The Washington times., 1918-04-10
KILLED 4SP|DER"
INSELF-DEFENSE;;
HEETER IS FREED
Continued from First Pax.l


the said shot was fired in defense Of
his home. his family and himsalf.
They therefore exonerate the said
Heeter from all blame" read the YER
dict
While the jury stood about q fire
truck in the front room OF the fire
department in q thirty-minute delib-
GRAFTON on the case, Heeter drew up Q
chair near that in which sat his wife.
The three-score OF persons present
were struck by the gentleness, the
tenderness Of his manner toward the
woman he had long refusd to sus-
pect. by his smile as he patted her
hands and whispered what appeared
to be little pleasantries, into her ear.
for they both smiled and appeared to
be happy again since one who had
attempted to wreck their home was
no more.
Rushes to His wife.
II the wife was ever guilty Of any
wrong Heeter showed beyond ques-
tion that she was forgiven last night.
OverJoyed at the finding OF the cor
oner's jury, Heeter rushed to his wife,
although a score of friends gathered
around to offer their congratulations
Then-the husband carried his wife
away in an automobile. They went
back to the little bungalow In Ia
koma Park to begin life anew, to
bury past differences. TO forgive and
forget, and live for the two little chill
dren back home-a little son and q
daughter, who lay asleep while the
tragedy was enacted Monday night,
anu did not awake to witness any
part of II.
During the course Of last nights in-
quest, Justice Lillard asked:
Has She dead man any relatives
here who wish to speak for himT'
There was silence.
"Ts there q friend or acquaintance
present who will say a word for the
dead man?' he asked.
Silence.
Began Three Years Age.
Three years ago. our troubles be-
gan" Heeter said in relating his story
to the jury.
81 went home one evening after
dusk with some candy for the kids.
They met me in the hall and my wife
shortly afterward Joined US, after
closing the parlor door. could not
her action for the weather
was warm at the time A noise inside
caused me to ask who was in there.
She said probably some child
Il was not convinced. l walked into
the parlor and saw q figured crouched
behind the settee. walked over to
II and a man stood up before me-
said Hello there whereupon, he
by me, and I recognized Phelps.
Getting my pistol I walked out on
the front perch and my wife tried to
explain that she was afraid for me
to see him there so she hid him, lest
I become Jealous. Finally I quieted
down."
Heeter said a few days later.he met
Phelps who said:
IT heard what you said last night
about killing me. was standing
across the street. Just let me tell
you this. IL I had had a gun would
have killed you"
"Run, Spider. Run
A month later, Heeter told the
Jury. he returned hcne Unexpectedly
one day and entered BY the rear door.
In the front OF the house he heard a
and he said he heard his
wife cry cut excitedly:
Run, Spider, run-my husband is
coming"
up to that time I had never srs-
pected my wife" Heeter declared,
but I saw IL was no use to be de-
ceived any longer. had to believe
It."
The young husband told of other
occasions on which he had seen
Phelps with his wife and said he had
frequently "raved" and ''quarreled un-
I'll / got so dsgusted l couldn't stand
It any longer"
Heeter said he began brooding over
his troubles at home. and finally de-
termiPed to turn his home and all
that he had saved over to his wife |
10 insure the support OF his two little |
children.
THE only course I saw was to Join !
the army or some branch of II, and
get as far away as possible.
"On Monday morning OF this week.
I did not go to work. hid out
across the street from my home in !
Takoma Park and watched. did not !
have to wait long, for Phelps soon |
showed up. As on all occasions. he |
walked right in through the back I
ioor without knocking. 1 jumped up
and ran after him. and as I entered |
the back door, he saw me
md escaped through the front. That.
was at 10 o'clock yesterday morning.
md my wife was upstairs making the |
beds.
Found No Trace.
II got my gun and looked around I
4 while. but eound no traces OF
Phelps.
Leaving home I went down to ]
to see my lawyer and :
have the necessary papers drawn, 7
leaving everything I had to my wife
md the kids. But the lawyer was
"a Baltimore and I was forced to
wait around all day. I went to sew
sral recruiting stations. but they I
we're just closed. and finally I went
10 the aviation recruiting office, but
L had closed for the day.
II had given up entirely the idea 4
II harming Phelps. had become
resigned TO conditions that I felt ,
lsd had nothing to do with.
Hoping to see my babies once
more, l returned home Monday night j
\ and 0 o'clock. entering by 4
he front door.
Attracted by Loud Talking.
"In less than five minutes. l was
attracted by loud talking at the rear
ioor. recognized my wife's voice \
pleading with someone to go away.
Then recognized the voice Of !
Spider Phelps,
when he said: II you e-s>'t open
his door and let me in for just a
lew minutes I'm going to break the
damned lock off, ] rushed upstairs
and got my gun.
ct went around to the rear OF the
house and hid under the steps. When
Phelps started to leave the door and