Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-27
Intruder Shot Dead
In Alexandra Home
Rifle BIust Futul:
Pointer Freed
On Own Bond

VII OWU OOUU
An unemployed veteran was
shot to death early today when
he was found in the home Of an
Alexandria painter.
Police identified the dead man
as Edward Albert Stone. Il. Of
"a West Del Ray avenue, Alex
andria.
They said he was killed by Q
blast from a rifle fired by Clar-
|ence Bruce Tutor, %, in the
Tutor home al ASH East Ray
mond avenue, Alexandria.
Tutor was charged with MUIR
der but Judge James r. Duncan
released him on his personal
bond after a preliminary hear
ling in Alexandria Civil and Po-
lice Court. Judge Duncan said
lit appeared from the evidence
presented to him that Tutor
merely acted in defense of his
home. =
Incident in Pre-Dawn Hour
According to the testimony,
Tutor shot and killed Stone
about 4::30 am. when the latter
was discovered at the foot Of
the stairs Of the two-story
house.
Judge Duncan said he didn't
see why the man was booked
for murder, but Assistant Com
monwleath's Attorney John Sea-
Icrist said he thought more time
WAS needed to complete an in-
lveStigation. The judge then
continued the hearing until jan
uary 6. I.
Police said Stone was killed by
a blast from a hunting rifle. The
bullet entered his chest. passed
through the body and hit a door.
Tutor was quoted by the police
as saying he was aroused about
4::30 am. by what sounded like
a man clearing his throat
quietly.
Goes Into Hallway
He said he jumped from his
bed. picked up the rife and
went into the hallway Of the
second floor. He flashed on the
lights and saw q man down the
stairs, he said.
About this time. Tutors
mother, Mrs. Airline Spell,
emerged from another bedroom.
Tutor said he demanded that
the man explain his presence
In the house.
II have a message for Mr..
Clark" he quoted the man as
saying.
| Tutor said there was no Mr..
CLARK in his house so he then
demanded to see the note. He
lsaid Mrs. Spell went to get the
mote while he held the gun.
| He said Mrs. Spell looked it
over and said 1t was q message
she wrote '.for the gas man" and
had tackled to the front door.
Plastic "Pistol" Found
Tutor told the police he fired
when Stone reached for what
looked like a gun. The victim
toppled over dead. Police said
they found a black plastic pistol
in Stones belt.
Mrs. Spell told The Star she
wrote the note and tackled it on
the door last week. The message
instructed the gas man to open
the door, stick his head in and
shout. because a knock could not
be heard at the rear of the
house.
The gas man came to the Tu-
tor home last week but Mrs. Spell
said she forgot to take down the
mote.
Mrs. Tutor left the house
around midnight for work in q
interpreting plant.
Victim Seen Earlier
Detectives said they learned
Stone and another man were
seen about 2 am. on Mount YER
non avenue. some seven blocks
from the Tutor residence.
The dead man lived with his
mother, Mrs. Getty M. Stathis.
Another resident there said Mrs.
Stathis was placed under care Of
a doctor after she learned of her
sons death. The neighbor said
Stone had been i'll and recently
had held a night job.
| Police said the Tutors chill
dren. Justine. 4, and Bruce. jr.,
u, were asleep on the second floor
when the shooting took place.
Previous Acquaintance Denied
Both Tutor and Mrs. Spell told
Judge Duncan they never had
seen Stone before and didn't
know him.
Detective Robert Jones teSti.
fled the dead man had no job.
drank considerably and had been
observed drinking beer at an
establishment on Mount Vernon
avenue, Alexandria, from mid
night at 2 am. The officer said
Stones mother started to ask q
sanity hearing for him last sum-
mer, then decided against such
a step.
1t was testified Stone had re-
ceived suspended sentence for
vagrancy.
In reply to questions by Judge
Duncan Tutor testified he had