Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-03
STORY OF NIGHT OF TRAGEDY
Testimony Of Associates Of Prisoner
and Reeves in Regard to Char
acter and Temperament.

the sunday night DeIore the kiIllfS, al
terward tried to begin to make up with
Mrs. Vondermiler. and put his arm
around her and kissed her. was the ac-
made by the boy on the
witness stand this morning before Judge
Thornton in the county court of Alex
andria county.
In every other respect Eddie Wonder
miller's testimony agreed with Mrs. Won
dermiller's account Of the happenings OF
that stormy day and night. The boys
story was not shaken under cross-exami-
nation.
Commonwealth Attorney Mackey accused
the boy of making statements on the
stand at variance with the declaration
he had made to Mr.. Mackey shortly after
the killing. The boy replied that he had
told Mr. Mackey everything, but that he
could not know whether or not Mr.
Mackey wrote il down as he said It,
Coaching of Boy Intimated.
Mr. Mackey's intimation that the boy
had been coached for the witness
stand nearly precipitated trouble.
What do you mean by THAR" demand
ed Mr.. Moncure of counsel for the de-
Tense. His associate counsel, Wampler,
who had taken the boys deposition for
the defense, glared at Mr.. Mackey resent
fully.
Mr.. Mackey denied that he had meant
any lnsinuatlons against the methods of
the opposing counsel, but when Mr. Mack
ey talked OF dead beats and money
borrowers. rejecting on Vondermiller's
practices. the defense found new cause
Tor complaint, Directing that the common
wealth's attorney, by insinuation. was
distortng facts and getting before the
jury misstatements prejudicIal to the de-
tense.
Mr.. Mackey's interruption of the replies
OF witnesses and his methods of cross
examination irritated counsel for the de-
tense.
Coats Of the Rule.
Coats off in court was the order of
the day. with the mercury trying to
break out from the top OF the thermome-
ter. 1t was a shirt-sleeved jury and
audience The court, counsel and the
witnesses alone kept fully clad.
When Vondermiller came into court
at the opening of today's session, his
father and wife had already taken their
seats. Passing them on his way to his
place within the bar, the prisoner kissed
first Mrs. Vondermiller and Mr.. De
Moulin.
That Nondermiller was a wife-beater,
and therefore feared the vengeance Of
his brother. was continually alleged by
Commonwealth Attorney Mackey in his
cross-examination. The defense asked an
instruction from the court as to whether
the state could make this an issue in the
trial.
The court declared that it would re-
fuse to try the question whether Wonder
miller was wife beaten, but intimated
that the defense had opened the way to
permit that line of questioning by the
state. The ruling Of the court will be
announced later.
Character of the Testimony.
Besides the son Of the prisoner the wit
nesses of the morning were William
Hickey, w. w. Malone, Theodore Gross
and Otto Sontag. Hickey, Malone and
Sontag We're fellow-members Of Wonder
miller and Reeves in the Army and Navy
Union. They told of the violent temper
of Eondermiller when in drink and Von-
dermiller's erratic action and his fear OF
his brother-in-law. Gross told of an as
sault made by Reeves on NondermIler a
number of years ago. when Vondermiller
was knocked senseless by Reeves hist.
Thought Vonderniller Irrational.
William Hickey, an associate Of Won
dermiller and Reeves in Roosevelt Garri-
son, Army and Navy Union gave his i'm
pressions of both. He said that Reeves
was usually drunk and often quarrel
some. Nondermfller was regarded as
erratic by other members of the garri-
son. He regarded Vondermiller as an ir-
rational man.
"A man who would kill man as von-
dermiller killed Reeves" said MIR. Hickey
is either insane or very bad man"
This was under cross examination by
the commemorative attorney, and Mr.
Mackey agreed with the witness.
Son Ccrroborates Mother.
Eddie Vondermiller, the nine-year-
son of the prisoner. told of the return Of
his father to his home the Sunday be-
fore the shooting.
Uncle John had been drinking and was
mean to him and tried to choke him and
throw him overheard, father said when
he came up" said the boy.
Papa told mamma that IL supper
wasn't ready when Uncle John got in he
would raise a fuss"
The boy corroborated his mothers evil
ience as to John Reeves assault upon
her. The boy illustrated with his hand
to his throat how his Uncle John tried
10 choke her. Eddie gave his mother a
stick TO defend herself. Vondermiller ap-
peared with revolver, snapped it at
tteeEc3 ana tnen l6U.
The boy followed his mothers testi- |
mony in nearly every particular. telling
how his uncle believed Vondermiller to |
be in the neighborhood, and how he |
offered himself a target to Wonder |
miller on the porch with his head against |
the light.
Il know where can catch him." said |
John Reeves, according to the witness.
I'll go to the bureau and get him |
when he comes out at night"
Il 1tAr all I'D Nd l.
bureau Of engraving and printing
The boy. under cross-eXamination. de- |
MED that he had been coached for his tes- |
timony by his mother and aunt, Mrs. |
Redmond.
The boy testified that Cornelius Syphax. |
a neighbor, came over to the Vanderbilt |
Ter house. and Reeves spoke to him.
'Got anything on your? Reeves asked |
5yphax. Syphax said no.
Syphax asked Reeves why he didn't go |
to bed.
I'm not going TO bed till / kill Von
iermiller," Reeves replied.
The cross-examinat.on Of the boy drew |
objection from the counsel for the de- |
,enSs.
The witness is only boy said Mr.. |
Moncure. Il hardly think those questions
are competent
Intimation Of Coaching.
"A boy who has been trained for weeks
% give his testimony is competent to an
,wer any questions retorted the COM
attorney.
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