Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-27
Jury Unable to Agree.


reported to Judges Peter and Worthington
at 10 o'clock this morning that it had been
unable to agree on verdict Judge Pc
ter ordered the jury brought into court.
where the usual questions were put by
Clerk Brunett.
Evidently failing to understand the
clerks question, George w. Day, fore
man of the jury in response to the query.
Has the jury agreed upon it's verdict?''
replied.
Eight to four"
Judge Peter at once admonished the
foreman that he was not to state how the
jury stood. whereupon the foreman. again
misunderstanding, reiterated the words
Eight to four
Judge Peter Immediately ordered the
jury to retire for further consideration,
directing that no statement as to the
stand taken by the members of the jury
was to be made in court.
Following the retirement of the jury,
Attorney Arthur Peter, for the defense,
moved that the jury be dismissed be-
cause of it's improper communication
and that the court direct the defendant,
Fisher, to be released. After consider
chief counsel was overruled. Attorney
Peter noting an exception
Fisher Passes Bad Night.
When Fisher appeared in court this
morning his face bore. evidence OF worry.
The prisoner was manifestly i'll at ease.
and showed plainly that he had passed
a bad night, after the ordeal Of yesterday
and his own appearance late last night
on the witness stand. He had not lost
any of his confidence that he would
finally be acquitted, but the strain under
which he has been laboring for the past
f1,v.aa he 1e h<v 81
tell on him, and his face this morning
was lined and haggard.
When the prosecution closed its case
against Fisher 1t was the opinion Of
practically every one among the small
crowd of spectators that his acquittal
was a foregone conclusion. At the worst
it was not believed that the jury would
do more than report disagreement.
Witnesses upon whom the prosecution
had depended to give damaging testi-
mony against the accused man had
proved admiral bic witnesses for the de-
fense. Following the extraordinary
declaration of States Attorney w. Outer
bridge Spates, in his preliminary state
ment to the jury, in which the states at
torney characterized Altdorfef as prob
ably the meanest man in the world.
and said the state would show that the
dead man in all probability had not a
single friend in the world, every one of
the witnesses called by the prosecution
bad habits, and the frequent difficulties
in which the dead man had at one time
or another been involved.
Although the attorneys for the prosecu-
ton, 1t Is understood, had reason to be-
lieve that at least two or three of their
witnesses would give evidence that would
be startling in character, and that would
prove a blow to Fishers contention of
seif-defense. in that it would establish an
Interior motive for the tragedy of that
dark, rainy night OF August - last no
such testimony was forthcoming when
| the witnesses were examined.
Miss Reeves Takes the Stand.
Miss Lillian Reeves, who lived in the
Aitdorfer home as a sort of adopted
daughter-though not legally adopted
and who was the only eye witness of the
| killing of Altdorfer. was not placed on
the stand until late yesterday afternoon
/ Miss Reeves. who was composed and
self possessed Witness Atold her story with
| little evidence of emotion
| She gave her age as eighteen years
was dressed In light tan colored coat
SUIT, white shirt waist, and wore a close
1 hitting black velvet hat In response to
the request of Attorney John A. Garrett
| the former boy mayor of Rockville
who assisted States Attorney Spates, she
4 told of the events of the night OF
| August -.
Altdorfer. she said. came home shortl,
after o'clock that evening. He, wa
intoxicated. she said, to such de
| gree that he was not able to climb tn,
| steps leading from the sidewalk up I,
the terrace at the Altdorfer home and
after trying to assist him up the steps
she said, she went to the home of Lewis
| Turner, Jr., next door. and asked Mr.
| Turner to help get Altdorfer into tn,
| house out of the rain. Mr.. Turner, sh,
said. had to carry Altdorfer. who wa
unable to help himself.
| She detailed the occurrences after tn,
Intoxicated man was brought into tn,
| house, partly disrobed and placed OF
his bed1 Altdorfer. she said, rolled OF
| the bed and crawled across the foo
| toward the dresser. on the top of whicl
had been placed a half-pint flask OF
| whisky. which Mr. Turner had takei
from Altdorfers pocket.
! Turner. she said, tried at first to keeK
j AItdorfer from getting the flask, but
she said, she urged that the liquor b<
CONTINUED on Eighteenth Page.)