Evening star., 1955-07-21
Mrs. Haynes
Back at Work
In Post Office
Triangle Shooting
Figure Regoins Her
Four Small Children

An Arlington mother who
shot and killed her husbands
mistress has won custody Of her
four daughters and was back at
her job in the Post ONCE today.
Mrs. Katherine Ann Haynes,
28. of 1922 North Cleveland
street. cleared by a coroner's jury
but still facing grand jury action
in the shooting. spent much of
her time in court yesterday.
But, unlike her appearance
before the coroner's jury Tues
day-when she acted as her own
lawer-she was represented by
an attorney, Harry j. Ahern. who
Offered his services without fee.
Pending against Mrs. Haynes
are the grand jury investigation
of the fatal shooting of Miss
Nancy Penton, 10, of 232 Elev-
Ienth street N. E., and an assault
charge lodged by her husband.
Willis Haynes, 80. in connection
with the incident.
Freed Under $1,000 Bond.
Mr.. Haynes, who testified at
the coroner's inquest that ro-
nance developed after he met
Miss Penton while selling vac
uum cleaners door-to-door. was
in Municipal Court yesterday
when Mrs. Haynes was freed un-
der $1,000 bond on the assault
charge.
He was also present a short
time later in Arlington County
Juvenile and Domestic Relations
Court when his wife went there
to ask for her four daughters
back. They had been in custody
|of the Arlington County Welfare
Department since the shooting,
Judge Hugh Reid of the Ar
|lington Court roundly criticized
Mr.. Haynes qualifications as a
parent.
I'VE have been informed by
Washington police that you were
released at 4 am. yesterday
(Tuesday). What steps have you
taken for the welfare of your
children?" the jurist asked.
Il didn't take any," Mr..
Haynes replied.
I'm returning these children
to your wife. I'm not highly i'm
pressed with your responsibility
as a parent" Judge Reid said.
The Judge asked Mr.. Haynes if
he had any objection to the de-
cision to return the children
to Mrs. Haynes. ..se& ~.
mo" he replied.
II think it was your responsi-
bility to look out for the chill
dren. Any father would have
done more than leave them to
mere chance,R Judge Reid told
him.
After the hearing, Mrs. Haynes
went to the Alexandria foster
home where two of her children
had been housed. AS they re-
Joined their mother, she clasped
them to her and sobbed:
MY little girls. My little
girls"
After that reunion, the mother,
the girls and Mrs. Haynes at
torney went to another foster
home in Stafford, Va, to reclaim
the other two daughters.
While the court technicalities
involved in Judge Reid's ruling
were being ironed out. Mr.. Ahern
telephoned Arlington Postmaster
C. F. Simpson, and was told that
the suspension of Mrs. Haynes
had been lifted. and she could
come back to work.
Belongings Moved
Mr.. Ahern asked Mr.. Haynes
If he could move his belongings
out of the Haynes home by 5
pm. yesterday.
Eyes, if she requests IT," Mr..
Haynes replied.
Mr.. Ahern told him she had
requested it.
Miss Penton was shot with a
.22-caliber pistol in her apart
ment at 1926 am. Tuesday.
Mrs. Haynes contends that the
gun she held went off acciden-
tally when Miss Penton bumped
it.
Mr.. Haynes told the coroner'sI
jury that his wife met him out
side Miss Penton's home and
forced him back inside, and while
he watched, shot Miss Penton.
Mr.. and Mrs. Haynes have
been wed 13 years.