Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-01
Montgomery Officials Expect
to Hold Him on Man.
slaughter Charge.
WHOLE STORY, THEY SAY,
HAS never BEEN TOLD
Assert That Conditions We're Such
That q Clash With Altdorfer
Was Inevitable.

The preliminary hearing Of William J.
Fisher, confined in the Montgomery coun-
ty Jail at Rockville on the charge Of kill
ing William L. Altdorfer at the latter's
home in Chevy Chase. Nd, last Friday
night. will be held before Police Judge
Arthur Mace at Rockville tomorrow. 1t
was originally intended to hold the hear
ing today, but the plan was changed be-
cause of the fact that this is legal
holiday.
Funeral services for Altdorfer were held
this afternoon at the chapel Of r. F.
Harvey's Son, 1923 14th street northwest
Interment was at Congressional cemetery.
That the Montgomery county authorities
are making every effort to establish a
charge Of murder against Fisher was
made plain yesterday when States At
torney w. Outerbridge Spates and Sheriff
C1ifard Howard Of Montgomery county
spent the greater part Of the day and
evening interrogating Mrs. Altdorfer,
Miss Lillian Reeves, the seventeen-year-
and acquaintances Of the slain newspaper
writer. The trend of the questioning
showed plainly that the authorities pur-
pose to establish If possible, a motive for
the killing aside from that given in
Fishers statement.
Aim at Manslaughter.
Sheriff Howard stated to a reporter
for The Star last night that he was
extremely doubtful il a conviction on a
charge of murder could be secured, but
maintained that the evidence in the
hands of the authorities was ample to
secure Fishers conviction on q man.
slaughter charge. The sheriff contend
ed that Fishers continued residence in
the Altdorfer home. after Altdorfers s
Incorporate rabits had made him dan
gerous man with whom to associate
pointed to the existence of a state of
affairs in which g. serious encounter be-
tween the two men might be regarded as
inevitable, sooner or later.
According to Sheriff Howard, the state
was in such condition Of intoxication
that even a man as much smaller than
he as Fisher could have handled him
without being compelled to resort to the
that the state would maintain that no
necessity existed for such violent meas-
ures as were taken by Fisher, and ex-
pressed serious doubt % to Fisher 3
statement that he was being choked to
the point of strangulation, and that he
used the shears with which the fatal
wound was inflicted only because he felt
that 1t was either case Of his life or
Altdorfer's.
Not Legally Adopted.
Sheriff Howard informed the reporter
for The Star that it had been learned
that Miss Reeves was never legally
adopted by the Altdorfers, who, accord
ing to the sheriff, took the young girl
from the House of the Good Shepherd
less than two years ago.
States Attorney SDateS and Sheriff
Howard declared last night that Mrs.
Altdorfer and Miss Reeves will be called
as witnesses for the state at the pre-
liminary hearing to be held tomorrow.
Lewis Turner. next-door neighbor Of the
AltdorferS, who helped AltdOrfer into the
house and assisted in putting him to bed
last Friday night, Is also to be called as
state witness. Attorneys Thomas Daw-
son and Arthur Peter. representing Fish
er, profess to be satisfied with this action
Of the states attorney. as. they say, the
state cannot cross-eXanine its own wit
nesses or put leading questions to them,
this being the privilege of the opposing
attorneys, should they desire to ex-
ercise it. -~-
That a great many points in the case
will have to be cleared up, and that
much remains behind the killing that has
not been made public. was the plain In
timation last night Of Sheriff Howard.
Mr.. Spates, however, was more non-com-
initial, though his answers to questions
indicated that he shared the views Of
the sheriff.
If a case OF manslaughter Is all that
can be made against Fisher at the hear
ing tomorrow it will be possible to secure
his release on bond pending the present
mcnt of the case to the grand jury at Its
next session I'm November. Discretion to
accept bail for person accused or man
slaughter rests largely with the examin-
ing magistrate. who may direct the re-
lease Of such person on approved bond.
or who may decline to accept any bail.
In the latter case habeas corpus proceed
release Of the accused person. and It IL
understood that Fishers attorneys con-
template such proceedings in case their
client is held without bail.
Fisher Has Many Callers.
In his narrow. cramped cell at the
Rockville jail, Fisher held an almost con-
tinuous reception yesterday, being visit
ed by large number Of friends and &C.
Chase. Two big automobiles filled with
| friends from the city went out In the at
ternoon. in addition to a number of small
| er automobile parties. while many other
mitted slayer and fellow-club members
went to Rockville by train and trolley.
The stream Of visitors was almost unin-
| terrupted until late yesterday afternoon.
ana all or F't6nerS 8 callers expressed con-
fdence is his acquittal.
Fisher maintains the air of cheer
fulness which he has borne ever since
his Incarceration. and the many times
repeated assurances of interest. support
and friendship he received aided ma
terially in strengthening the confidence
Of the accused man. While overcome at
the realization Of the deed and the seri-
Gus consequences that he clearly per-
ceives may follow, he maintained today
that he had done nothing more than any
other man in like circumstances would
have done.
Yesterday Fisher complained of sore
| ness Of his throat. saying that he ex-
perienced great difflculty In swallowing.
He claimed that Altdorfer's grip on his
throat was SO strong that his breath
was almost cut off. and he was rapidly
being strangled to death, when, in fall
| ing to the floor, he seized the pair of
shears and began plungfng them into
Aitdorfer's body. The desperate mans
| fingers, Fisher declares. bruised his
| throat SO severely that altar the sore.
ness had had time TO develop he was
almost unable to speak or TO swallow.
Monument to Vesuvius Victims.
NAPLES, September LAT San Giu-