The Washington herald., 1913-11-27
VERDICT TODAY
in FISHER TRIAL
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

nesses The center of attraction chung
around Miss Lillian Reeves, the only eye
witness to the killing. She testined that
Altdorfer made an insulting remark to
her the night of the homicide With
tears in her eyes she told her story.
Asked to repeat the exact words of
Altdorfer's alleged insult, Miss Reeves
tearfully refused. There was a quick
consultation of judges and lawyers. Miss
Reeves then. to the court In private,
sobbed out the phraseology OF the In
suit.
The most damaging testimony of the
State came when an affidavit MED with
| the Pension Bureau by Altdorfer, max
ing application for pension, was ad-
mitted in evidence. Judges Peter and
Worthington refused TO overrule an OBJ
lection made by Attorneys Arthur Peter
and Thomas Dawson for the defense
The affidavit was read in the court fol-
lowing the recess for dinner. The affi-
dayit showed that more than year be-
fore the killing Altdorfer swore he was
suffering from lung trouble. Fisher. who
for more than ten years had been a
boarder in the Altdorfer home, swore to
the affidavit, swearing that Altdorfer
was SO weak from the effect OF lung
trouble he hardly could climb up the
stairs at his home.
1t is the contention of the defense
Fisher killed AItdorfer for two reasons,
one of self-defense and another to pro-
tect the Reeves girls honor. The defense
claims that at the time Of the homicide
AItdorfer was strong physically, and that
Fisher, much smaller in size, had per-
feet right tc fear for his life.
Pension Affidavit Submitted.
The State, by having the pension affi-
davit submitted to the court, was to show
that Altdorfer was in Ill health, and
Fisher physically as strong or stronger.
When called on to testify Miss Reeves
was extremely nervous She flushed and
paled at times. At first she told her
story disconnectedly. AS she proceeded
she almost broke down under the strain.
She said that on the night of the killing
Altdorfer came home intoxicated. and
that she had disrobed him and put him
to bed. When she reached the point in
her story where she took on Altdorfer's
garments, she sobbed audibly. Attorneys
for the State and defense came to her
assistance. She then was permitted to
tell her story almost in private to the at
torneys and judge, and not before the
courtroom audience, which was trying to
catch each word of the story.
Next to Miss Reeves attention was CEN
tered about Mrs. Altdorfer. Though
summoned as a witness for the State
she proved only fair witness. She tes-
titled that Fisher had been in the Altdor-
fer home for at least ten years; had
lived with her and her husband while
they were in the Philippines, came back
to this country with them and lived ut
their home up until the killing OF Alt
dorfer.
Mrs Altdorfer said she was married
in 1891, went to the Philippines with her
husband in February, 1902. She said she
met Fisher in Manila in November, 1903;
that he lived with her and her husband
from November. 1903, to June 1904 when
they came back to Washington. Fisher
also came back TO Washington and again
lived with the Altdorfers. She admitted
her husband had a cough and that he
was examined more than a year ago for
tuberculosis However. she said. he was
not a weak man physically. Upon cross-
examination she said Fisher was Mr..
Altdorfer's best friend"
Mrs. Steiner on Stand.
Mrs. Elizabeth Steiner. of Washington,
sister of Altdorfer, was a witness for the
State. She told the court her brother
was sickly and not strong and powerful
as claimed by the defense. She was
asked by John Garrett, assistant counsel
for the prosecution. what she knew of
the relatlonS existing between Fisher
and Mrs. Altdorfer. Attorneys for the
defense objected. Judges Peter and
Worthington sustained the objection, and
Mrs. Steiner was not permitted to ex-
press her views. Mrs. Steiner told the |
court that more than a year ago she |
heard Fisher make i threat against the |
life of her brother: that she told Mrs |
Altdorfer about it, and also her brother |
Mrs. Ella German another sister of Alt |
dorfer. was sworn in for the State. She |
substantiated the testimony of her sis |
ter in regard to her brothers health be- |
ing bad.
Luther S. Cannon, principal examiner |
of pension claims, was a witness for the |
State. He produced application papers |
for a pension made by Altdorfer. AS it |
developed Altdorfer did not contract lung |
trouble while in the army, in the Philip |
pines, the pension was not allowed. How |
ever, the pension examiners admitted at |
the time the application was filed Alt
dorfer had lung trouble
At o'clock the court adjourned for |
dinner. 1t reconvened at 7:3O. The PEN
sion application was read. Then the de-
fense introduced several witnesses
Arguments were made shortly before
midnight.
Jury Sworn In.
The greater part OF the morning was