Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-31
FISHER MAY OBTAIN
FREEDOM ON BAIL
Unusual Privilege for Slayer
of William L. AItd0rfer
Probable.
DEFENDANT FORCED
TOOBTAIN COUNSEL
Friends Take Lively Interest in
Case-Preliminary Hearing
in Day or So.

William j. Fisher, who fatally stabbed
his friend William L. Atdorfer with a
pair of shears during a struggle at the
Altdorfer home shortly after ~ o'clock
Friday night, when Altdorfer attacked
Lillian Reeves, his adopted daughter, and
who is now in Jail at Rockville, charged
with murder. probably will be given the
unusual privilege of gaining his freedom
on bail until the grand jury meets in
November.
Fisher has been so confident that no
construction other than self-defense on
his part could be put upon the affair that
he had declined to engage counsel to look
out for his interests in the matter, but
at the instance of number of FRIENDS,
who are taking lively interest in the
case, lawyers have been engaged to rep
resent the self-confessed slayer. A. j..
Cummings, who represents Montgomery
county in the Maryland state Legislature,
and who has known Fisher for years,
yesterday afternoon engaged Attorney
Arthur Peter of Rockville and Washing
ton, and Attorney Thomas Dawson of
Rockville to represent MIR. Fisher.
Hearing Before Judge Mace.
It is not yet definitely known when the
will not be later than Tuesday. The
hearing is to be held before Judge Mace
in the police court of Rockville, The
judge merely acting as committing
magistrate in cases of this character.
1t is a foregone conclusion and is ad-
mftted by Fishers attorneys that Judge
Mace will hold Fisher for the grand jury
action. In order to do this it is only
necessary for the prosecution to make out
the simplest form of case, and as a rule
no defense witnesses are heard.
The main question which will be fought
out at the hearing tomorrow or TUESDAY
is whether or not the case is one in when
the defendant could be admitted to bond.
A strong fight will be made for tnis con-
cession on the part of the court, and
Fishers friends firmly believe that as the
circumstances in the case point SO strong
ly toward the reasonable theory OF self
defense this privilege will be granted
Fisher. AS the grand jury, which must
consider the charge against Fisher, does
not meet until the November term of
court conyenes, 1t will prove great
hardship to Fisher unless his release is
allowed under bond.
Coroner's Inquest Not Held.
Friends of the accused man expressed
regret yesterday that a coroner's inquest
had not been held, as the matter might
have been cleared up by this time. they
being confident that the testimony OF
Miss Reeves, Altdorfer's adopted daugh-
ter; his wife, who had to seek refuge
with a next-door neighbor a week ago,
when her husband, in drunken rage,
cruelty beat and maltreated her, and
F1sner's own frank statement would
have justified a coroner's jury in clear
ing Fisher of any criminal intent.
The wife of the dead man and the
adopted daughter are now at the house
Of Lewis Turner, who will prove valu-
able witness for Fisher, he having as
sisted Altdorfer into the house previous
to the assault on Miss Reeves, when, it
is said, he was too drunk to get up his
front steps. Mr.. Turner's house is next
door to the house where Altdorfer lived.
instructions were given the telephone OPP
orators of the Cleveland exchange to
cancel all calls for the house, and II was
impossible to get into communication
with any one there.
Officials in Conference.
States Attorney w. Outerbridge Spates
and Sheriff Howard of Montgomery
county held a consultation yesterday aft
ernoon, and it was supposed their con-
versation had some bearing on the ques-
ton of admitting Fisher to bail pending
his preliminary hearing, but this was
evidently considered lnadVlSaDle, as no
action was taken, and Fisher is still oc-
cupying a cell in the Rockville jail.
Fisher is Frustrated by AItdorfer's
death, but holds a cheerful view of the
outcome of the proceedings, 1t was
stated last night by friends who had
visited him at the Jail. His attorneys do
not anticipate any more damaging evil
dence being offered against Fisher than
his own statement of the circumstances
which led up to the tabing.
II was learned last night that in addi-
ton to the two sisters who survive
Altdorfer, one of whom lives iii Wash
inRton and the other in Leesburg, Va, he
is survived by brother, formerly MEN,
ber of Troop A, 1st United States Cav
airy.