The Washington times., 1917-05-02


been delayed because he had been eX'
amining recruits for the officers re-
serve corps at Blacksburg. He is q
tall portly, grey bearded man, rather
the typical country doctor.
lie plunged at once into his story
OF the happenings OF the fatal night
He had been awakened. he said. al
2:45 the morning of March 13, by q
phone call. Vawter was calling
simply asking the doctor to come al
once. In response to queries Vawter
said he had shot Heth. While he was
preparing his bag, Bernard Williams
arrived and he sent Williams for DR..
Elliott.
Hurried to Residence.
DR.. Henderson hurried at once to
the residence, where he was met at
the door by Mrs. Vawter. He went
up stairs and found Heth lying on
the floor, moaning. and in great pain.
He described in detail his examina-
tion, his consultation with DR.. Elliott
and his call for DR.. Jones.
Under examination by Mr.. Lee he
told how he had taken Tawter's
pistol.
He then identified the revolver
which Vawter had used. a small,
cheap, apparently new weapon.
As the revolver was shown Vaw-
ter and his boy remained stole, but
little Rachel gazed on it with strick-
en- eyes. 1t affected Mrs. Vawter.
too, she smiled. rather hystericalIy,
as Judge Moffett asked counsel q
the weapon was loaded and was as
sured that il was perfectly safe.
Dr. Henderson then proceeded with
a highly historical explanation of his
examination of Heth's wounds and
his treatment
AS the morning progressed women
gradually began to file into the
courtroom, the Misses Virginia AMI
Pickett Heth, sisters OF the dead
man, and three or four rather coun-
try women whose dress served to
bring out the attractiveness and
fashionable appearance of Mrs. and
Miss Vawter.
RegaIned COnscIousnesS.
Under cross-examination by Mr.
CoIhoun, he told how Heth had re-
gained consciousness and retained It
during his trip to Roanoke. He said
that Heth had made no statement to
him except to ask for Prof. Camp
bell.
Under re-examination by counsel
for the State it was brought out that
the application of strychnine and
morphine had not destroyed the pow
er of speech in Heath.
As Mr.. Lee entered as Exhibit B. the
bloodstained paJama coat for the wit
ness to identify, Mrs. Vawter gave an
involuntary shudder. and kept her
eyes averted until the garment was
removed
Rachel watched with steady eyes,
and SO did Charlie. but Prof. Vawter.
although trying to retain his COM
posure. looked away, seemingly loatb
to look at it
DR.. Henderson made a good witness,
although apparently deeply affected
by the tragedy, and he was dismissed
in less than an hour.
He was followed on the stand by DR..
A. p. Jones. a young, good-looking
man. He said he was a surgeon. of
Roanoke. He told OF receiving a tele-
phone call from DIR. Henderson at $3.50
the morning OF March Is asking him
TO come to Blacksburg to operate in
Eunshot case. He went at once, TAX
ing with him DR.. Hicks. an inferno at
Jefferson Hospital in Roanoke.
Asked II Ii Was Accident.
On the way he said he made no in
. 49,
DR.. Henderson IL the case was acci-
dental Upon being told it was not he
asked no further questions.
DR.. Jones then detailed his examina-
tion of Heth. the trip to Roanoke with
the wounded man. and the operation.
While DR.. Jones' testimony was en-
tirely of a technical character, more
like the lecture of a medical professor
than murder evidence. II was during
the recital that Mrs. Vawter first
really lost her composure. Her eyes
swan with tears. but she held them
back and soon regGined her poise.
Lieutenant Heth StoIcaL.
In marked contrast. Lieutenant
Heth, brother OF the dead man. sat
like one charmed. bis left eyebrow
slightly elevated.
Under cross-eXsmination Dr. Jones
said that during his last hours Heth
was capable of talking, but volun-
teered no statements except regard
ing his condition.
The Commonwealth then rested. 1t
had taken only forty minutes for its
case.
Counsel for the defense then went
into conference before beginning
presentation of their testimony.
After two minutes the defense
sprang the surprise OF the day. call
ing little Charlie Vawter to the
stand. Erect and apparently unafraid
he walked TO the witness stand, a
manly little figure and waited for
minutes while a trivial delay balked
proceedings for the moment.
Then it was that both Vawter and
his wife showed the greatest con-
Germ.
SPrOf. Vawter's Boy"
Questioned by Mr.. Jordan he said
he was Prof VawteTs boy" and
was eleven years old, Asked if he
knew what an oath meant. he re-
piled he did and said little boys
who don't tell the truth go to the
bad place" He said "his mama had
taught him 10 say his prsyer'."
In childish treble he told of the
happenings Of the tragedy,
He wasn't sure whether he had
gone TO the movies that night, but
he remembered having gone to sleep
with his sister because the puppies
had mussed up his bed SO that he
couldn't sleep in it,
Il was walked up by pistol shots"
he said. "and ] ran out into the hall.
but mama sent me back,
About five minutes later papa