The Washington herald., 1913-09-03

and returned to his own home.
Girl Calls for Help.
Some time later in the evening, he tes-
tined, Miss Reeves came across the yard
rcnning and screaming:
Mr.. Turner, Mr.. Turner-Mr. Altdor-
fer Is killing Mr. Fisher"
Il rushed to the Altdorfer house and
opened the door half way" said Mr..
Turner. "Altdorfer was on the floor and
Fisher was kneeling over him with one
hand on each shoulder. 1 don't remem-
ber where Altdorfers hands were. I
stood at the door about a minute, look
ing in. l heard Fisher say. That's all
right; forget it. Go to bed and act like
man. 1t will be all right Then /
heard Altdorfer reply: IN get you for
this, Bill
Miss Reeves at the time was in the
sitting room. 1 deemed II unnecessary
to assist, as l thought Fisher could
pacify Altdorfer, so / turned and closed
the door. l had gone about three-fourths
of the distance home. when 1 heard q
commotion and, turning, saw through the
window another tussle. / saw Altdorfcr
advancing toward some one. / could
also see Miss Reeves. l did not discern
Fisher.
Two or three minutes later Miss
Reeves came across to my house, scream
III mas kllltu
Mr.. Altdorfer.' A minute or SO later
Fisher rushed In and exclaimed. o, my
God, go over and see II 1 have killed
him. He had me by the throat and ]
had to do it. Fisher was dressed in his
trousers and shirt. l stood on the porch
for a moment and Fisher seemed to col
lapse. took him into my house and
bathed a cut on his eye and another on
his arm. 1t took about five minutes, aud
II
Telephones for Physician.
"Altdorfer was on his knees, leaning
against a settee. with his head resting
on one arm. l did not go near him.
Miss Reeves did not come over to the
house at once. l fancied that l heard
a few groans, but l am not sure OF it.
| did not go near Altdorfer, however.
for 1 felt rather peculiar. Fisher re-
turned to the house, and on his advice
1 telephoned for a doctor. found a
chair upturned in the dinng-room."
DR.. Conrad was then called to the
stand by Attorney Peter.
1T is testified" said the attorney,
that at 7:50 o'clock Altdorfer was un-
able to stand. and that by $50 o'clock
ne was not only standing. but showing
strength and fighting. What possibility
strength in so short a periOd?"
II think that is very easily possible"
replied DR.. Conrad. Il remember that
once l treated A patient for alcoholism
at a Washington hospital. / put him in
a room when he was almost in coma
tose condition and half an hour later
he came dashing down the hall after me
with a big savage-looking knife in hts
hand. II Altdorfer had drunk more
liquor he might have been even more
british than he actually was
Mrs. AItdorfer Takes stand.
Mrs. Altdorfer then was called to the
stand. She emerged from an adjoining
room and was escorted to the witness
box. She was dressed in white and wore
a white hat with two large white feath-
ers. Around her neck was a string OF
pearls. She sat down in the witness box
and drew several deep breaths. Her
face twitched once or twice and she ap-
peared somewhat nervous. but before
long she regained her cOmposure. After
several questions had been put to her,
she stopped the proceedings TO ask for
a fan. A straw hat was handed her un-
Ill a palm leaf fan could be procured.
She said she was married fourteen
years ago. and that Fisher had been liv-
ing with her husband for about twelve
years. She said that her husband FIRST
her to Fisher in the Philip
pines in 1902. She said that Fisher lived
with them. and that whenever they
moved he went with them. Mrs. Ar
dorfer said that during the stay in Ma
Mia her husband was forced to move
seventeen times. as he drank and made
such a disturbance that nobody wanted
him for a neighbor."
She said that on returning to Wash.
ington, Fisher likewise left the Philip
pines. The witness testified that about
three years ago she went with her hus-
band to FL Paso, Tex. but that on ac-
count of his conduct she left him. She
said that Fisher WAS Altdorfers DEAREST
friend. and testified that he bought all
of the furniture for the house in his
name. as Altdorfer was unable to get
credit.
Left Husband Several Times.
Mrs. Altdorfer said she was compelled
to leave her husband OH four occasions.
She said that six or seven years ago he
brought a woman to their apartments,
her to leave him.
He never gave me any money" testi-
fed Mrs Altdorfer. He told me that
whenever l wanted anything he would
buy it for me. The Sunday before the
tragedy he maltreated me and l left the
Chevy Chase home l rented two rooms
at 302 Street Northeast, planning to
take my adopted daughter later l regis
tered as Miss Fischer-my maiden name,
but explained to the landlady that my
married name was Altdorfer
About five years ago 1 was forced
to throw away pistol that my husband
had. He always wanted to commit sui |
eide when he was drunk anG he never
failed to make a lot Of threats when
under the influence of liquor. ! became
so frightened that i got his pistol and, |
going behind the Ontario, where we were
then living, I throw it into a ravine.
The struggle Friday night was the
first row Fisher and my husband ever
had. They never prior to that had any
trouble between them"
Not Related to Defendant.
You say your maiden name was
Fischer" inquired one of the attorneys.
Are you related to the defendant"
Absolutely not" replied the witness
and with some spirit.
Did you see Fisher during the week
you were away from the Chevy Chase
house?'' inquired one of the attorneys
for the State.
Il did not" declared Mrs. Altdorfer,
with emphasis.
for your two rented rooms, If, as you
say, your husband never gave you any
money! pursued the State.
why, SIR" replied the witness, from
my mother; she gave 1t to me-"
Miss Reeves then was called. She wore
a light-colored dress and a white straw
hat trimmed with flowers and a band OF
black velvet She appeared somewhat
timid as she entered the box, but soon
gained full control of herself. She is a