The Washington herald., 1913-11-13
SENSATION DUE.
AT fisher TRIAL
Lawyers, 1t Is Said, Are Pre-
pairing to Spring Some
Surprises.
RETlCENT ON SUBJECT
Lives of Accused Man, Altdorfer, Mrs.
Altdorfer, and Miss Reeves
to Be Reviewed.
lRr = stan corespondentN

Rockville, Nd, Nov. E-Montgomery
County is expecting sensation after sensa'
ton during the progress of the trial oi
William ]. Fisher for the murder OF
William l. Altdorferr Washington news
paper writer, last August
The lives OF four people will be re-
viewed. Altdorfer's career, Mrs. Altdor'
fer's life from early girlhood, Miss Lillian
Reeves history, and Fishers record
from the cradle to the present Will be
taken up.
Attorneys for the State and the defense
are lining up their guns They are CIV
ing out only what information they can
consistently make public. They are saw
ing back for the trial their trump
cards. They simply are Saving wood
and saying nothing"
In Rockville today it was learned from
a reliable source that both sides have
something up their sleeves"
states Attorney Confident.
Il never try my cases outside of the
courtroom" said w. Outerbridge Spates,
States attorney. but / can consistently
say the State has q strong case, much
stronger than the defense expects. I am
confident of a verdict OF guilty on one OF
the three charges in the blanket indict-
ment returned by the grand jury against
Fisher"
Attorneys Thomas Dawson, of Rock
vile, and Arthur Peter, of Washington,
counsel for the defense, are confident of
acquittaL The defense admits, however,
being surprised yesterday at the grand
Jury returning a verdict OF any kind
against Fisher.
1t was learned from a reliable source
that "self-defense" will be the plea OF
Fisher. While neither Of the two at
torneys for the defense would discuss
their plans, it is understood one of the
trump" cards they expect to play will
be in the nature of a witness from
Congressional circles. A Representa-
tive, 1t is said, following the murder
of Altdorfer, wrote Fisher a letter in
which he stated that Altdorfer, the
same night he was killed, all but at
tackled him at club in Chevy Chase.
and if needed he would appear at the
trial. The defense will endeavor to
show by this witness that Altdorfer
was in an ugly mood before he went
home.
states Attorney Spates has lined up
about fifteen witnesses, from whom he
expects to furnish to the court proof
that Fisher is guilty of murder in the
first degree.
Tomorrow Mr.. Spates will go before
the court, now hearing the case, and ask
that date be set for the trial OF Fisher.
The criminal docket of the court will
be started November 20. Besides the
Altdorfer case several other murder
trials are booked. Vincent Owens, of
ST. Mary's County, will be tried for the
murder of his wife. Attorneys for Owens
asked a removal, and it was granted.
the case being transferred to this county.
Fisher will be given the choice of de-
Gliding whether his fate will be weighed
in the balance by jury Of twelve men
or by three judges. Which procedure he
will demand his attorneys have not yet
decided.
Should the case be tried by three judges,
the iurists sitting at the trial would be
Chief Judge Hammond Urner, and As
sociate Judges Edward c. Peter and
Glenn H worthington, Arthur Peter, Of
counsel for Fisher, is a brother OF Judge
Peter Thomas Dawson, also a counsel
for the defense, is a brother-in-law Of
Judge Peter 1t is likely the case will
be tried by a jury Of twelve men.
Fisher. at the jail is making the most