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King Relates StoryOf Double SlayingMurder Charge Defendant ClaimsMrs. Wirl Was Shot AccidentallyGeorge L. King, 76, former employee of the state highway department, took the stand this morning in Pulaski county circuit court to tell his story of the fatal shooting last July 5 of Mrs. Doris Einstein Wirt, with which he is charged.The trial started yesterday.King completed his testimony about !!:35 a. ni.After much questioning by Com- y nionwealth’s . Attorney Alton I.!Crowell, he said was never closer than approximately 8 feet from Clayton Wirt when he shot him and an estimated 5 feet from Mrs. Wirt when she was “accidentally shot.In his testimony King stated he did not mean to shoot Mrs. Wirt and if he did shoot her it was accidental.The present trial concerns only the charge of killing Mrs. Wirt.Tells His StoryKing, in telling how the double killing took place, told the jury he was coming home on state route 624 when he saw someone coming down the rpad but said he did not recognize who it was until they wer#within 20 feet of him.He related that when Mr. and Mrs. Wirt got about 10 feet away, Wirt took a rock from behind his back, cursed him and said, “you tried to put me away in the Pulaski trial and I am going to get you”.He apparently was referring to a warrant that Mrs. Alice King Wirt, his first wife 'and Kipg’s daughter, swore out against Him and on which a hearing was held in Pulaski trial justice court last June.Pulled His RevolverKing stated when he saw rock he switched a paper he from his right hand to his and reached into his pocket drew his .32 revolver and started firing. He said that Wirt ran around behind Mrs. Wirt after he fired the first time but that he fired three more times and did not stop shooting unlil Mrs. Wirt told him that she had been hit. Then hetold the court that he put his gun away and started home to call the sheriff. He said he did not tell the deputies that he looked back and saw Mrs. Wirt leaning on the shoulder of Wirt walking down the road but that he looked^ back and saw them both walking under their own power.When asked if he saw blood on either of them, he stated he saw blood on Wirt but did not remember seeing any on Mrs. Wirt.He then went home and called the sheriff, King told the court, aqd after waiting for some time for Deputy Murrel Ratcliffe to copie, started out with another man in a car to come to Pulaski. However, on the way he met Deputy Ratcliffe, got out of the automobile he ^ras in, and went with the deputy back to his home where he gave him the revolver that he (had done thte shooting with.He explained he shot Wirt be-Vw traa nfntid nf 'him w i»nentered as evidence the gun permit that King had from the state highway commission. The permit was revoked recently by the department.Four Others Heard Four other witnesses were called for the defense this morning. Mrs. Alice King Wirt took the stand | first and related that she was married to Wirt in 1037 and they were divorced in 1945. She said that Wirt and his second Wifecame to live with her under the pretense of staying for two weeks until they could arrange to move to Norfolk. However, they stayed from the middle of January until sometime in June.She stated she had an warrant issued against Wirt after a big argument involving all three of(Continued On Page 4. Column 1) *--Coleman To HoldChristmas PartyFridav AfternoonthehadleftandColeman Furniture Corp. will hold its .annual Christmas party tomorrow afternoon for all production and maintenance employees.Each employee will be given a large basket of “goodies” for, themselves and family, and bonuses will be paid at that time to those eligible under the corporation’s bonus plan.The plant will be closed from tomorrow until Monday morning, December 27. This is the annual vacation week. The corporation is one of the larger producers in this country of fine bedroom and dining room furniture. *--Russell PetersGets 20 YearsOn Rape CountRussell . Peters, 39, entered a plea of guilty to a charge of statutory rape and- was sentenced to 20 years in the state penitentiary yesterday before Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge John S. lra-per,Peters was charged with rape of a 14-year old girl. He entered a plea of guilty earlier in this term of circuit court1 and sen* tenced was deferred pending a report from the probation officer.As this is his fourth felony charge he will automatically receive a life sentence upon entering tnri«nn it. wnR nointed out.
Newspaper Details
Pulaski Southwest Times
Pulaski, Virginia, US
Thu, Dec 16, 1948
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Kati R.
NA, 13 May 2020
Other Publications Near Pulaski, Virginia
The Pulaski News
Pulaski Times Journal
Pulaski News Review
Pulaski Staunton News Leader
Pulaski Southwest Times
