The Washington times., 1920-10-06
.SLAYER'S WIFE
TAKES STAND
Bares Intimacy With Victim of
Cripple to Save Hus-
bands Life.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

(Conunued from trst fage.I
nesses that he had laid In wait and
had threatened to kill Davis, Austin
too the stand in his own defense this
morning.
Austin told of his wife's confession
OF infidelity, duplicating Davis, Of his
enlargement from her, and OF his
having demanded that Davis leave the
community. Austin declared Davis
had promised to leave Manassas when
he was confronted with the confess
sion made by Mrs. Austin.
Asked by Attorney John-L. Lee, of
Lynchburg. counsel for the defense,
when he had FIRST intimation OF his
wife's unfaithfulness, Austin testified
he became aware of the fact on
October last. when Mrs. Austin told
him she was about to become
mother.
AZ had n talk with my wife," said
Austin, 81 suspected Davis and she
confessed he had made love to her
in my absence. went to see Davis
and asked him to take a ride with
mo in my automobile We drove to,
the edge of town and told him my
wife had confides-to me her intimacy
with him.
HE said: What are you going to
do about it?"
ORDERED WIFE FROM HOME.
81 told him that had ordered my
wife to leave home and / suggested
to him that he also leave town to
avoid disgrace to all concerned. He
promised me he would leave town.
My wife left the next day for Wash
ington."
"DId you offer any violence to Davis
n. n. - .
town. asked Attorney Lee.
mo. I did not. We drove back into
the city. where we met Frank Cannon,
resident of the city, when Davis
'"-0' y 7dr' ted he had been intimate
with my wife"
tnIar cross examination by Attor-
ney T. Morris Wampler, of Washing
ton, engaged by r. II. Davis, father of
the slain man. to assist Thomas Lion.
commonwealth attorney, in the prose-
cution OF the case, Austin denied he
had planned the staying or that he
had placed a revolver against Davis,
threatening his life IL he refused to
leave town.
IT wanted to bring my wife back"
said Austin. but Davis would not
leave. She had written me from
Washington pleading to forgive her.
told her ] would not have her back
unless Davis left AS Davis had
promised 20 leave town / asked him
several times why he did not go. I
told him my wife wanted to come
back. but l. would not accept her in
my home unless he leave town"
Mrs. Virginia Austin, the wife OF
the prisoner. will take the stand and
reveal to the jury and Judge Samuel
n hAH al
macy with Davis in an effort. to save
her husband from the electric chair.
Following Austin's testimony, the
jury accompanied by Judge Brent
went over the scene of the crime,
creating quite a commotion in this
town.
Witnesses testified that Austin had
been seen in his rolling chair hiding
In a doorway. Not satisfied with the
plan submitted by the prosecution At
torney Lee suggested to the court
that the jury be permitted to get a
view of these places.
Upon reaching the Austin home, in
Zepapee, the Jurors were permitted to
OF dynamite several weeks ago, when
Austin's house was shattered by I'M
known persons.
Attorney Lee asserted that the de-
Tense intended TO prove that Davis in.
vaded the Austin home and became
intimate with Mrs. Austin because of
his physical condition.
In his direct testimony Austin de-
clared that Davis not only admitted
TO him his association with Mrs. Aus
tin, but to others He further said
these rumors had reached him from
various sources and that they had
preyed on his mind.
Asked how long he had carried a
revolver, Austin said since 1910,
when my father was conducting n
business here and I had to handle all
Tho money, principally due 20 the fact
that I was physically Incapable"
When did you nrst learn OF Davis
intimacy with your wife7" asked at
torney Lee.
Il think IL was October 10 last.