The Washington times., 1923-08-11
KEPNER CALLED
TO STAND BY
COUNSEL
Will Testify in Own Behalf
Tuesday-D. c. Pistol Ex-
perts Also Witnesses.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

CONTINUED from First PageD
sure Mrs Houck knew nothing Of
the death Of her daughter.
Members of the Houck family
have told, her about Mrs. Kepner's
death. but don't believe she real
ICES her daughter 10 Dead" Mr..
Anders said, II am sure she knows
nothing OF how her daughter met
her DEATH"
Paralyzed and Deaf.
Mr., Anders said Mrs. Houck was
in bed when he talked with her.
She has been paralyzed for more
than a year, he said. Up to the
time she was stricken with
paralysis her mental facilities were
working fine. he said. Mrs. Houck
cannot move from the bed without
the aid Of another person, he said.
Monday morning, DR.. Hendrix will
go on stand in the Circuit Court
and testify as to Mrs. Houck's con-
dition. The court Wednesday
directed the States Attorney to
have Mrs. Houck examined and a
report made Monday.
The court thought that Mrs.
Houch, inasrnuch az she occupied q
room next to that in which her
daughter either killed herself or
was murdered, might know some
thing Of the death or might have
heard the fatal shot fired. It was
said today that Mrs. Houck was
hard of hearing and probably did
not hear the pistol go off.
Three pistol experts from Wash
ington, D. c.. will go on the stand
Monday.
Testimony Il Delayed.
Leo Weinberg and Guy X. Motter,
Kepner's counsel, had planned to let
the accused man testify Monday.
They had q sudden change. Of mind
yesterday and now Kepner is not
scheduled to appear until Tuesday.
The pistol experts, 1t is said, will
be followed by three Washington
physicians who will give expert
testimony regarding the effect on
gun shot wounds and the chemical
reaction OF various compositions Of
bullets and the results left by them.
The defense will have ten leading
witnesses and five character wit
nesses for Kepner.
Mrs. Houck Examined.
Both. defense and prosecution
took advantage of the court recesc
yesterday and worked feverishly
until late last night preparing for
the reopening OF the trial Monday
morning.
The prosecution is now lining up
witnesses to 20 on the stand In
rebuttaI Of defense witnesses.
Members Of the Houck family viii
pe placed on the stand by the State
to refute testimony Of several of
Kepner's friends regarding ALLEGED
conversations in which one member
Ut the Houck family declared Mrs.
Kepner tried twice before to COM
nit suicide. The Houck's viEor-
ously deny that Mrs. Kepner ever
attempted to take her life.
Predictions By Defense.
Kekner counsel today predicted
that some of the defenss witnesses
next week would sprprise the State
with their testimony. One i'm
purtant witness. q relative of KEEP
ner. is expected to go on the stand
ana testify to con Iersatlon with
MES. hGpIlST III WHICH IAC IoIICA
tod her that she had tried to
commit suicide several months ago.
Kepner spent yesterday in the
county Jail watching q quartet OF
uncouth colored law.breakera play &
pinochle game. The rest Of the
time he spent either reading books
or talking with his cellmate, Milton
Banks.
The fastidious architect 10 begin.
ming to feel the strain Of the ordeal
he is undergoing and the effects OF
his Incarceration.
Kepner's attorneys are now
courageously putting the fate OF
their client, for whom they hold
almost a brotherly affection, into
the hands Of the experts. The
lawyers do not attempt to minimize
the seriousness Of the situation in
which Kepner finds himself, but ex'
presses confidence in their ability
to prove, through the experts. that
Mrs. Kepner committed suicide by
shooting herself through the right
side of the head.
An unusually large crowd 10 ex-
pected at the trial next week. The
sherff's office will swear in extra
deputies for Tuesday to handle the
throng OF persons who are expected
to seek admittance to the court.
room to hear the testimony Of KEEP
ner