Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1921-03-29

Che excitement about the Ransdell
house as he was going to work, and
upon entering saw Katherine feclin-
ing on the co.sch. That she had
chewing gum in tie paper iE her
right land and that her left hand was
closed on a small piece Of chewing
gum. That he n,:...a search TO.
cartridges, but could not find any.
DIr. Carol White, constable was
put en- the stand. and said that he
was given warrans for tie arres. 5f
Stevens about 3 o'clock on Monday
morning. That upon approaching
| tie Stevens house a. Halltown,
young Stevens was seea on the porch,
and that he called to him to come
out to his car, which he did. That he
told him that he was under arrest,
and asked him where the gun was
with which he shot the girl. That
Stevens replied, that the gun that
the girl shot herself with is upstairs,
and that they procured it. That on
the way back to Justice Nichols Office
Stevens remarked, 81 will tell you all
how it was" That the gun became
heavy in his pocket, and that he took
lit out and laid it down and that
Katherine picked it up and that he
called to her to put it down that it
would go off, but it then went off,
and that he became afraid and went
home.
Mr.. Maurice Wentzell testified
that he accompanied Constable
White when he went to arrest
Stevens, that he heard Stevens say
that it was the gun that the girl shot
herself with. Said that on way back
Stevens said he would tell them how
it was. That the gun became heavy
in his. pockets, and that he took it out
and laid it down, and that Katherine
picked it up and said II Believe
Will Kill Myself" and that the gun
went off, and he cried: my God,
Katherine, What Have You Done"
and that the light went out and he
could not see, and that he became
afraid and went home.
Mr.. j. s. Glass testified as a re-
volver expert, and upon being shown
the revolver with which the tragedy
was committed, said that it was a
calf 80 calibre automatic safety.
That to fire it the safety catch had to
be released and the handle clutched
tightly before the trigger could be
pulled.
At this stage of the proceedings
much excitement was created by
Prosecuting Attorney Porterfeld re-
questing that the revolver with which
the shooting occurred be fired to see
what kind of powder the cartridges
contained, which was objected to by
Col. Brown, counsel for the defense.
After some discussion Justice Nichols
consented to the revolver being taken
outside and fired, which was done,
and it was found that the cartridges
contained smokeless powder, and that
there was no powder marks made on
the paper at which it was fired, al
though it was held only few feet
away.
Mr.. J. E. Sponsler, uncle of
Katherine Littleton, testified to see
ing Katherine sitting on the couch
with her hands in her lap, with paper
in her right hand. Saw blood on
knob of back door.
Mr.. Frank Walker testified to See
ing Undertaken Echols take chewing
gum out of the dead girls mouth.
Mr.. Carl Grub, Mayor of Bolivar,
was placed on the stand, and said
that he was called early Monday
morning, and coroborated the state
ments of the other witnesses.
Mr.. John Rockenbaugh testified
that Stevens showed a revolver at
Halltown on Sunday afternoon.
Prosecuting Attorney John T.
Porterfield then opened the argument
for the state, and was followed by
Col. Forrest w. Brown for the De-
tense, who asked that the prisoner
only be held for involuntary man.
slaughter. In closing Prosecuting
Attorney Porterfield dwelt upon the
point that there were only two per-
sons present when the tragedy was
committed, that one was dead, and
that the prisoner had not testified as
to how it happened. He claimed
that there was sinister motive and
insisted upon the prisoner being held
on the charge of murder. He said
he could not conceive how an inno-
cent person could deliberately leave
a girl dying and bleeding to death
and go home without calling her fam
lily or physician to her relief.
Upon the conclusion of the argu-
ment Justice Nichols said that he had
only heard one side of the case and
would have to hold the prisoner for
the Grand Jury under the charge of
murder.
The prisoner was in charge of
Sheriff W. 0. MaCoughtry and De-
putty Sheriff w. B. Alder, and was
brought back to Charles Town and
placed in jail