The Washington times., 1911-05-29
TRIAL OF ALLNUTT
ON MURDER CHARGE
POSTPONED TODAY
Goes Over Two Weeks Be-
cause Defense's Alienist
Is Missing.

ROCKVILLE, Md, May 29.-Trial of
Richard W. Allnutt went over two
weeks this morning in the district court
of Montgomery county because DR..
Charles HILL of Baltimore, an alienist
for the defense, has left the State.
DR.. Hill, who is expected to testify
that Allnutt was insane when he killed
his sister. Mrs. Valera A. Veirs, March
IA last, has gone to Texas. DR.. Hill is
an officer of the State militia, and has
been designated by the governor of
Maryland as one Of the officers to visit
the United States army division at San
Antonio.
Before the defense asked this post
ponement until June Il, States Attorney
Bowie F. Waters had caused some de-
lay through seeking to have missing
witnesses rounded up. 1t is likely that the
States will have to- go to trial without
testimony by two eye-witnesses of the
killing.
Missing Witnesses.
One of these is Mrs. Margaret Allnutt,
mother of the defendant, and the other
is Sallie Bailey, a colored cook. She
has left the State. Mrs. Allnutt, who is
eighty-five years of age. will probably
be unable to testify because OF ILL
health. Her attending physician, DIR.
L. D. Nourse, informed the court this
morning that to make Mrs. Allnut tes-
tify might jeopardize her life.
States Attorney Waters asked Judge
Peter II the court would consent to the
jury's going out to Mrs. Allnutt's farm
and getting her testimony there. when
the time comes. The court refused.
Although this Ia very grave case,
way to jeopardize the life of woman
who is critically ILL.,
Mr.. Waters then asked the court IL
he would admit a statement by Mrs.
Allnutt. The court said that II would
be impossible in a capital case.
Prisoner Nervous.
When Allnut was arraigned this
morning. and the long indictment read
to him, the defendant seemed rather
nervous. When the clerk of the court
ask ed him what he would plead. Allnutt
did not seem to understand, and re-
manned silent until one Of his counsel
rose and whispered in his ear. Where
upon AIlnutt pleaded mot guilty"
The States Attorney is being assisted
DS AlcAdHucI hiIBOulS VI INNShN AIASb -
designated to act by the court. The
prisoner has for counsel Arthur Peter,
of Washington. brother of Judge Pc
ter, and w. o. Spates, of Rockville. The
prisoners wife, a brother and two cous-
ms attended the trial. AHnutt is
charged with having killed his sister
following a family quarrel over his
wife's coming to his mothers home to
live.
Crime He Is Accused of.
The crime with which Richard w.
AIlnutt is charged occurred the morn
ing of March II at the home of Allnutts
mother, Mrs. Margaret Allnutt, near
Jacksonville, this county. Several
months before. Allnutt was married,
and since that event had boarded at the
home of his brother, Lawrence Allnutt.
at Jacksonville.
Richard Allnutt was anxious to take
his wife to his mothers home to live.
but there had been objection on the
part of members of the family, and ALL
mutt went to his old home that morning
to talk the matter over. He was
frankly told that such an arrangement
could not be made, simply because IL
was thought 1t would be better II the
two families lived under different
roofs.
This determination of the matter is
said to have angered Allnutt, who Is al
legged to have grabbed the handle of a
pitchfork and viciously attacked his
sister, Mrs. Veirs: his aged mother, and
the latter's old friend and companion,
Miss Jane Rawlings, who happened to
be in the room.
Mrs. Veirs' skull was crushed, her
face was battered, and one arm was
broken. She died that night. Mrs. ALI
mutt and Miss Rawlings were also pain
fully cut and bruised about the head
and face, and for a week or more their
condition was critical. but they finally
recovered. Allnutt then, 1t is said, went
from the scene of the crime to the
home of his brother, where he was ar
rested later in the day by Sheriff Welt,
who brought him 10 Rockville and
lodged him In jail, where he has since
been.