The Washington times., 1921-04-01

Hospital.
eide or took drug to quiet her un-
settled nerves will be decided today.
when DR.. J. Ramsay hewitt. District
Coroner, will perform an autopsy on
her body at the Morgue.
Mrs. LaRue was the star witness
for Edward V. Killeen, Washington
pool champion. who was on trial
yesterday In the Rockville court on
an Indictment charging him with the
staying of Mrs. Bessie Harris, who
was shot to death on January at the
| Cabin John Bridge Hotel, following
a "wild party" at the roadhouse.
| 1t was principally through the tes-
ltimony of Mrs LaRue, who testified
that Burnett w. Tanner, for whom
the prosecution contended the shot
which killed Mrs. Harris was intend
ed. had used vile and vicious language
to Killeen. that the Washington pool
shark" was acquitted by the jury aft
er forty-five minutes deliberation.
TANNERS STORY AIDS kILLEEN
While Tanner was called as a wit
| ness for the prosecution. he proved
to be a good witness for Killeen.
He admitted having used vile Ian
guage toward Killeen and also ad.
mitted that he had not only threat
ened to break Killeen in half" but
that he had raised a clenched fist
at the Washington pool expert.
In his closing argument to the
jury, John A. Garrett, lawyer for
Killeen, explained that Killeen feared
his life, that he had been unnerved
by the foul names. reflecting on his
dead mother. admitted to have been
used by Tanner. and declared that
even had Killeen fired the shot 'he
killing would have been justifable.
Killeen took the witness stand in
his own defense. He testified that
ne left his wife in their room at the
National Hotel after ne had received
a telephone message from Mrs. LaRue
that a Mrs. Tessie Chapman, a friend
had arrived in town and wanted to
take an auto ride to the Cabin John
Bridge Hotel.
KILLEEN TELLS OF PARTY.
"I put a quart Of whiskey and the
revolver in my pockets and got my
car and met Mrs LaRue and Mrs.
Chapman" Killeen testified. I'VE
drove to the hotel and while eating
dinner. Tanner. with the Harris
woman and others, arrived and sat
at a nearby table. The Harris woman
danced with Mrs. Ruth B. Ludwig and
they stopped at our table.
''$n a joking way, / suggested to
Mrs. Harris that II she was q pro-
fessional dancer / would give her a
job--that Mrs. LaRue and / intended
to buy the Cabin John Bridge Hotel.
II offered Mrs. Harris a drink. She
accepted and told me that she would
work for me forever-as long as l
provided her with drinks.
"She returned to her table with
Tanner. and a short time later they
left the dining room. l thought they
had left the hotel and i started for
the wash room. / encountered Tan
ner and another man in the hall Tan
ner challenged me to a game OF pool,
calling me a pool shark" 1 tried to
avoid trouble and continued to the
wash room. When / returned l again
met Tanner and his friend. Mrs. Har-
ris was in the dance hall.
DREW GUN ON ABUsER-
Tanner started to abuse me. He
which reflected on my mother. He
was at one end Of the hall and his
friend at the other. Tanner told me
he would break me in half. 1 feared
for my life, and l pulled my revolver
from my pocket. l did not intend to
shoot Tanner, but II he approached
me I intended to attempt to hit him
on the head within the butt end Of the
revolver.
Just at this critical moment Mrs
LaRue rushed from the dining room.
She shouted What the hell is going
on here? and when she heard Tan
ner using the vulgar names, she
rushed to him and started to pummel
him in the face. He tried to push her
aside in order to get at me. 1t was
then that / drew the revolver. While
I was holding it above my head, the
Harris woman rushed in and seized
my upraised arm. A moment later
the revolver was discharged. 1 did
not pull the trigger.
Even after Mrs. Harris had been
shot aided Tanner to carry her
into his automobile and asked that
they rush her to the hospital. had
no intention Of killing the girl and I
did not know she was in the hallway
when I had the revolver in my up
raised hand.
II had no more reason to kill Mrs.
Harris than l had to kill my wife
who sits here in the courtroom"
MRS. LA RUE UNDER ORDEAL
Mrs. LaRue went under a decided
ordeal while on the witness stand,