Evening star., 1921-03-23
SHOOTING Of GIRL
LACKING IN MOTIVE
Youths Story of Accident
Partly Borne Out-Town
Pays Tribute at Funeral.
From a STAR Correspondent.

From a star Corrpspondent
HAkPERS FERRY, w Va, Marcf
23--Absence of motive for the
shooting of pretty Katherine Little.
ton. sixteen years old. in her home a
Bolivar, Sunday night, is the prin.
cipai stumbling block to the solu.
ton of the tragedy which has disturb.
ed this town and the places adjacent
since the girl was found dead in Z
haif reclining position on a sofa in the
parlor of her home Monday morning
by her mother.
Every theory has been followed By
the state and town investigators, buI
all OF them-assault. jealousy, anger
fear of exposure-faIl down unde,
careful examination, and it is now be.
ileved the shooting was an accident
James A. Stevens. the eighteen-year.
Ola youth of Halltown, now confined
IN the Jail at Charles Town. still IN
sists that Katherine shot herself, ac-
cordlng to his attorney. Forres,
Brown. who had refused to allow any
one to talk with the prisoner
Will Be ArraiEned Friday.
Stevens will be taken before Mag
istrate D. II. Nichols at Bolivar at z
O'Clock Friday afternoon for a pre-
ifmlnary hearing to determine wheth-
er or not he should be held for the
action Of the grand jury.
Prosecuting Attorney John T. Porter
field Of Charles Town is seeking to
weave evidence of murder agains,
the youth. However, he said TO-DAY
that the facts so far as he has been
able to gather them point to involun.
tary manslaugfter. 1t is the theory
now, according to Mr.. Porterfield
the automatic pistol when it ex-
ploded. The range of the bullet
which entered the right eye. was up
ward through the brain and out near
the top and back of the skull inn
bedding itself in the plaster wall be-
ting.
Several Points Puxxlipk.
There are several points in the boys
side of the case that are puzzlinr the
officials. One is the statement OF
Stevens that the oil lamp went out
whom the pistol was fired and the
other is the disposition of the empty
cartridge. Upon firing an automatic
pistol the empty she'll is elected
Search by the town officials headed
by Mayor James Brubb Of Bolivar,
has failed to disclose it, indicatine
that the young man may have searched
Tor the shell. found it and took It
with him when he left the house and
that he had light for this.
According to Magistrate Nichols
stevens made no effort to elude the
police when he was informed they
were after him with warrant When
the constable appeared at Steyens'
home the youth was waiting for him
and Immediately turned over the gun.
No question of assault has entered
into the tragedy. An examination
made by Dr.. w. E. Perry of Halltown.
state medical officer. disproves this
theory. '''
Accident Theory Left.
Investigation leaves only the acci-
dental shooting theory. 1t is believed
now Stevens was handling the gun
and was apparently explaining the
operation of it to the young woman
when it was accidentally discharged.
rror-stricken. he is believed to have
hurriedly picked up the cartridge and
gun, put out the lamp and left. He
bears an excellent name in the sur
country and is popular with
the younger set.
Miss Littleton had known him for
some time. say her girl friends Two
who were out with her and Stevens
the night the shooting occurred say
both were in the best of spirits when
they were left at the gate. both en-
tering the dead girls house.
The house in which the tragedy oc-
CURED is small whitewashed home
on the roadside in a thickly
settled section of Bolivar. The lounge
where Katherine was found in q Lean
ing posture by her mother upon coming
down at $40 O'Clock Monday morning
sets in the corner of the room, and al
though the partitions are thin, neither
her Stepfather, ]. W. RamsdiII. her
mother or two brothers lone OF them
slept directly over the parlor) heard the
shot which struck out the life of the
young girl.
Wore Stevens Ring.
When found Miss Littleton had in her
right hand chewing gum wrapper and
a piece OF gum was in her mouth, She
also had on a finger of her right hand
a ring which was identified as the prop
erty of young Stevens. Her hair was
but little and a few hair
pins were found on the floor
Miss Gladys Coulter. friend of
Miss Littleton, said that Miss Little
tons life had been threatened by a
young man if he saw her out with auy
one else. She gave the name of the
W no made this threat. In fact, accord
ing to Miss Coulter. she went out with
Stevens because OF the threat of the
other youth.
Miss Littleton will be buried this
afternoon at 4:30 from the home of
her grandmother, Mrs. Lucy Sponseler.
" here her body has been lying since
The inquest. The young lady was
very popular IN the town, and a
steady stream of frie nds have been
calling to pay respects.
Most of the business houses of the
.own. including the clothing mill
where Miss Littleton was employed
previous to her death. closed down for
lalf a day today as a mark of respect.
W. ]. W.