Evening star., 1917-03-15
STOCKTON HETA, JR., DIES
FROM BULLET WOUND
Roanoke Man Said to Have Impi-
Gated Prof. Charles E. Vawter in
a Deathbed Statement.

By the Associated Press.
ROANOKE, Va, March 15.-Stockton
Heth. jr., shot. according to deathbed
statement said to have been made last
night in the presence Of relatives, by
Prof Charles E. Vawter of the v. P. 1.
faculty at the Vawter home at Blacks
hospital here at $50 o'clock this morning.
Brother Makes Statement.
The first authentic information COM
ing to the press from any principal in
thetragedy was a statement given out
at noon by Lieut.. Clement Heth
U. S. A.. brother Of Stockton Heth, IT,
Lieut.. Heth said:
1.-The reason we did not interrogate
Stockton before this morning is be-
cause we were advised by the physi-
clans that any attempt to secure a
statement from him might affect his
chances Of recovery.
Il had been expecting friends to ar
rive by motor between l and o'clock
this morning. but they were delayed
and hope of having them at his bedside
when he died failed.
About o'clock this morning ply
sicians told me that II, l wanted a
statement had better get it imme-
diately Mr.. Roop. the commonwealth
attorney Of Montgomery county; Dr.
room. We were the only three with
him when questioned him.
Do you realize you cannot recover.
Stock? / asked.
Cant recover? he inquired in sur
prise.
You can't get well, Stock
LET me go to sleep. Glenn he said.
and then I'll tell you all about tt
I'm afraid If you go to sleep you'll
never wake up. Stock
All right. then. what is it?'
"'Who shot you, Stock
Mr.. Vawter.' he replied.
Charlie Vawter?' 1 asked.
Yes he said
why did he shoot you? I asked.
He hasn't got thing to stand on,
Glenn
"Do you mean. he had no reason o
I inquired.
Yes he answered, let me go to
8. eep'"
Never Spoke Again.
Heth never recovered consciousness and
never spoke again.
Lieut.. Heth said this was the onlv
examination of his brother bearing on
the details Of the shooting. and that
nothing else was developed.
Commonwealth's Attorney Roop re-
fused fatty to give any information to
the press here today bearing on pos
sible Investigations made by him at
Blacksburg or of what transpired in
the room where Heth died.
So far it is impossible to develop
any additional details from Blacksburg.
Prof. Vawrer is said to maintain a
stolid silence as to his part in the
tragedy. 1t was said, however, that he
would go to ChriStiansburg this after
noon to place himself at the disposal
OF the authorities in the light of the
more serious charge developed In Heth's
death.
R. l. Roop, commemorative attorney of
Montgomery county, arrived in Roanoke
at 1:10 am, Norfolk and Western pas.
senger train No. 16 having been stopped
at Christiansburg for him. Mr. Roop was
summoned here by long distance tele-
phone communication from members of
the Heth family, stating that Stockton
was in critical condition and was not
expected to live through the night. :
The commonwealth attorney was urged
to come to Roanoke at once and obtain
what might prove to be a dying state-
ment. Mr.. Roop proceeded to the hospital
on his arrival.
A special dispatch from Roanoke says
that Heth's brother. Lieut.. Clement G.
Heth, u. S. A, and two sisters, both of
arrived at the hospital yes
terday.