Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-04-01
W. Il. oEHLERT TAKES STAND
(consinued from Page, 0ne)
discharged accidentally.

took the stand and stated that pleas.
ant relations existed Between the
prisoner .and Kidwell, SO far as he .
observed.
zeddie Kidwell, employed in the |
shops of the Southern Railway, fol-
lowed. Witness could not tell the
nature of relatives existing between
the prisoner and Kidwell. The lat
ter was witnesses nephew.
j oehlert was again placed on the
stand. He said he was born IN !
Alexandria "a years ago; is mar
rier man; was not on duty at the
railroad yard at the time OF the
shooting; had been to washington
that day with two men; ne and MS
companions entered his (Oehlert's)
house, upon their return; had loaned
Ia lamp to the man who owned the
automobile; prisoner held the lamp,
while the machine was proceeding TO
the railroad yard; his pistol drop
bed from his pocket into puddle OF
water; ne went to the yard to make
ARRANGEMENTS to go on a hunting
trip with a party; he entertained
good feeling toward all in the ofhce;
fred the pistol outside to try the
barrel; re-eratered the Office and be-
ran to reload the pistol; bottom
trigger held back; slipped from I'M
der his thumb and was discharged;
Midffiff attempted to take pistol
| from him; did not know for a time
/ Kidwell was shot; followed kidwell
outside and told him he would not
have hurt him for anything on
1 earth; had ever been friendly with
Kidwell; never had cross word
with him; went home immediately
after the shooting; took a drink Oh
b whisky and went to bed; officers
4 pulled the cover from the bed and
: took him out; started towards the
} bureau to secure some wearing ap-
parel, but was pulled away by the
4 officers; the chief was choking him
4 50 severely that he could barely
I breathe; after he was placed in the
4 notorcy;c. in scuffle the latter
4 fell out IL lie vehicle; had no inten-
4 ton of silo?ting in the Office: what
d ne said c, corning shooting up the
Hoffice" was this-"How is this for
l shooting MP the Yard" uttered after
he discharged the pistol outside.
n On cross-examination Oehiert SAID
y he had been to Baltimore on the day
h of the shooting for the purpose CT
GIprrcflasing a saw to be operated by
ga gasoline engine. Had not been
Hat work for ten days; had been en-
4 ployed in repairing his house and
Il fence during that time; denied ne
Roffered bottle of whisky to Mrs.
R'Kidwelts baby, fourishing a pistol
4 menacingly on that occasion. The
4accused was subjected to close
4 cross-examination by the Common
wealth's Attorney.
At $40 court adjourned until 1890
this morning.
Court reconvened at 1920 o'clock
this morning.
4 Oehlert again took the stand, and
retold his, story of the shooting. He
denied that he pointed or aimed the
l.pistol at any one; was looking at
the weapon at the time it was dis
charged.
Upon being cross examined he
Itook the weapon and showed what ne
regarded as its defect.
{ Chester Coons subsequently took
the stand. Resides in Richmond; is
acquainted with Oehlert; met pris-
5ner on the day preceding the night
of the shooting; came with him and
J. E. Burke from Washington; party
;yere in an automobile; light on the
car was defective; Burke desired to
visit the railroad yard Office; Oehlert
obtained a lantern and held it while
on the way to the office in the auto.
Cross-examined witness said he
saw Oehlert reach for something be-
fore he left his home; knew he had a
pistol, however; saw him handling
the weapon later.
Ollie Simpson was the next witness.
Is a brakeman of the Southern Rail
way; the prisoner and Kidwell ap-
peared to be on friendly terms.
Mrs. Oehlert, wife of the prisoner.
then took the stand. kidwell was
frequent visitor to her home; friend
ship existed between her husband
and Kidweii.
Mr.. Burke, counsel for the accused,
had asked witness what statement
her husband made upon his return
on the night Of the shooting, but
told her not To answer the question |