Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-10
VAWTER ACQUITTED
BY JURy'S VERDICT
Declared Innocent of Crime in
Taking Life Of Stock.
ton Heth, Jr.
BUT ONE BALLOT is TAKEN
Mrs. Vawter Goes Into Mysteries
When She Hears Hus-
band Is Saved.
rBy Associated Press. ]

BY Associated Prcss.l
Gil HEISTIANSBURG. VA. May o
Charles r. Vawtcr, former professor
OF physics at Virginia Polytechnic In
stitutc. at Blacksburg. Va tonight
was declared not guilty of the murd,.
of stockton lIcth. Jr.. sportsman and
society man, who was found fatally
Nawtcr home carly on tho morning OF
March l3 last. The case was given TO
tho jury at t:30 o'clock. AID the YER
die, was returned AT I o'clock.
AS Deputy Clerk TrisE Walters rcnd
the words that made Nawtcr free
man nc sprang from his chair and
cIaspcd his agcd mother TO his breast
r. l.. Jordan. the only member of vaw-
ter's counsel in the courtroom when
the ycrdic; was read. sank into his
chair and sobbcd. Thank Cod
MRS. vANtTER HYsTERICAI.
WHEN SIZE HEARS VERDICT
Mrs vaw,cr went into Mysteries
when Il newspaper tclephoncd her the
news She could hardly express her
gratitude.
rendered Professor Vawtcr issued the
following statement:
Il thank the Jury for their verdict.
of which have felt sure from the first.
I greatly regret the whole sad affair
and sorrow caused. The injustice lone
Mrs. vawtcr by the prosecution and
press Is tho greatest blot upon the
whole sad affair While I am blame
that have been guilty of weakness
when ] should have been strong. The
future starcs me darkly In the face
but with Gods help ! shall cndcavur
20 build somewhere a happy home for
my children and wife My immediate
plans arc TO rest
y member OF the Jury. leaving the
courtroom. stated that only ono ballot
Was taken. and that either ono Of the
two theories Of the defense. tho unwri,-
ten law or sclt-dcfense. would have
cleared the accused man.
CASE rs sonDID
AND SENSATIONAL
The end OF the trial Of Professor
Vawtcr brought 10 close one OF the
most sordid and sensational cases in
the annals OF the criminal history OF
Virginia Both families involved arc
prominently connected throughout the
state. OF aristocra;ic lineage and wcil
known socially.
Attorney W. H. colhoun closed for
tho defense during tho morning SOS
sion in "A scatrinE dcnuncia,ion OF
etockto iIcth. He painted in vivid
word pictures Mrs. Nawtcrs sacrifice
OF the stand when. "at last. with the
liquor furnished by stockton IIeth Nut
OF her system, with the power OF his
influence gone, her womanhoo6 rc!s-
serted itself. and she took UP the cross
u shame. which she must bear 10 her
grave TO make atoncmcnt for her sin =
Attorney J. l.. Ice brought the prose-
cutions side 10 close in dramatic
appeal to the jury. lie referred L.
Mrs. Vawtcr's carly life. pointing out
that She admitted on the stand that
She drank whisky before her mar
riagr.
"an amorous love ana!r. rs VIC
know" SAID MI. Lee, requires two
persons, but in this case il took three.
and they were all interested in them
selves" IIc said that Nawtcr no, only
connivcd at. bu. actually permitted his
wifc's shame. lie limited tina; Nawt n
Was little less than a blackma;itr.
SENSATIONS FOLLOW IN
RAPID SUCCESSION
Throughout the trial. which lasted
nine days. one sensation has followed
smother in rapid succession. Probably
the most surprising feature OF the case
Mas the Introduction in:o testimony BY
the prosecution of number OF letters
hich we're written by Vawter to Ileth,
In which he admitted that he Was
i.wsre of Ifcth's relations with his
wife
Professor Nawtcr readily admitted
that he had written the letters. but
claimed that he was under the infu-
ente OF drink at the time.
The testimon! OF hya. vk~ter. the
beautiful wife of the accused man. who
! laid bare her past lfe In an effort to
save her husband, will go down in legal
annals as one of the most sordid con-
fessions known TO Virginia
Early on the morning of March I3
last Stockton Heth, Ir.. an overnight
guest in the Nawtcr home. was found
fatally wounded In tho upper hallway
CT the home. suffering from bullet
wounds. lie was rushed to Roanoke.
where he died from his wounds the
following night. Professor Vswtcr
was placed under arrest and released
on bail No details OF the shooting or
events leading up to the ira yedy were
rn:- '-:own until the trial. the Vaw-
Ter family refusing 10 speak regarding
Ao ,,,,%n~