The Washington times., 1917-03-18
HETH TRAGEDY PUTS
DAMPER ON TOWN
People of BIacksburg Defer
Festivities As Incident
of Shooting.
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RidA section of Virginia, and Il IL
doubtful IL there was anyone more
popular than young Stockton Heth.
The Vawters. just married, came
here fifteen years ago. Mrs. Yawter,
who was Miss Henderson, of Salem,
near Roanoke, had long been famed
as one of Virginia's beauties. They
soon had hosts OF friends. They have
tive children, a boy of ten and girl
of eight.
Funeral Today.
The warm friendship OF the people
for both families has precluded the
sharp division OF opinion that usually
follows such cases. There is no dis
position to take the outside world
into the confidence of Blacksburg; in
fact, there Is an apparent effort to re-
strict the details OF the case to the
proper authorities.
The funeral OF young Stockton Heth
was held this afternoon at Radford.
the old family home. The father,
Capt. Stockton Heth, veteran of the
civil war arrived from California yes
IltAiAs an OAhe'A
in the United states army. a brother
of stockton, and two sisters, with
whom the young man had lived upon
the family estate, Whitethorne, near
Blacksburg, were present.
Determined on Vengeance.
Clement Heth today declared that
his family would leave nothing IN
done to see. that justice was obtained.
He expressed anger over published
stories concerning the character of
his dead brother.
1--WE have beens absolutely frank
with everybody" nj the brother,
land we have beenMolding nothing
back. We are disturbed as much as
others over the incidents that led up
to the events of Monday night, and
have been unable to learn any more
than is already known. The state
ment / gave out In Roanoke following
the death of my brother was correct.
He died before he could tell more"
The statement referred to contained
the declaration of the dying man that
AIR. Vawter" had shot him.
Clement Heth has announced that
he will take an. active part in con
junction with Commonwealth Attor-
ney Roep, in the prosecution of Vaw-
ter.
Al. Hairless, one of the attorneys
retained by Prof. Vawter, has an
nounced that the accused will take
the stand at his trial In May and tell
the jury a story So sensational and
dramatic that there will be doubt of
his acquittal.
prof. Vawter himself will take the
stand" said Mr.. Hairless, land he will
the jury of the circumstances which
led to the killing of Stockton Heth. 1
again make the statement that there
Is no jury in the country which would
convict a man for doing what Vawter
did. He shot to kill and to preserve
the sanctity OF his home"
1t took Prof. Vawter four hours to
tell his lawyers the long train of cir
cumstances which led up to, the shoot
ing.
Many rumors are current In Blacks
burg concerning the shooting of Heth,
and the following account was told
by a man who was on the scene with
in forty-five minutes after II had oc-
Cured:
prof. vawter, with Mrs. Vawter
and his two children, and the wives
of three professors, arrived at the
Vawter home a little after 10 o'clock
Monday plight from an entertainment
given in the village. Prof. Vawter
took the three ladies home and re-
turned to his house. putting up his
machine. Mrs. Nawter meanwhile put
the children to bed and Joined the
professor in the library just as Stock
ton Heth., jr., called.
Was Invited TO Stay.
He was invited TO stay all night
and accepted the invitation. About
midnight the three retired 10 their
respective chambers, Prof. and Mrs
Vawter in one room and Heth in the
guest room, across the hall. At about
> o'clock Stockton Heth and Prof.
Fawter. both clad in pajamas, met in
the hallway between the rooms.
There was a quarrel. Prof. Saw-
ter was heard to say something about
getting his revolver. He went down
the stairs into the library and re-
turned. Heth was standing at tho
top OF the steps, apparently unable