The Washington times., 1927-12-12
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card party" she is reported to have
told Sheriff Edward Rasmussen.
Eyes" she added, ST went"
Rasmussen asked the slim, blonde
girl: "And you aren't sorry you
killed him?''
She pondered, then replied:
mo-"
The monosyllable terminated the
talk in which the dance-mad wife
from the big, city told how, in u
moment of pique, because he had
derided her friends and had OBJ.
jected to taking her to party, she
had hammered to death her hus.
band, Thomas Edward West.
They have called Velma a girl
with split brain and young West
a husband with r1reside complex.
They have described her as a
pleasure-loving girl and MIN as a
studious, home-loving type.
The fact is that a girl came from
q Broadway to a Main Street and
found Main Street with its single
movie house, its dearth Of dances
and its small-town frowns incom.
patible with her hvelier desires in
life.
Two years ago. West. then %,
quiet, huge of stature, an Adonis
in mold and looks, met 19-year-old
Velma Van Woert at dance five
miles from his fathers horticultural
farms at Perry.
Fireside vs.. Fun
Fourteen months ago the pair
eloped to Ripley, Ky. They kept
this marriage secret a week, then
divulged it. The girls parents do
mated a snappy green roadster.
Vests folks gave them a tiny
bungalow near the West farm at
Perry. They sought happiness and
didn't find it.
He liked literature, if it per.
tanned to horticulture. She liked
literature, If it pertained to ro.
nance. He, loved a pipe. She
lighted one cigarette from another,
sometimes publicly, to the great
shock of the good folk of Perry.
He preferred the fireside. She
yearned for the jazz dances Of
Cleveland. He wanted a home.
Five weeks ago the couple had
q tiff. She sought the sheriffs
advice. He laughed her fears
away. Today. in view OF what has
happened, the defense considers
this squabble of great Importance.
"YOur Girl Friends"
They were to have driven last
Tuesday evening to the home Of
Mable Young, a manicurist, in
- AvsNA 49,
Mrs. West doesn't play bridge. But
the party would include dancing
and singing.
The Vests drove into Paines-
VILE that afternoon, he to see q
doctor, she to purchase Irvine to
mend q bedroom curtain. He was
sullen at the prospect OF the party;
she was gay.
They reached home at six, It Is
reported, and went to the bedroom
20 fix the curtain. As the woman
stepped on a chair, twine, hammer
and nails in hand he IS said to
have snapped:
.'I'm not going TO the party. I
don't like your girl friends.
What happened thereafter. &C
cording to her own words. was as
follows:
Il stepped from the chair and
said. You can't talk that way
about my friends. I'm leaving you
and / am not coming back He
slapped me hard on the nose. 1t
hurt. struck him on the head.
1 didn't realize I had the hammer.
I saw the blood. but didn't know
he was so badly hurt. He slumped.
/ was afraid he'd rise and beat
mey so kept striking"
Musical Accompaniment
Bedding, walls and ceiling were
epattered with crimson.
81 decided I'd go to the party
and was afraid If he got up
couldn't" she went on calmly. Il
cut some Irvine and tied his hands
behind his back so lie couldn't get
up. ! tied his ankles. threw a
quilt over him and placed q hand
kerchief on his face.
II saw his feet move ana ran
downstairs, afraid he'd get up be-
fore ! got out. ] burned my stock.
ings and dress in the stove be.
cause they had blood on them. ]
: changed clothes, took some sheet
music and went 20 the party. Next
morning I want IN mOfhar.a housa