The Washington herald., 1913-09-03

body else who was around. Mr.. Fisher
usually went out when Mr.. ,Altdorfer
came home drunk.
'HThe Sunday before the traaedy Mr..
AItdorfer knocked his wife senseless on
the floor without the slightest provoca-
tion. It was about noon. Mr.. Fisher
was at the club. Mr.. Altdorfer was mad
at his wife"
what about?" inquired the State.
"some little argument"
"What was the nature OF the argu-
mentg
He was mad at her because some
dogs were barking and because a neigh
Dor was making a good deal of noise
hammering."
Were any OF the quarrels between
Mr.. and Mrs. Altdorfer ever about
P1snery' the state inquired.
Never" answered the young woman.
Calls for whisky.
'I returned home last Friday evening
at o'clock" said Miss Reeves, Begin
ming the story of the tragedy. Mr.. Alt
dorfer came home about 7:3O o'clock. and
was helped in by Mr.. Turner. He could
not walk. When in his room he crawled
across the floor for the bottle Of whisky.
told Mr.. Turner to let him have II. as
lilt hduOI was AAiS Ohlg NAAihb NAoA "ohit
quiet him. He was crawling around on
the floor, reaching out for the whisky.
When put in bed he persisted in crawling
out, then asking me to put him back.
He called for whisky, and brought him
glass after glass OF II. don't remember
how many drinks gave him. The bottle
was almost emptied when I finished. 1
gave him all except that" she said,
pointing to the amount remaining in the
bottle on exhibit.
Fisher got home about s:15," she
continued. II was In AltdoTfer's bed
room. Fisher changed his clothes,
which were wet. As he came in / told
him that Mr.. Altdorfer was trying 10
make advances to me. Mr.. Fisher did
not say a word in reply to me.
Attack Is Described.
"As Fisher went to his room, Mr..
Altdorfer was in a chair and asked me
for a tomato. l got one for him and
one for myself After changing his
clothes Mr.. Fisher went into the din
ing-room. Altdorfer camo over to the
chair in which / was sitting, and put
one hand on my shoulder and the other
on the chair. What do you want? /
asked. without a word he sprang at
me. Fisher intervened. and told him
to go away. Then he got mad because
Fisher had interfered. He grabbed
him by the throat with both hands. I
wrenched one of Altdorfer's hands
loose so that Fisher would have a
chance. and then rushed for Mr.. Tur-
ner. When I returned Mr.. Fisher had
Altdorfer down on his back, with his
shoulders pinned TO the floor. Mr..
Turner left after finding out he could
render no assistance.
Then Mr.. AItdorfer got up and sat on
the settee. Mr.. Fisher stood across the
room near the fireplace. Altdorfer said
to Fisher: Bill. I'll get you yet. If !
have to put a bullet through you Be
thing, Altdorfer jumped across the room
at him, caught him by the throat with
one hand, and commenced beating him in
the face and on the breast with the
other The tussle brought the men near
the table where the shears lay. Fisher
knew it was his life or Altdorfer's, and
he grabbed the shears"
Did Altdorfer have any weapon?" ask
ed one of the attorneys.
His hand was enough weapon" re-
piled the young witness with spirit.
1t was?" replied the attorney.
Miss Reeves Strengthened up in her
chair, and, with a shake Of the head
and a glare Of the eyes. answered: ''If
a man had you by the throat with one
hand and was pounding you TO death
with the other. wouldn't you think so.
too. That man was strong. and Mr..
Fisher was weak mere stripling."
Continuing her story, the witness
testified: "Altdorfer fell by the settee. |
I witnessed the stabbing, but was un-
able to prevent II. As Altdorfer fell, |
Fisher said to me: My God, Lillian.
I did it. but had to do it Altdor-
fer never loosened his grip on Fishers
throat until he fell"
DIR. Poole on stand.
DR. Thomas A. Poole. who visited the
Audorfer residence following the trag-
edy was the last witness. He said that
the writer was dead when he reached
the house. He testified that he notified
Mrs. Altdorfer of the tragedy by tele-
phone.
After leaving the witness stand Mrs.
Altdorfer and Miss Reeves went to the
rear of the courtroom to sit with Mrs.
Turner. Mrs. AltdOTfer held a green
parasol in her hand. They left the court
room about o'clock. after Judge Mace
had refused 10 release Fisher on bail
In the private chambers Of Judge Peter, |
States Attorney Spates informed the
court that he. as well as the other coun- |
sci. were aware of other incidents that |
had not been developed at the hearing. |
The grand jury will act upon the case
next November. The State probably will !
try to get a conviction OF Fisher on a |