The Washington times., 1921-10-13
Of
LATE WIFE
CHARGED
IN COURT
PatroImen and Neighbors on
Stand-AII False, Says
Accused Man.

Fifteen more witnesses must re-
veal their knowledge of the domestic
life Of Elmer F. Dwyer, Georgetown
plasterin9 contractor, whose first
wife was found dead by hanging
Labor Day morning in the cellar Of
their home, 1916 N street northwest,
before the three little Dwyer children
Ethel, Elmer, jr, and Paul-will
know whether they are to live again
with their father and his eighteen
year-old bride of a month.
Case Postponed.
Faced with this extensive program
OF testimony 20 be heard In addition
to that Of ten witnesses heard yester--
day, Judge Kathryn Sellers. of the Dis
trict. Juvenile Court, late yesterday or
dered the Dwyer case continued urtil
tomorrow afternoon at / o'ciock, in
the meantime recommitting the three
little children to the House of Deten-
ton, In charge Of officers of the board
of children's guardians.
Already worried because his battle
for the custody of his children was not
ended yesterday. Dwyer today ex-
pressed further uneasiness over the
belief that authorities Were trying to
frame" his seyenteen-year-old Harry,
that they might commit him to an IN.
stitution until he becomes of age.
Dwyer nevertheless was highly
pleased over the report OF the au-
topsy performed yesterday on the
body OF the first Mrs. Dwyer, re-
| sulting in the statement by former
| Assistant Coroner Carr that no marks
D Sv.lt H. IL
Vindicated, Dwyer Says.
The autopsy merely bears out my
| repeated statements that no marks
would be found, and that the move
| to exhume the body, which i pro-
| tested, was part of a frame-up
against me by the relatives Of my
deceased wife," said Dwyer.
Standing out in the testimony pre-
| sented by witnesses for the District
yesterday in Juvenile Court, was that
| Of Mrs. Marie Miller, 2914 N street
| northwest, whose home adjoins that
of the Dwyer home. Mrs. Miller de-
| clared she had circulated a petition
In the neighborhood, asking for the
removal of the Dwyers from that
| section, following almost continuous
alleged disorder In the Dwyer home.
Mrs. Miller said she had obtained the
| ..
Mrs. Miller was called upon to re-
port conversations between Mr.. and
Mrs. Dwyer which she had overheard
She testified she had heard Dwyer's
first wife call Julia Coyle, Dwyer's
present wife, with whom he admits
having kept company before his wife's
death, several uncomplimeritary
names.
l. Threats by Dwyer Alleged.
She testified that she had frequent
ly heard Mrs. Dwyer call her hus-
band at night when he was asleep
| that he might go downtown to meet
the girl who Is now Dwyer's bride.
She declared she had heard Dwyer
mark that he would knock her
brains out with an iron bar"
William Triplett, sixteen years old,
who until a short time ago had been
living with the Dwyers for several
months, testified he saw Dwyer
strike Mrs. Dwyer, and that he had
once witnessed him kick his wife
and throw shoes at her.
! II was 80 used to 1t that I didn't
pay any attention to II after II had
happened frequently and nothing was
done about IT," said Triplett.
Triplett added that Dwyer had
started to take dancing lessons from
Miss Coyle in 1920, and that on fire.
lquent occasions Dwyer and Miss Coyle
ATTENDED dances together. He told che
court that Dwyer's son, Harry, had
come home with pistol following one
specific occasion OF trouble between
Mr.. and Mrs. Dwyer. and that Harry
had informed him he had purchased
the gun for use on his father IL his
mother suffered additional abuse from
his fathers hands.
Tells Of Kicking Child.
Mrs. Dwyer, according to Triplett,
''had black eyes for months Mt n time" T"
On one occasion. he said, Dwyer
kicked his daughter. Ethel. I'm the
abdomen. because she didn't move
fast enough getting his breakfast"
When Mrs. Dwyer ipterfered. Trip