The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-02
PRISONER FEARED
Man He KILLED
Testimony in Vondermiller Case
Witnesses Tell of Tendency
to Suicide.

Washington, d. C.. July l-Louls
Nondermlller was in greater fear III
John Reeves, his brother-in-law, tile
man he killed at SyphaN Station June
o. than lie was of the enemy lie fought
in the Philippine campaign, he told
MS wife, Annie Vondermiller. Mrs
Nondermiller testified as the principal
witness for the defense to-day at the
trial of her husband. Louis Wonder
miller on the charge of murder in the
courthouse of Alexandria county.
Reeves dominated Vondermiller. she
testified, making her husband fetch
ana carry, ana arbitrarily showing
power over him. the witness said, by
making him sit down in a chair at
command; then cause him to stand
up and Sit down again. Vondermiller
opeyed ITO keep peace" he told his
wife.
Reeves quarreled with Vondermiller
the night before the tragedy. accord
Ing TO the testimony. Vondermiller
snapped pistol at Reeves, when
Reeves attempted to choke Mrs. Won
dermller that night and Reeves
chased Vondermiller out of the house
with threats to kill him; Reeves kept
guard until late in the night to keep
Nondermiller out of the house, or to
Get at him II he returned. He then
tightlocked the house to keep him out.
repeating threats to kill vondermiller.
All this Mrs. Vondermiller testified
was part of night of disturbance.
Nondermllcr, after killing his
hrother-in-law. came back 10 the house
to tell his wife that Reeves made
him do it"
Tendency to Suicide.
Mrs. Vondermiller also testified that
her husband had suicidal tendencies.
had frequent impulses to cut his throat
Sith a razor when shaving. and twice
a revolver had been taken away from
MIN when he was about to send n bull
let into himself
father OF the prisoner. and Cornelius
SyphaX were the only other witnesses
Of the morning. SyphaX told OF threats
Mr. De Moulin described the mental
history of his wifes family TO estab
lish the faint Of insanity in the pris-
oner. He also told of the wanderings
of his son as far as he had been able
TO keep track OF him.
Nondermiller. it developed, by his
fathers testimony. had been n soldier
in the Philippines: he had a wife who
has since divorced him in Canton, o.
by whom he had three children. Ills
father had not seen him for twelve
which brought them together. His
son, he said. changed his name to VINO
dermiller from De Moulin. supposins
1t to he the Germanized form OF his
Belgian patronymic.
Insanity OF Vondermiller's grand
mother, his uncle and the errat!c men
tality OF two sisters of the prisoner
were established by Mr.. De Mouin's
testimony. HIS sons conduct after his
return from the Philippines suggested
to his father that he was not OF a
sound mind.
Cornelius Syphnn Recalled.
Cornelius SyphaX. called by the de-
tense for cross-examination. stated ur-
der questioning by Nondermiller's law
yerS that he had heard Reeves. refer
ring to Vondermller. say:
There he is now: l Will kill him.
If not now. some other time"
Mrs. John Reeves. widow of Wonder.
miller's victim. the last witness for the
state late yesterday afternoon testi.
fed that her husband was fondling his
ester. Mrs Nondermiller. when Won
iermillcr snapped the pistol at him
Sunday night before the tragedy AZ
She denied that Reeves was CHOKING
Mrs. Vondermller. the reason given
| by Fondermiller for trying to use the
pistol on his brother n-law Won Ter.
miller was intoxicated said Mrs
| Reeves.
| Or. Otto Portner, of Canton. O.. ohy.
stefan of the family of Vondernilier's
| father. was one of the witnessed for
| the defense. He testified that while
| Nondermillcr had shown symptoms { I
| insanity during the thirty years he ha d
! known him, It had never been con.
| sidered necessary to connne him IJa
| had never known him to be positively
| insane. he admitted