Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-17
WARNED BY ALlNUTT
Mother and Sister Feared He
Would Do Them Harm.
LOCKED WOMEN IN CELLAR
Then Threatened to Burn House Over
Them, Friend of Family Says.
NEPHEW THEIR PROTECTOR
Smith Al1nut Lived at Dawsonville
Homestead to Lessen Terror Of
Son-Defense Of Insanity.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
ROCKVILLE, Nd. March 17.-Hav-
ing locked them in the cellar of
their home and threatened to burn down
the house while they were thus impris-
oned several weeks ago, a friend of
the family said today, Richard ". ALI
mutt. whose welding Of pitchfork han
die Tuesday morning brought about the
death Of his sister, Mrs. valeria Veirs,
and serious injury to his mother. Mrs.
Margaret Allnutt, and to her companion,
Miss Jane Rawlings. gave them warning
that he might do them violence.
Even before the cellar incident, 1t is
understood. his mother and sister, as
we'll as other members Of the family,
have been moro or less in terror Of Dick.
And 1t was for that reason. friends of
the family say. that Smith Allnutt, q
nephew Of Dick Allnutt, has resided
with the gray-haired mother and her
daughter at the Allnutt homestead near
Jacksonville. 1t was felt that he was
a protection to the elderly women.
While he was temporarily away sew
eral weeks ago Dick Allnutt went to
the house. His approach was discovered
by the women, and. knowing their '.pro-
tector" to be away. they ran into the
cellar to hide.
Threatened to Burn House.
Dick soon learned where they were.
Locking the doors that gave exit from
the basement. friends Of the family say.
he paced about tho house, declaring that
he intended to burn it down over the
heads OF the women in the cellar. He
had not started to carry out his purpose,
however, before Smith Ailnutt came in.
There was a stormy scene between the
two. 1t is declared, and Dick was finally
persuaded to leave the house.
When Dick went to the aAllnutt hone-
stead last Tuesday morning the PRO
tector' was not there, having gone on
an errand earlier in the 0ay. The three
women whom he attacked were alone IN
Miss, rawlings. whose INJURIES have
been threatening to prove fatal, Is to-
day somewhat improved, but her physi-
cians say she is not yet o0t Of danger.
She regained consciousness late yester-
Gay afternoon. and that has given nope
that she will survive the severe beating
on her head with the pitchfork hanule.
The recovery OF Mrs. Ailnutt, Dicks
mother, Is now regarded as practically
certain. She is showing steady improve
ment, and IL that continues. her doctors
say, she will soon be entirely out of
danger.
Meanwhile Dick is realizing more and
more what he did last Tuesday morning.
Confined in the Rockville Jail, he broods
over the quarrel. despite the efforts Of
his relatives and friends to cheer him up.
His wife. bride of but few months. Is
his constant companion in the Jail, and
since his arrest she has been staying
with him just as much time as the sheriH
will allow.
Rev. r. s. White, a retired baptist
minister residing in Rockville, was
sent for this morning. through the
wife. Ito talk over religious matters"
He spent long time In conversation
with the prisoner.
Rev. Charles H. Waters Of Bright
wood. D. c.. who has been a friend
of the family for years and who has
known Dick since he was a youth,
called to see him yesterday.
Keenly Realizes His Crime.
my. doctor, what have I done?" Dick
exclaimed to him as greeting. This is
taken to show how keenly the pris-
oner is now realizing his offense.
Reports that brothers Of Dick were not
going to stand by him in his trial, be-
cause of strained family relations. have
been set at rest. IT became known to-
day that the brothers will stick by him
mainly because they believe he was not
himself when he struck the blows that
brought death to his sister and severe
injury to his mother and her companion.
That insanity will be the defense is
the announcement OF Attorney w. o.
Spates. who has been retained as counsel
for the prisoner. The plans for con-
Quoting an inquiry into the sanity of the
prisoner have not been formulated as
yet, the attorney says. but they will be
soon. Another attorney will be taken
into the case to assist Mr.. Spates, but
who it will be has not yet been deter
mined.
The family physician. who has known
Dick for many years. friends Of the fam
lily are saying today. has told the county
authorities that he believes Dick Is crazy.
And those who have visited him in Jail.
ii is also stated, find that no matter
what topic OF conversation Is introduced
he again and again refers to his rights
in the family property and to injustice
to him.
DESCRIBED AS MOBILIZATION