Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-02
TRIAL OF VAWTER
BARES SCANDAL
Opening Statement by Common
wealth Makes Startling
Disclosures.
WIFE TAKES STAND TO-DAY
Alleged to Have Frequently
Drunk With Husband and
Stockton Hcth, Jr
WIFE TAKES STAND TO-DAY
lRv Assncia,nlii,rosy

by Associa tod prcss.l
'liElSTlANSBURG. VA. May IA
true bill was returned to-day by the
grand jury or Montgomcrv County
against Charles L Vawtcr. professor
Of mathematics at Virginia Polytechnic
institute. for the murder OF stockton
hcth. 1r.. who was found mortallv
wounded IN the upper hallway of tho
N"wtcr home on March - last
Professor Nawter appcarcd v.orr,cd
and highly nervous in court. although
nc answered mot guilty" to the charge
III clear distinct voice. Mrs. Vawtcr.
although in christiansburg. did not an
pear in the courtroom
NJ inc afternoon session. Common
wealth's Attorney T;oop outlined to tho
jury the events leading up TO and cul-
mihatinE IN the shooting in tho Nawter
nome as the prosecution expected TO
prove them. He reviewed in detail cvi-
dence given a, the hearing before Eail
Commissioner Pierce on March 10 and
declared that tho prosecution would
prove that the motive for the shooting
as claimed by tho defense. was untrue
STATEMENT ny moor
OF SENSATIONAL. CHARACTER
dramatic fashion. stated the incidents
which led Nawter TO shoot Heth. bring
ing out in this connection much that
had not previously been made public.
His statement was one OF the most SEN
sational ever made in a Virginia court.
In the statement alleged TO have been
made before the bail commissioner by
Mr.. Calhoun. approved at the time by
Nawter. Mr.. Roop said it was admitted
that Nawtcr was fond of whisky. and
that Hcth would bring whisky to his
home TO get into his good Eraccs. One
night las, summer Nawter saw his wife
coming from Hcths room. according
TO Mr.. Eoop He upbraidod her and
talked TO both IIc;h and his wife con-
cerninE il. Hcth then attacked Naw-
ter. il was said. ON another occasion
Nawter saw Heth kissing his Wife the
attorney said. Again IIcth was al
legged to have assaulted him. and Naw-
ter had to take To. his bed.
After this happened Nawtcr at
tempted TO have his wife refrain from
seeing Heth. Mrs. Nawter stated that
she would do so Il her husband would
stop drinking. This agreement was
made just after Christmas 1916. ac-
cording TO tho statement.
ALI DRANK WHISKY
WHICH HETH HAD BROUGHT
On tho nigh; of tho shooting the
NaWtcrs returned home from AN ANA
teur theatrical rehearsal and found
Ileth in their house. He had fla SIX
Of whisky. and the entire party took
drink, calling in Bernard Williams.
a Virginia Polytechnic Institute stu
dent. roominG in tho Nawter home to
join them. They played cards until
midnight and retired.
Professor and Mrs. Nawter had been
in their room but a few minutes when
Heth knocked at their bedroom door
Mrs. Nawter slipped on a kimono and
Hcth walked into tho room with
quart and pint Of whisky Vawtcr
took one drink and Heth two or three.
Mr.. Eoop said. Heth fingered for "a
! oriet conversation and retired to his
room.
About o'clock in the morning Vaw-
ter awoke and found his wife missing
He went into the hall and saw his wife
running INTO the room Of her small
son. Nawter alleged. according TO the
lawyer. he went downstairs to GO, his
revolver, his wife following and Dc.
clarinG her Innocence. She told her
husband. ne stated. 10 turn the pistol
over TO her so she could end her own
ute. II" refused. and she struggled
with him on the steps
Nawter stated he mel Hcth at tho
ton OF the stairway. and Heth erappied
win him Nawter then fired the three
fatal shots.
Attorney Colhoun. chief counsel for
lhe defense. stated that he would nrove
by three witnesses that after Hem
tei III the hallway Mrs. Vawtcr bent
over him and said:
H'ockton' dear. this is all my fauIt"
lIcth SAID: No. it is ali NV fault
''"h' COMPOSED OF FARMERS.
h"E'rED WITHOUT DELAY
'uose MoHett convened court al o
CLOCK. and a half an hour later tho
grand jury began it's hcarjpc .rh.
! only witnesses before the grand ,ur,.
were Di'. Gordon Simmons. OF Roapotc
VINO performed the autopsv on Stock.
ton iieth's body: Lieutenant cJemcnt
! heth' brother OF Vawter's victim. who
TOOK his dying statement; Or. w. T..
henderson, resident physician at Y.
T. IT, who was first TO reach the vaw
Ter nome after the shooting: c. NJ.
camper, deputy sheriff of MONTGOMERY
County and Miss Emma Garrison
mead nurse at the V. +. |. Hospital.
one hour and forty minutes was re-
CURED Tor the deliberations. and at
il'2" the jury announced: Common
| wealth OF Virginia vs.. c. T.: Vawtcr a
felony--a true biIl''
Fifteen out OF the first venirc OF six
teen men were qualified as jurors. one
man being excused because OF con-
scientious scruplcs against tho innic-
ton OF capital punishment. The fol-
lowing men were chosen: G.. 6. Correll.
farmer; j. G.. Whitaker. farmer; NJ. w.
Hirkie, merchant: q. w. Sisson. mer
chant and farmer: ~ }. AltZer farm
er; j. T. Wclch, carpenter: G.. w. Allen.
mirter; r. III. Shelton. farmer; y. H.
Lucaa. farmer: ~ c. ucuslcN. fiIrlncr.