Evening star., 1949-12-08
Conner Is Held
For Grand Jury;
.Waiiv@Counse|
Preliminary Hearing
Held in Staying
Of Three Children

Of Three Children
The law which he expects to
execute him held John Steven
Conner for grand jury action on
charges today in the Shot
gun Staying of his three children.
The. 39-year-old Fort Belvoir
construction engineer, who nur-
tured the idea of killing his FAM
lily and himself for five days, gave
police what they con-
slider a coherent account Of the
way he shot the children, one by
one, early yesterday. The slayings
took place at the home at 123
Belvoir street, IN the Cameron
Valley development.
Has No Attorney.
He spent 'quiet" night in his
cell, police said, but was put into
it red-eyed from weeping. He was
pale and visibly shaken when he
appeared before Judge James R.
Duncan at49:30 am. He told the
Judge he did not want a lawyer.
Several officers from Fort Belvoir
attended the hearing and one Of
them said they were there "only
to see that Corners rights were
protected"
Conner, pale and visibly shaken
when he appeared in court, stared
straight ahead as he answered the
judges question as to whether he
desired an attorney.
NO." he said, Il don't think I
want any"
He was held for the grand jury
without bond. The jury goes in
session some time this month.
Sleeps After Breakfast.
Police said he slept well last
night, had a breakfast of eggs.
orange juice. toast and coffee
and went back to sleep. He had
to be awakened for the prelim-
mary hearing.
; Police Pvt. George Stinnett told
Judge Duncan of Conner's sur
render and testified that he had
asked him do you know what
you've done?"
Conner replied, Eyes, I've shot
my three children" the policeman
said.
inspector Russell A. Hawes told
the court that Conner had told
him he feared the children might
inherit his mental instability and
that he wants the law to execute
me-"
Col. OscarB. Beasley, in charge
Of Fort Belvoir's Engineer Re-
search and Development Labora-
tory; 1t. Col. Kenneth J. Cramsie.
Corners department chief, and
|Jphn W.'Potett,sjr., staff legal Ct
ficer at Fort Belvoir. attended the
hearing and talked with Judge
Duncaif They said later they wers
present "only to see that Mr.. Con-
nor's rights were protected"
~ Under Doctors Care. RI
Mrs. Conner, In a state Of nerv-
GUS collapse since the shooting, is
under the care of a physician at
the home of friends in Cameron
Village.
Conner. a West Point graduate
of 1888, cracked up" while taking
final examinations there. His
condition was diagnosed as a
nervous breakdown and he spent
a month in Walter Reed Hospital,
according. to Inspector Russell
Hawes Of the Alexandria police.
Periods of extreme dependency
came again in 1885. 1885, 1910
and in 1s47. He told Inspector
Halves he felt he was a failure.
Police said Conner apparently
took deliberate aim with a 40
gauge shotgun and sent charges
into the heads of the children,
Stephanie, II; Michael, 8, and
Cecilia, 5.
In the midst of the shooting,
Mrs. Conner ran screaming from
the apartment to the home of q
neighbor.. crying. John has shot
the children. They are dead. I
know it."
Neighbors described him as "a
wonderful person devoted
father" .,..
Mrs. Conner, saving her own
life by pleading with him, slipped
out of the kitchen door and ran
to the neighbors. Asked by police
why he did not follow his plan to
shoot himself, Conner told them
he lost his nerve.
All three of the children appar-
emily we're standing when he be-
gan shooting. The older two were
dressed, ready to start for st.
Mary's Parochial School in Alex
andria. Stephanie held two slices
of bread in her hand as though
preparing her lunch. ~ T.
Neighbors Call Police.
One of the neighbors called po-
lice and an ambulance. Police
Pvts. Roger Payne and George
Stinnett answered the call and
found a terrified group of neigh
bors near the Conner home.
Pvt. Payne went to one side
Of the house and Pvt. Stinnett to
the other. On their request, Con-
ner came out quickly and quietly.
The shotgun, reloaded, was found
in rear bedroom.
Bodies of the three children
we're found in the kitchen.
A solemn requiem mass for the
three children will be celebrated
at $50 am. tomorrow at st.
Mary's Church in Alexandria. All
students Of st. Mary's parochia1
school will attend.
Hooker Reports SIugeing
In HoIdup Attempt