The Washington herald., 1917-05-04
MRS. VAWTER ON STAND
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that her husbands suspicious Of in
timacy between herself and Heth were
well founded, when she unhesitatinR-
iy admitted that she was guilty Of in
ndelity.
She related that on three different
occasions she had intimate relations
with Heth. Mrs. vawter freely went
into detail in describing these occur
ences. :
Many in the audience in the crowd
| ed courtroom were visibly affected
when the brave little woman with
emotion attributed her downfall 10
/ liquor.
] Mrs. Vawter also told Of the fatal night
OF March 10, when her husband encoun-
tered her. clad in q kimona, coming from
Heth's room. 1t was then that Prof.
Vawter shot Heth.
The wife related that Heth was the ag-
yressor in the struggle which ensued. She
said that Heth jumped at her husbands
throat as the latter cried:
Turn me loose"
Heth Fell to Floor.
Mrs. Vawter declared that Heth tight
ened his grip. a revolver was flourished
by Prof. Vawter. and Heth fell to the
floor.
! The tension with which the court crowd
followed every word OF Mrs. Vawter was
further increased when in a dramtic
climax the woman said:
After the shooting, my husband. in
speaking to me, pied that l permit him to
go to the electric chair to shield my
name.
But I cried. No; no." ..-
The composure with which Mrs Vaw-
-. W,nl nv,IV
toward the finish did she show signs OF
lfaltering. when apparently forced laughs
had an element OF the hysterical in it.
Experts who testified at this mornings
session declared that the tone OF Prof.
Vawters letter showed a vein of in
sanity at the time Of the writing.
A rumor found circulation that the case
would be compromised, but any hopes of
such an agreement were quickly dis
PEELED as the taking OF testimony pro-
gressed.
Drink in Every Word.
The slander-seeking spectators in the
little court room crowded to its door
leaned forward eagerly to drink in every
word OF Mrs. Vawter as she laid bare
the story Of her faithlessness.
The woman made q confession that Will
consisn her to living death in the ethics
OF Virginia society.
Only once during her whole narrative
did the woman falter in her story. That
was when the attorney for the defense.
r. l. Jordan, asked her:
When you told your husband. Mrs
Vawter. that there were no grounds for
suspicion, did you tell the TRUTH"
Il did not she tearfully answered.
Mrs. Vawter painted a picture OF a wife
and a sweetheart binding the eyes OF
gin-soaked weakling of. a husband,
calming his Jealous RACES with such
phases as Good night. professor. forget
IT," and then letting him lie all night
after he was ehoked insensibIe by her
admirers fingers. The choking, she said,
Heth gave her husband on a night IN
May. And then mockingly she said:
And he had a sore throat, too. the
next day"
Called Him stockton
There was a marked contrast IN her
testimony as 10 how she spoke of the
dead man and her husband. It was
always Stockton when speaking Of
Heth; II was Mr. Vawter'' when mem
tioning her husband.
With characteristics Southern gentle
ness Attorney Jordan led the wife up to
the events On ma night Heth fell dying
with three bullet wounds in his abdomen
and she had flung herself on his body
IT got up to give little Rachel some
medicine in the hau" Mrs Vavter
began Il heard Stockton call to me,
Come IN here and have a drink, but 1
refused. Come in and sit down. he said
again. Then he seized my arm and pull
ed me into the room. Jerked loose and
ran into Charles room across the hail.
Knowing her husband had followed her
out Of their bedroom she then ran down
stairs and found him with the revolver,
she said.
HE said to me: Rachel, you've
been in Stockton's room
II cried out to him, Give me the
pistol so that can shoot myself"
Mrs Vawter said her hand was on
the revolver when the professor fired
the three shots. Then she described
the details following the shooting.
II called to him, Stockton, IL you
don't get WELL remember, II is all my
fault and he answered, No, 1t is all
mine Stockton said he was cold, so
1 got blanket and put it over him"
Mrs. Vawter." asked Jordan, after
you learned of the death OF Heth, did
Prof. Vawter come t. you with any