The Washington herald., 1917-05-10
.VAWTER mot GUILTY.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

To the question as to what he had
nlanned for the future, vawter said:
IT thank the Jury for their verdict of
which have felt sure from the FIRST.
1T greatly regret the whole sad affair
and the sorrow caused.
ssThe injustice done Mrs. Vawter by
the prosecution Is the one blot upon the
whole sad affair While I am blameless
as to stockton's death. realize that
have been guilty of weakness when
should have been strong. e.. I
'sThe future stares me darkly In the
face, but with Gods aid shall endeavor
to build somewhere a happy and whole
some home for my children and wife.
my immediate plans are to rest"
Professor Vawter felt every word he
said, and he pathetieally stared into
space for moment as though dazed
when he had concluded his interview.
Notified over Phone.
One of the newspaper men rushed to
home at Blacksburg to tell her of the
verdict.
"I am the happIest woman in the
world" she shouted. and burst into cry
ing. She apparently became hystericaI,
since not another word was heard over
the telephone, although she did not hang
up. She could be heard sobbing bitterly.
Before discharging the jury Judge Mof-
fett advised the jurors not to talk about
the affair. saying:
"I am not making reference to any
Immediate member of the deceased mans
family when I tell you that there are In
this world men who consider themselves
wise and great men in their own estima-
ton and conceit. These men are like a
weather vane and will criticise you for
your verdict, while on the other hand,
opposite verdict. Such men do not know
the laws of the State of Virginia, and
would give you a good piece of advice:
Let the case rest in your minds and not
enter into any discussion in the future"
speed Away in Auto.
PROT vawter. his mother, two sisters,
and his brother-in-law jumped into two
automobiles when they left the court
could to Blacksburg.
There was a happy reunion there this
evening. Under the very eyes of the bull
let scars in the hallway of the Vawter
residence, on the campus Of the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute, where Heth was
murdered. the entire family settled down,
silently thought over the court ordeal,
and no doubt took long look into the
future.
Trades of criticism, accusation, and
repulsive and inflaming statements by
counsel on either side accompanied the
closing argument of the case today Bit
ter feeling developed as blasting attacks
were made upon the characters OF the
principals in the tragedy. which will
long be remembered in criminal annals
as being without a parallel. The review
placed the opposing attorneys at swords
ends, but the Virginian aristocracy which
Is involved revolted and took sides which
may easily be agftated into feud
Lieut.. Clement Heth, q picturesque.
1.-THE, and dashing young officer, and
brother OF the murdered man. nearly
came to blows with Attorney Jordan
when court adjourned this noon He was
demanding an understanding with Jor-
dan. who had yesterday blackened Stock
ton Heths character a. q defamer OF the
virtues of women.
The hostile attitude between the men
was called to the attention of Judge Mof-
fet, and he avoided the impending crash
by stepping between the two men
Discusses Vampire Eyes.
II Mrs. vswter would have heard the
addresses of Jack Lee, chief counsel for
the prosecution, she would have been
both complimented and insulted, but she
had not been in court since she barred
her inner woman on the stand in her
sensational testimony Thursday after
noon. Mrs Vawter was numerically
scored by Mr.. Lee, who in q very clever
and gentlemanly manner was at the same
time uncomplimentary
Her vampire eyes. which have been so
extensively advertised. and under the
gaze of whick even counsel for the de-
tense confessed that any man would have
to melt away and yield to her command,
were declared by Mr.. Lee to be not doves
eyes. which reflect the purity of the soul.
but like two glowing orbs of passion
which lead mems feet astray and crush
them to destruction.
Mr.. Lee expressed the opinion that
those same eyes which he declared had
tempted the murdered man also lead to
acquiescence and participation in the in
timacy which Mrs. Vawter admitted had
existed between herself and Heth.
Mr.. Lee stated that It takes two to
make a bargain in an amorous love af-
fair, but that in this tragedy 1t took
three.
He reviewed the testimony Of the night
Of the tragedy when Mr.. and Mrs. Vaw-
ter and Heth, all partially unclad, were
together in the bath room Of the Vawter
residence, drinking whisky before retir-
ing. This was at o'clock in the morn
ing. The shooting took place two hours
later.
OF Her own VoIition.
Mr.. Lee said that II Vawtsr had so
much respect for his wife and wanted
to protect her from shame when he
killed Heth. which position the defense
had taken, he wanted to know why he
had permitted such loose association as
this.
Mr.. Lee then declared that II Mrs.
Vawter had left her husbands bed after
retiring that night and had gone to
Heth'S room, she did so of her own vo-
liton. He refuted the statement of the
defense that Heth had pulled her into
the room.
Prof. Vawter was then assailed by Mr..
Lee as a man who had little regard for
the decencies in life nor for his wife or
his own self-respect
He declared that the Turing eyes of
Mrs. Vawter were not needed to tempt
Heth, for he charged that the murdered
man was intimate with the woman at
the solicitation OF her husband. Mr.. Lee
emphasized that Prof Vawter had con-
niVed and encouraged the prostitution
OF his wife.
The nightgown OF Prof vawter was
then exhibited to the Jury. The sleeve
had been torn out, and the defense ex-
planned that this was done by Mrs. vaw-
ter In trying to prevent her husband
from shooting Heth.