Evening star., 1917-05-03

Ii
Will rely upon an insanity plea, but that
it was merely to establish his insanity
at that time, entirely destroying any
value that the letter may have as evil
dence.
Insanity Experts Called.
Court opened with Bernard Williams
the student lodger at the Vawter home
| on the stand for a few additional ques-
| tions as to occurrences the night of the
| tragedy.
At this stage counsel for Vawter held
lengthy conference, and at the re-
sumption of proceedings DR.. A. NJ. Sho-
walter, local physician, was intro
duced. w. H. Colhoun of vawter's
counsel propounded a long hypothat
lcal question involving incidents OF
Nawter's life and asked what was his
opinion of the sanity or insanity OF
such person.
May Letter by Crazy Man.
DIR. Showalter testified that the let
ter to Heth, supposed to have been
written about the middle of last May
taken in connection with previous
events outlined. was. in his opinion
written by crazy man. The second
letter of october IS was, in his opinion
evidence of more normal mind His
testimony was taken up largely with
qualifying and technical matter.
Mr.. Lee, examining for the state, in
questioning DR.. Showalter. laid stress
on a possible distinction between alco-
holic insanity and degeneracy.
DR.. Allen d. Evans of Christiansburg,
answering the same hypothetical ques-
tion. said that. taken in connection with
previous facts. the man who wrote the
letters was. in his opinion. insane.
Mentality of a Child.
DR.. H. F. Henderson. college physician
at v. p. l., testified that he had had
opportunity to observe conditions of
insanity, and. answering the same ques-
ton. said it was his opinion the writer
of the first letter was a crazy man.
On cross-examination DIR. Henderson
said he had noted many eccentricities
about Vawter. He said that while
Fawter's mind was highly developed
matters he was mentally as a child.
DIR. Henderson said he always had re-
garded Vawter as unbalanced.
Introduction of the letters upon which
the defense of insanity is based was
the sensation of yesterdays session.
Vawter wrote Heth that he was aware
of improper relations between Mrs.
Vawter and Heth, but that he would
not interfere.
Now you can love her with less
fear" said one Of the letters. You
are not worrying me, for it is for her
happiness. not yours. although / like
you very much. You are simply a
lucky being"
Mrs. Vawter to Testify.
At the conclusion of Dr. Henderson, $
testimony counsel for defense an
nounced that Mrs. Vawter would testi-
fy next. Defense and prosecution
joined in a request that the courtroom
be cleared. and Judge Moffett took the
request under advisement
After a conference outside the court
room Vawter's counsel retired for
further conference. and when. at the end
OF half an hour, they returned, adjourn
ment was announced until 2 O'Clock
The sudden termination of the morn
ing session gave rise to a feeling that
some event of Importance in the Sc
quence OF the case would develop when
court reconvened.
Vawter's Story of Tragedy.
The struggle of a husband to resist
the temptation of drink. to which he
admitted he was a slave, and the ad-
mission that he had reconciled himself
to the existence of improper relations
between his wife and another man.
from whom he attempted to borrow
money TO pay whisky debts. were the
dramatic developments yesterday aft
ernoon, when the prosecution produced
three letters which were written by
Vawter TO Heth.
One letter, written last June warned
Heth that the relations with Mrs Vaw-
ter had been discovered. and demanded
that he stay away from the Vawter
home. About a week later Vawter
wrote again, urging Heth to forget
what had been said and to continue his
visits as before. In the letter he asked
that Heth pay a whisky bill. amount
ing to 500, which he had contracted at
"A Roanoke liquor house. This letter
with the whisky bill, was found by
Miss Virginia Heth. sister of the deat
man, in one of his pockets. In the let
ter Vawter stated that his other debts
amounted to S2,5oo.
In the third letter Prof Vawter ad-
| mitted that he had been wideawake or
1 the afternoon he caught Heth and hi.
wife in a compromising position, al
! though he feigned sleep. Il came tC
! the door and found out for myself wha
! I have suspicioned for a long time,
! the letter continues, "and now | am
| going to give you the surprise of your
| life. Promise me that you will moi
| mistreat-I mean by that neglect-my
precious sweetheart, and you viii be
I very careful not to cause her to be
! talked about or get into any trouble
| Whatsoever"
letters Come as a Surprise
The sensational letters were produced
in court during the afternoon session
| after Vawter had spent the entire
| morning on the witness stand in hi.
| own defense. The grueling cross
questions and rapidfire statements O.
the prosecution seemed to unnerv.
yawter considerably and the letters ap
peared to come wholly as a surprise t.
| the defense.
/ Jra fie Of ba