Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-03
LETTERS LAY BARE
VAWTER'S SORD|D,
BARGAIN WITH HETH
Prove That He Knew and
CondOned Actions of
Man He Killed.
PAYMENT OF LIQUOR BILL
HIS PRICE OF CONSENT
Deliberately Barters Wife Away
With Whisky Receipt as
Pledge of Compact.
SAYS BOTH ARE BL.AMELESS
Evidence Produced by Prosecution
Creates ScnSation-Mrs. Vnw-
ter ON Stand To-day.
SAYS BOTH ARE BLAMELEss
.LRy As,oclatcd rrc.,

GHRiSTIANsEURG. VA, May 2-The
struggle of a husband TO resist the
temptation OF drink. to which he aG-
mtts he Is slave. and the admission
that he had reconcilcd himself 10 the
existence of Improper relations between
Ills wife and another man, from whom
ne attempted 10 borrow money to nay
whisky debts were the dramatic devcl-
opments to-day in the case Of Charles
u. NRwter. professor OF mathematics in
: Virginia Polytechnic Institute. accused
>of the murder of Stockton Heth. Jr.
Nwhen the prosecution read letters into
the evidence which were written by
Nawter to Heth.
One letter, written last June. warned
Heth that his relations with Mrs Vaw-
ter had been discovered and dema ndcd
that he stay away from the Nawter
home. About a week later Yawter
wrote again. urging Heth to forget
what had been said and to continue
his visits as before. In the letter he
asked that Hcth pay whisky bill
amounting TO $50. which he had con-
tracted a, Roanoke liquor house
This letter. with the whisky bill, was
found by Miss Virginia Heth. sister Of
the dead man. in one Of his pockets.
In the letter Nawter stated that his
other debts amounted TO $1,000.
ADMITS BEING wIDE-AwAKE,
ALTHOUGH EEIGNINt: SLEEP
In the third letter Professor Nawtcr
Jadmi,tcd tina, he mad been wide-awake
on the afternoon he discovered Iicth
and Mrs. Vawtcr in compromising
position. although he fcigned sleep. Il
came to the door and found out for
myself what have suspicioned for a
long time. the letter continues. And
now ] am going TO give YOU the sur
prise OF your life. Promise nc that
you Will not mis,reat--I mean by that
neglect my precious swccthcart-and
YOU Will be very careful not TO cause
her to he talked about or get into any
trouble whatsoever"
The sensational letters we're pro-
duccd into court during the afternoon
session after Nawter had spent the
entire morning on the witness stand
in his own defense. The srucling cross
questions and rapid fire statements Of
tho prosecution seemed TO unnerve
Nawter considerably and the letters
appeared to come wholly as surprise
10 the defense.
Tho most dramatic OF the letters as
outlined in court follows:
My Dcar.-Plcase read land when
YOU have. destroy it.
II can't speak II. for reasons YOU
can guess: but, 10 make my position
clear In matter over which 7 have
no, control. ] know it is my duty to
state my position.
1T all seems so strange and weird
Then again. I know YOU will condemn
me. but that matters little.
FINDS OUT FOR HIMSELF
WHAT HI; HAD SUSPECTED
'.f know what happened Sunday after
noon. 7 was thought TO hc asleep. but
in reality was never more widc-awakc.
came to the door and found out for
myself what | have suspcioned for
quite n while. Now 7 am going TO
give you the surprise Of your life. and
only hope that YOU will be able 10
appreciate my position. Ey a supreme
effort ] kept myself under control that
afternoon. aud can keep il now for
ever To make a long matter short
] love - beyond what ] can express
and the conventions of this world can
not make me do anything to mar her
happiness. remember all the years
she has had TO Stick by me when
drink made demon of nc: how her
love has never faitercd Now mine
shall not. | know that you arc the
only love Rachel has ever shown for
any one except me. She loves you
) dearly and you must not hurt her.
: Never let her know that have any
idea that she loves you or tina. you
love her. I hope you do, because il
:. she knew her happiness would be
marrcd. Now you can love her with
less fear. You arc not worrying me.
H.. q,
although I like you very much. You
arc simply n lucky being.
ASKS IITGTH TO PAY
HIS LIQUOR RILI.
Nov ! have one favor to ask you
TO do for me. IT will not do for me 10
ever touch one drop Of drink again. I
am supremcly myself when sober. but
quite the reverse when drinking. It
would mar all our happiness il did
drink. So, this is the favor: owe the
Roanoke Wine Company Sc: tmy other
debts are $2,600) | want YOU TO pay
this bill for me when you go to Roa-
noke on the 2ath. Please pay 1t ami
tell them to mail me a receipt. AMI
from this will know that you propose
10 make me ono promise, and that is
all ] shall ever ask yoI and that is,>
that you will not mistreat. mean by
that--ncglect, my precious sweetheart,
and that YOU will be very careful not
to cause her to be talked about or get
into any trouble whatsoever
(Continued on Second Page.)