The Sentinel=record., 1917-05-03

Christiansburg, Va, May 2.-A story of how Charles E. Vawter, Virginia Polytechnic Institute professor, on
 trial here for killing Stockton Meth,
 Jr., had struggled against craving for drink, had discovered and con doned improper relations between his wife and ,Heth and had asked the at ter to pay whiskey debt for him was revealed in letters introduced today by the state. They were written by VaNter to Heth last year, the prescott | ton asserted, and were discovered by the dead mans sister after he had been shot in the Vawter home, where
 he was guest.
 The letters were produced during the cross-examination Of Vawter this afternoon and apparently came as a
 surprise to the defense. One com
 munication said Vawter had discov-
 cred the improper relations between l his wife and IHeth, but that since she had stood by him when drink had made a demon of him, his love for her would not now falter.
 Now you can love her with less fear" the letter said.
 "You are not worrying me, for 1t is
 for her happiness, not yours, although | I like you very much. You are sim ply lucky being"
 l. was in this letter that Heth was asked to pay whiskey debt of s63 l for the writer. He also wrote that bis other debts amounted to s2,600. Having detailed his financial straits, Vawter admonished Heth not to mis- treat Mrs. Vawter and not to let her know that Vawter knew that she loved the young man, He also asked that care he taken that no breath of sus- picion reach the public.
 In the first Of the three letters Vaw- ter warned Heth that he had discov- cred the latters relations with Mrs. Vawter and warned him to keep away from the Vawter home. It was about week later that Vawter wrote q | second letter. urging Heth to forget hat he had said and to continue his visits.
 Mrs. Vawter and her two children were in court today, but before the
 letters were read, all women were ex- clnded from the courtroom on motion of Attorney Lee for the defense.
 Mrs. Vawter is expected to testify tomorrow.
 When he took the stand in his own defense this morning Vawter said that on one occasion he saw his wife run out Of lHeth's bedroom in 8 night dress. When he asked for an explana- ton she said tha. sine was fixing Heth's collar. He denounced her and went to Heth's room and said; 'iStock- ton, you libertine and robber of homes, what do you mean by such conduct with my wife?" He testified that Heth jerked him into the room, choking him and cursing him.
 Vawter professed to be unable to re- sigt the arguments and blandishments of Heth and his wife, and would al ways accept their excuses.
 On another occasion Vawter stated that Heth choked him into insensibili' ty when he accused him Of kissing Mrs. Vawter. He stated that the four times he had broken a pledge anout drinking was when Ideth offered him whiskey.
 VaNter said that on the night Of tne shooting whsn he awakened and found his wife missing from her bed and saw her running down the hall way, he immediately started down stairs for his pistol His wife, he stated. clung 10 him and he stated that he thought she had said; Xii me first" At the top of the stairs he grappled with Heth, who ehoked him. and he was losing consciousness he fired
 Under crossexamination Vawter ad' mitted writing certain letters to Heth, but said he was drunk when they were written.
 Several times during tue examina' ton the accused man broke down completely and Bept