The Washington times., 1917-05-06

while in the Vawter home, seemingly
endeaVoring to learn whether, last
Christmas night, Vawter could have
come out OF the cellar and seen Heth
trying to kiss his wife when on the
sofa, for the very simple reason that
the sofa was not visible from the eel
lar door. Judge Moffett quickly shut
! him up on this point, but the point
had found its mark in the brains Of
the other jurymen.
So, 1t all must resolve itself into the
personal equation-whether Vawter
will walk out free man, whether he
VIII go to an asylum. or whether he
will go to prison.
1t is assured that he will not go TO
the death chair. The simple fact that
he is allowed to be out on bail now is
proof positive of this.
What's the ABswerf
And the personal equation centers
around four persons Prof. Vawter
and his wife on the onn hand, and
Jack Lee and Lieut.. Clement Heth.
brother OF the slain man, on the other
Here is the Imposition: "win the
jury believe Vawten insignificant and
passionless, but unieniably pitiful,
and his Madonna-like wife, beautiful
and soulswaying. but equally theat-
r1cal, or will it believe Lieutenant
Heth, calm avenger of his brother,
ana Jack Lee, who broke a resolution
OF score of years standing never to
prosecute a case, to try to punish
Vawter?
1t is an odd equation. for while
ooth Nawter and his wife have ap-
DeATRd thn cfa
Heth has been considered as a wit.
ness. But both of them appeared IN
court, and the psychological effect on
the jury was just the same as il they
had told in words their reason for de-
string to punish Charles Vawter
While this vital issue is paramount
IN the minds OF the local people at
tending the daily sessions of the trial.
there Is another matter which, in a
way, presents itself more forcibIy to
the visitor from afar.
That Is the intensely casual way
virginia court goes about trying a
man Tor his life. Here are a few
items that demonstrate the point.
Some Virginia Oddities.
opposing counsel, while wrangling
bitterly over every point, seize upon
every opportunity to twit each other
about their respective drinking habits.
The judge takes his meals at the
same boarding house as the prisoner.
The prisoner chats Informally with
newspaper men on every occasion, and
instructs them about what they shall
write about him.
Lawyers, II tired OF sitting in the
court room, ret,r to the doorways of
their chambers and smoke cigarettes
while listening to testimony.
Witnesses are almost inveterately
stopped while on the way to the stand
to tell their initials to reporters.
Principals in the case sit within
the rail and make audible comment on
the testimony.
All in all, IL is the most remarkable
court procedure that one can imag-
inc.
Two Inspiring Figures.
Two of the most inspiring figures in
court every day are the two official
messenger boys. They are Trig Gro
mer. who says he's eleven next De
cember. and George Gill. whom Trig
profoundly asserts is only ten.
Two barefOOted youngsters, country
bred. they are getting their first taste
of Importance and are enjoying it
hugely.
1t is probably the first time in the
annals in the Christiansburg court
that there has been a case OF such i'm |
portance that messenger boys have
been required to take reports from
newspaper men TO the telegraph Of
fee every five minutes.
So the boys were allowed to make
their own rules. They went into
- h. l.