The Washington times., 1917-05-03
tion of Prof. vawter by Special Pros
ecutor Jack Lee.

tion of Prof. vawter by Special Pros
ecutor Jack Lee.
Borrowed Auto Tire.
With the deft touch of an artist
he led Vawter up to the denouement.
He brought out by Vawter's testi-
mony how, shortly before the killing,
the professor had been on such tnti-
mate terms that he had borrowed an
automobile tire from Heth-a tire
which never was returned until after
Heth was in his grave. He brought
out the point that at the time Heth
wrote the letter which his own coun-
sci had introduced, Vawter and Heth
were on such intimate terms that the
latter was a constant and welcome
visitor at all hours at the Nawter
home.
Then he forced from Vawter this
statement:
stockton wanted to make my wife
present. told him that
I didn't approve; that the only thing
he could do would be to pay some
thing on my whisky bill think l
said $3.50 I could clear myself OF
debt and stop drinking"
II came out IN later testimony that
vawter meant that as long as he owed
the LIQUOR house he would have to
keep on ordering intoxicants.
Produces Vawter's Letter.
Then II was that Lee introduced the
letter which Vawter had written
Heth, saying he was aware OF what
had happened between the two" eK-
pressing a complacent view Of the re-
Jrfh 70 q
Sss whisky bill When the letter was
handed to Vawter to identify he didn't
look at It; he glanced over the top,
Ii eyes intent, but he handed it back
an q few minutes. admitting that he
had written IL.
he cried.
To queries regarding his state OF
mind at the time he wrote it, he sim
ply replied;
you can tell me as much about that
letter as can. was so drunk!
Mr.. Lee then introduced two letters,
which Vawter Identified. saying he
was sober when he wrote them.
Following the introduction Of these let
ters, the witness was returned to MS
Own counsel for redirect examination.
Questioned by Mr.. Calhoun, Vawter
the first Of the three letters, in the sense
Of Illicit relations. He declared that be-
fore that he had orally asked Heth to
pay his whisky bill He said Heth
Anally paid $3S.ss on his account
Brings In Brother.
It was brought out in connection with
his whisky transactions that Vawter
had been compelled to call a halt on the
orders which his brother had sent TO
the liquor house in his name
He denied remembering having re-
eeived financial aid from Heth, except
for the whisky transaction. and one in
stance when. having overdrawn his
bank account, he kited checks with him
for so
The witness was then dismissed.
One striking feature brought out
during his testimony was the thor
ough way in which the State had pre-
pared for the legal battle. As every
letter, bill or check was brought into
the evidence, no matter by which
side, Lee drew from his volumtnous
batch of papers either the original
or q copy of the document in aues-
ton
Bernard Williams, the V. P. l.
student, who was in the house at the
time OF the tragedy, was the next
and last witness of the day
His testimony, under direct exami'
nation, was simply in support OF
vawter's, describing the incident of
the guest at the Vawter home with
whom the professor alleged Heth was
on intimate terms, and narration of
the events surrounding the shooting.
a. he saw them
II
When he was returned to Mr.. Lee
for cross-examination, Williams
troubles began. A young man in his
early twenties, he was no match for
the willy veteran OF hundreds of muir
der trials, with the manner of q pug
nseious seraphim and the tongue of
Q raw-hide whip that makes no noise.
Lee twisted him and confused him.
toyed with him, smilingly, as q cat
plays with q mouse.
without warning he snapped out:
did you, on the night of the trag-
0dy tell Mr.. Campbell that Heth had
told you after the tragedy: Bull,
am shot. Vawter shot me. begged
him not to shoot. ] tried to keep
him from shooting. I tore the shirt
OF his arm trying to keep him from
shooting me. But 1 couldn't do IT.? {"
Williams tried to explain, stumbled
half denied, and then remained silent,
as Lee went on to his next point.
BY letters, which Williams identi-
ned. he showed that, Immediately
after the tragedy, COmmonwealth's
Attorney Roop had endeavored to get
an interview with the student, and
that Williams had replied he had de-
eided to reserve his statement until
the trial.
Protest ny Judge.
Lee caused such merTiment that the
Judge threatened to clear the room,
when he forced Williams into an ad-
mission that he had not sent his reply
until he had conferred with Vawter,
VawteT'E brother-in-law, and Vawter's
counsel. He also brought out that
when Williams did go before the
Commonwealth's attorney, last Mon
day, IL was upon the advice of Mr.
Calhoun, Of counsel for the defense
And, Williams admitted, he nearly
backed out then, when he found that
Lee was also to hear the statement.
Lee gave promise OF new sensations
when he examined Williams in con
clusion, to find IL he had said, the
day after the shooting, that Heth
had asked to be allowed to sleep with
him the fatal night.
williams was diEmissed then until