Evening star., 1921-03-24
GUN-T0T|NG RAPED
IN KILLING OF GIRL
Pastor at Funeral of Kathe-
rine LittIeton Says Law
Should Be Enforced.
From a Staff Correspondent.


HARPERS FERRY, W. Va, March
24.-Gun- -toting came in for a severe
arraignment here yesterday at the
funeral services for Katherine l.. Lit
Teton, when Rev. J. A. Snedegar. pas
tor Of the Bolivar NJ. L. Church. con-
demned the practice. and called on
his auditors to take the present trag-
edy as a strong lesson. Miss Littleton
came to her death Sunday night from
gunshot wound from a pistol which
was carried into her home by James
y. Stevens of Halltown, w. Va.
There is law on the books of
this state now" said Pastor Snedegar
which prohibits the carrying of fire
arms. 1t should be made stronger and
more severe. for the practice of car
rying firearms leads to such deeds as
the one which brings us here today"
The state law to which he refers pro-
vides both fine of from $50 to 500
any one convicted of carrying fire.
arms.
Directs Talk to Young Men.
He directed his talk particularly to
the young men. many of whom filled
the little church at which the serv-
ices were held.
IF there is any young man here now
who is carrying a gun, let him lay it
trouble with which we are now
dealing. Lay down your guns. or it
may bring another similar tragedy
Such terrible deed cannot be re-
peated il you young men follow the
practice of leaving firearms in the
home"
Hundreds of people of Bolivar and
Harpers Ferry came to pay final re-
spects to the dead girl. who was
popular in the town where she lived
The little church could not hold the
throng, and many were forced to re-
main in the street outside pending
the services.
The Sunday school class which the
young girl attended and her co-work-
ers at the Inter-Woven Sock Mills in
Harpers Ferry turned out in body
and acted as flower girls. each carry
ing horal piece. They led the pro-
cession to the Lutheran cemetery at
Bolivar Heights. where Miss Little
ton was buried.
New Developments Promised.
The next chapter in the case will be
the preliminary hearing which will
be given James A. Stevens. the
eishteen-year-o youth of Halltown
who is being held in connection with
the shooting. He now is held under
the verdict of the coroner's jury.
which said that Katherine Littleton
came to her death BY a bullet SEEM
ingly fired by James A. Stevens"
Interesting developments are prom
ised at the hearing which will be
given the young man tomorrow aft
ernoon at . o'clock in the home of
d. H. Nichols. at Bolivar,
by DR.. W. E. Perry. state medical
officer. who made an examination of
the body at the coroners inquest. DR..
Perry declined to discuss the nature
of his findings until he presented the
evidence al the hearing.
Many Witnesses Called.
A long list of witnesses for the
state have been summoned to testify
at the preliminary arraignment of
Stevens. They are Maurice Wentzell.
Frank Moier, Frank Walker. G.. F..
Cox. Lyle Eackles. Vivian Sponseler.
DIR. w f. Perry. Mr.. and Mrs. John
stepfather and mother. re-
spectively. of the dead girl; Mrs.
Florence Miskinnon. Beatrice Mis-
kinnon. Eleanor Mccormick, Lenora
Earnest LittIeton. Chippy
White, Paul C1evenger. George Hafer.
Elmer Peacher. Carl Grubb, Ben
j. T. Sponseler, Arthur Lit
tleton. Betty Littleton. John Spon-
seller and B. J. Sponseler
The defense has not asked for sub
poenas for any witnesses.
Unless there are unforeseen deyel-
at the preliminary hearing.
doubt is expressed as to whether the
young man can be held for murder in |
the case.
Prosecutor Ii Incensed.
The prosecuting attorney. John r |
Porterfield of Charles Town, is in /
'ensed over the manner in which the |
own officials handled the case. He |
informed The Stars correspondent !
hat he was not given a fair oppor- !
unity to conduct the case for the |
state. as he was not notified of il |
Until the proceedings had been com
,leted and the case had been acted |
ipon. He was not even given a
'hance. he says. to conduct the neces-
'ary examination of the prisoner.
which would have enabled him to |
BRING out all of the facts. At this
ime. he says further. he cannot de-
relop any evidence to hold the young
nan on the charge of murder
The doorknob on the rear door. has
,een removed and is in the posses
ion of the state. 1t is covered with
,lood. and the contention is that the
'oung man made an effort to leave
he house by the rear door. Micro
copic examination of the finger
'rints will be made to determine who
made the blodstains. W. J. w.