Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-09-05
Fisher, The Slayer OF Altdorfer,
Bailed At $4,000.

o'''NS "iSC at thto pidCc anu WIS HtlC
for the grand jury.
His attorneys Immediately swore out 6
writ of habeas corpus and the testimony
offered at the hearing was read before
Judge Edward C. Peter and Fisher was
admitted to bail in the sum of $4,000.
Justice Mace said some phases of the
case had not been brought out to his en-
tire satisfaction and he believed that he
was justified in holding the man for the
grand jury. When Fishers attorneys
asked for bail Justice Mace stated that
he did not want to take the responsibility
So confident were attorneys for Fisher
of dismissal that they did not put him
on the stand. The defense had no other
witnesses, but built up its case on the tes-
timony of the States witnesses. The two
principal witnesses were Mrs Altdorfer,
wife of the slain man, and Miss Lillian
Reeves. who made her home with the
Altdorfers.
The State attempted to prove a motive
other than self-defense for the killing and
in doing so endeavored to show that Fisher
went beyond the bounds of the law in de-
Tending himself
RumOrs that sensational testimony would
be sprung at the hearing attracted large
crowd and when court was opened the
court room was well packed.
Thu tn
came while Mrs AltdOrfer, wife of the
dead man, was being examined. Mrs. Alt
dOrfer testified that her husband had never
given her any money. She said she was
compelled to leave home for fear of her
life and went to an apartment house in
Washington, where she registered as Miss
Fischer" her maiden name.
IF your husband gave you no money,
who paid your expenses while you were at
the apartment ?" asked States Attorney
Spates.
81 went to my mother and asked her for
money to support myself" calmly replied
Mrs. AltdOrfer.
Mrs. AtdOrfer portrayed her husband
as having been man of disreputable
I morals Because of his conduct toward
her, she stated that she had been forced
to leave him four times She told the
court of returning home one evening and
finding her husband entertaining a strange
woman in their home. She asked the wo-
man to leave and when her husband
turned against her, Mrs. Altdorfer said
she left home for several days
| By far the most important testimony
given at the hearing was that of Miss
Reeves. She stated that she was II years
old. Her mother and father had died early
in her life, how long ago she did not know.
She was placed in home and later
adopted by people living in Florida. She
did not like her surroundings and came to
live with Mr.. and Mrs. AltdOrfer, with
whom she has made her home for two
years. She witnessed the alterations be-
tween Fisher and AltdOrfer and was but a
few feet away when Fisher stabbed Alt
dOrfer.
She said AltdOrfer and Fisher had al
ways been good friends and whenever
Altdorfer would come home intoxicated,
Fisher would leave the house. She said
Altdorfer on several occasions had beaten
Mrs. Altdorfer and her. Speaking of the
tragedy Miss Reeves said
After Altdorfer was carried in the house
and undressed, he came into the kitchen
where | was. He wanted a tomato.
went to the ice-box and got two He mad,
several improper advances to me and theI
Mr.. Fisher came in. | told Fisher abou
these advances and he went up stairs
Fisher then came down stairs, and in tn
next room when AltdOrfer came over t.
where | was sitting and put his arm
around my shoulders. ! attempted to &c
away and he grabbed me. Then Fishe
/ attempted to separate us and Altdorfe
turned on him and clutched him about the
] throat. Fisher whispered to me to rul
next door and get Turner. When Mr.. Tur-
ner came. Fisher had pacfied Altdorfer.
when Altdorfer arose, he cried out
! Bill I'll get you yet. if | have TO put I
bullet through you The two men wer'
standing near the fire place. when sudden
ly AltdOrfer jumped at Fisher and agaiI
caught him by the throat. In doing this
he knocked Fisher against the table ant
| saw Fisher pick up the scissors and tn
next thing knew Altdorfer had droppeC
on his knees, near the sofa and buried hi
head in his left arm. His right arm wa
dangling by his side,
Mr.. Fisher turned TO me and said M
! God, Lillian, | did it, but had to-. theI
ran next door and got Mr.. Turner and thel
Fisher came running over and we all three
went back into the house and telephones
/ for doctor"
Mr.. Turner's testimony backed Mis-
! Reeves statements in most Of the essentia
/ features. lie said she called upon hin
earlier in the day to help her get Altdor
fer into the house. He said he found Alt
dorfer at the door steps helplessly intoxi
Gated and carried him into the house an'
undressed him and that he returned agaif
when Miss Reeves rushed over and sait
that AltdOrfer was killing Fisher.
Dr. Thomas Poole who was summoned
to the house shortly after the fight, SAT-
he arrived at least three-quarters of al
hour after the man was dead Ii was h
who suggested calling Mrs Altdorfer. d.
Thomas Conrad, who conducted the autops
the following morning, testified that h
discovered five wounds on the man, tire
Of which would have been fatal. Sheril
Howard. and Deputy Eugene Fling, told
the arrest of Fisher.
Money Must Be Tied Up.
Picking up loose money has grown to b
such hardship for the oyerwOrked TuTf