Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-05-12
VANTER TRIAL |
SENSATION At
CHRISTIANS
BURG, VA.
V.AWTER NOT GUILTY
SAYS JURORS.
Shocking Conditions Reveal.
ed in Testimony.

Ou Ill - ON Ull11OA,y
Christansburg, Va, May IA true
bill was returned to-day by the grand
jury of Montgomery County against
Charles e. Vawter, professor of
mathematics (at Virginia Polytech-
mic Institute, for the murder of Stock
ton Heth. Jr., who was found mortal
ly wounded in the upper hallway of
the Vawter home Oh March 13 last.
Professor Vawter appeared worried
and highly nervous in court, although
he answered mot guilty" to the charge
in clear distinct voice. Mrs. Vaw-
ter although in Christiansburg; did
not appear in the courtroom.
AT the afternoon session, Common
wealth's Attorney Roop outlined to
the jury the events leading up to
and eliminating in the shooting In
the Vawter home as the prosecution
expected to prove them. He reviewed
in detail evidence given at The hear
ing before Bail Commissioner Pierce
on March Is, and declared that the
prosecution would prove that the mo
tive for the shooting, as claimed by
the defense, was untrue
STATEMENT BY ROOP OF
SENSATIONAL CHARACTER.
Commonwealth Attornoy, itoop III
dramatic fashion, stated the Incidents
which led Vawter to shoot Heth. bring
go N"t in this connection much that
;. not previously 6etn made p,Gsssss
lis statement was one Of the most sen
ltfonal ever made in a Virginia court.
In the statement alleged to have
-'een made before the bail commits
s1oner by Mr.. Calhoun, approved at
the time by Vawter, Mr.. Roop said 1t
was admitted that Vawter was fond
OF whisky and that Heth would bring
whisky to his home to get into his
good graces. One night last summer
Vawter saw his wife coming from
Heth's room, according to Mr.. Roop.
lie uphraided her and talked to both
Heth and his wife concerning it. Heth
then attacked Vawter, it was said. On
another occasion Vawter saw Heth
kissing his wife, the attorney said.
Again Hcth was alleged to have as.
saulted him, and Vawter had to take
to his he'd
After this happened Vawter at
tempted to have his wife refrain from
seeing Heth. Mrs. Vawter stated that
she would do so If her husband
would stop drinking. This agreement
was made just after Christmas, 1916,
according to the statement.
ALL DRANK WHISKY WHICH
HETH HAD BROUGHT.
On the night of the shooting the
Vawters returned home from an ANA
teur theatrical rehearsal and found
Heth in their house. He had q flask
or whisky, ant the entire party took
drink, calling in Bernard Williams,
a Virginia Polytechnic Institute stu
dent, rooming in the Vawter home, to
Join them. They played cards until
midnight and retired.
PROFESSOR and Mrs. Vawter had been
III their room but q few minutes when
Heth knocked at their bedroom door.
MRS. Vawter slipped on a kimono. and
Heth walked into the room with q
quart and pint Of whisky. Vawter
took ono drink and Heth two or three.
Mr.. Roop said. Heth fingered for q
brief conversation and retired to his
rOoom.
About 8 o'clock in the morning
VaWter awoke and found his wife
missing. He went into the hall and
saw his wife running into the room
or her small son. Vawter alleged, &C.
cording to the lawyer, he went down
stairs to get his revolver, his wife
Following and declaring her innocence.
She told her husband, he stated, to
turn the pistol over to her so She
could end her own life He refused,
and she struggled with him On the
steps
Vawter stated he met Heth at the
top of the stairway, and Heth grap-
pied with him. Vawter then fired the
three fatal shots
Attorney ColhoDn, chief counsel
for the defense, stated that he would
prove by three witnesses that after
Heth fell in the hallway Mrs. Vawter
bent over him and said:
Stockton, dear, this is all my
fault"
Heth said: mo, it is all my fault"
JURY COMPOSED OF FARMERS.
SELECTED WITHOUT DELAY.
Judge Moffett convened court at 8
O'Clock, and half an hour later the
grand jury began, it's hearing. The
only witnesses before .he grand iurv