Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-17
SHOT TO PIECES
BY BROTHERS OF
HIS OWN BRIDE
Strathers Declared That Will
liam ByWaters Ruined Their
Sister Before Wedding.
VICTIMS FUNERAL TODAY
Sensational Developments Expected
When Inquiry Into Tragedy
is Rsumed We'd "a
nesday.
FRENCH STR THEIRS STORY
Dramatic Scene as the Brother Tells
of His Sisters Alleged Wrongs,
Which Id to the Killing of
Her Husband.
RENCH STR THEIRS STORY

Culpeper county, Va, is today
much excited over one of the great
est tragedies that has taken place
in the state in years. But a few
hours after he had welded Miss
Viola Strother, daughter of the late
Col. John X. Strother, Mr.. William
+. Bywaters, a prominent clubman
and foxhunter, was almost shot to
pieces by James and Philip
Strother, his brothers-in-law. By
waters, it is stated, was trying to
escape from Rathwood, the Strother
home, when he was riddled with
bullets. Mrs. Bywaters, the bride,
is said to be i'll critical condition
because of criminal operation
which, it is alleged, was performed
in this city. The Strothers stated
that Bywaters had ruined their sis
ter. They were released on $1,000
bail. Sensational developments are
expected.
CULPEPER, Va, December 17.-Untn
Mrs. William Bywater RECEIVERS sufficiently
to appear before the coroner and tell what
She knows of the killing of her husband by
her brothers James and Philip Strother the
full story of the tragedy hlch has shocked
this entire section will not be told Mrs.
Bywater, who was taken on stretcher i'm
mediately after the shooting from Rother-
wood, the Strother home, to the residence
of her sister, Mrs. Gaines, is comp etely I'M
nerved by the scenes through which she has
passed, and it may be a week before she
will be in condition to be question by the
coroner.
The county is in an uproar over the terri
bly, tragedy of Saturday night, In which
William F. Bywater prominent foxhunt-
er and horseman, was killed by James and
Philip Strother few hours after his mar
riage to Miss Viola Strother, sister of the
accused.
With the break of day the wheels of JUS
tice began to move and what said to
be the circumstances which led up TO the
shooting of Mr.. Bywater were testified to
by relatives of the bride.
DR.. E. L. Gaines, the only eyewitness, ex-
cept the bride, who lay in bed where she
was married. and her brothers, James and
Philip Strother, who were arrested to await
the action of the coroner's jury, made al
L.
Although the statement of the brothers.
in-law was thrilling in the extreme, Mr..
George French Strother of WEIGH, w. Va,
an older brother, narrated a story even
more so before Bail Commissioner w. G..
Williams of Orange Court House last even
ing. Mr.. Williams, after listening to the
story, released the Messrs. Strother on
IS 900 bail. Everything seemed to come
to climax al the hearing before the bail
commissioner, and there seems to be no
doubt about what prompted the killing OF
Mr.. Bywaters.
Bride Said to Be Dying.
The story Of the Strother family is that
Bywaters wished to desert his bride a
short while after the marriage ceremony
had been performed and while she was in
what they said was supposed to be pre-
carious condition. The widow of the VIC
tim is said to be at deaths door at the
home of her sister, Mrs. Gaines. lmme-
diately after the tragedy the young woman
was removed to her sisters home. about
two and a half miles from Rotherwood,
the scene of the shooting.
All her brothers went to the Virginia
Hotel directly after the hearing and re-
manned there over night. Several confer
ences were held between them and Mr..
]. L. Jeffries of the firm of Jeffries & Law
less of Norfolk. Mr.. Jeffries formerly
practiced in Culpeper and was here on
other business when retained by the
Strothers.
Bail Commissioner Williams came to Gull
pepper upon request. owing to the recent
death of the local official. Judge Daniel
A. Grimsley, who is a relative of the vic
tim, did not care to appoint any one to act
in the case Mr.. Williams used the office of
Coroner Lewis, and one of the first wit
nesses called was Mr.. George. French
Strother.
Brother Faces Him.
Mr.. Strother is tall, heavy-set man.
with clean-cut features and a chin which