The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-14
CONDEMNED MAN
FEARS HIM SELF
Vondermiller, Slayer OF His
Brother-in-Law, Is Com
fortcd by Court.

Washingto ton. u. e., November 10
Fear that suicidal impulse may grow
out OF the dependency of Louis -.
Nondermiller. sentenced this morning
at Alexandria county courthouse TO
serve twelve years ut hard labor foi
| homicide. is not only entertained by
the jailers of the prisoner. the Com
tnonwealth's attorney who prosecuted
MIN and his counsel and friends, but
the thought also has been in the mind
of the condemned man.
II hope the court Will instruct the
sheriff and jailer that the prisoner be
given no razor to shave himself Oh
other Implement b. which he might
accomplish his own end" said Crandal
Macney. Commemorative attorney, ad-
dressing Judge J. 3. T. Thornton In
the Circuit Court OF Alexandra county
Just after the court had pronounce
sentence.
i understand that a razor has been
found on the person of the prisoner in
MS cell. and that he has threatened
to CUT his throat."
Counseled by Court.
Inc court gave such Instructions,
anu urged tho condemned man TO nut
away thoughts of seif-destruction. He
told Vondermiller that he was still a
young man, and expressed the confi-
- OF
lie before aim when he was again @
free man.
Nondermiller was remanded 10 the
county Jail TO await the coming of the
| guard TO take him to the penitentiary
at Richmond. Vondermillers sentence.
through the peculiarities of the Vir.
ginia Law. does not commence until he
Is In the custody OF the penitentiary
warden.
Should the penitentfsry be crowded.
Vondermiller might not be incarcerated
there for some indefinite time. which
would mean just so much added to his
term of Imprisonment. Other persona
in the Alexandria county jail have
languished there for months before
! removal.
For good behavior the time RENTED
| on his sentence would be about three
| days in month. Unless his previous
record could be assailed, he Is eligible
to parole after he has served half the
sentence TO which he has been con-
demned.
Is a Model Prisoner.
Vondermiller, while accepting the
term imposed on him as the best that
! can be done for him without funds to
continue the fight for his liberty, doe,
not scquiesce In the justice of the
sentence. He considers himself justi-
| fled in killing his brother-in- law, John
Reeves. at Syphax Station. Va. on the
morning of June 8. as a measure OF
! >sslf, defepse against man who he
Believes would hass NsieAa ,lM1A IycN,
! dermiller) II he had not first slain.
He has been a model prisoner in the
| county JAIL his jailers report. Melan-
| choly by nature, he has wept freely,
| finding relief from his thoughts in
| extensive reading. His appearance
| does not differ from his bearing at
| the time of his trial.
| When the lawyers recently gath.
| cred in his cell to discuss with him
| the proposed agreement with the State
| for his condemnation. vondermiller
| gave way to grief, and admitted that
! he would rather choose death. He took
| from his stocking the razor and passed
| 1t over. asking that it be taken away
from him, as he was afraid he would
use It..
The expected opposition OF the fam
lily Of John Reeves to the agreement