorative attorney
and counsel for the defense Wonder
MIXERS attorneys objected to the
leading character of many of Mr.
Mackey's questions and protested that
ne was himself putting evidence into
the mouths of his witnesses. The
court as often sustained the defense
as the prosecution.
Oscar Basye. a witness who was
not In court at o'clock, when his
name was called. and who did not APP
pear until after II O'clock to give his
testimony. explained that he had had
10 put fifteen men to work before he
could respond to the summons The
court fined him So, raised IT to $40.
put II back to So, and finally remitted
the Iine at the instance OF the Com
monwealth's attorney.
Prisoner All Attention.
the prisoner sat in his corner of the
q
" hen he raised his head, however, his
Isce did not wear an expression of
detection, but rather of close after
ton.
". a. Pirtle. the first witness, testi-
fed to the condition of the bushes
where Nondermiller was said to have
posted himself prior to the killing He
said that the grass was crushed down
there -'''3
The defense, in cross-examining po-
q N Nan tic L.
he had himself lain down in the SCOT
miller, before Pirtle had seen the
place.
Eight Testify for stnte.
Eight witnesses testified for the
state yesterday after the jury had
heen selected undrtaker Gsorge
burial, testified regarding the wounds
IN inc dead mans head which caused
ueath' lie was corroborated by VIII
liam Taylor, his assistant.
~. {. Taylor, motorman of the car
that reached Syphax station just after
the tragedy, told of finding Reeves
lying wounded on the ground, still
breathing. and of carrying him into
the station building.
Robert syphax. War Department meg
senGer. heard the fatal shots. and passed
Vondermiiler walking away from the scene.
sgphhX said he mad heard Reeves. several
days before. threaten to kill Vondermiller.
when the latter had snapped n pistol in his
face that failed To 70 off
Cornelius Syphax. Agricultural Department
messenger, and a brother of the preceding
witness said Vondermilier tried to borrow
a shotgun saying he wanted to kill Reeves
with It, Nondermiiler acted as through he
had been drinking. said the witness
Morris Ferguson. storekeeper, also testi-
fcd he wss asked by Noadermiller for the
loan Of shotgun with which to 'to XIII
hawk Mrs Ferguson and her SON Morris
Ferguson. testified that Nondermiiler had
talked nationally with them just prior to
the tragedy.
BOY FATALLY INJURED.
While Riding OIL bicycle COlIides With