Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-17

speaks OF determined mind. His broad
shoulders and slow manner of speech are
extraordinarily impressive. His story of the
cause of the shooting Is the most complete
yet given.
II came here a few days ago." he began.
81 had heard my sister Viola had been
away from home. and 1 wanted to ascer-
tain the cause. When l looked into tne
matter I had reason to suspect that she
had been to Washington to have crimi-
nal operation performed. When my sister
returned home l spoke to her ABOUT my
suspicious. She denied it.
Having reason to suspect Bywaters WIS
responsible l went to him. He, too, de-
MED IT, That was Thursday, and when
spoke to him he raised his right hand ana
swore he was innocent. Finally saw him
and my sister together. and both denied the
charge. / told Bywaters IL l found that
he was guilty 1 would kill him. He de-
clared he ought to be killed II he had COM
mitted such a wrong, and even said that II
II were his sister he would look up the
guilty man and kill him.
81 frankly told him 1 considered 1t one
of the most horrible crimes could imagine
and / intended to learn the real facts. On
the following day my sister was extremely
i'll, and DIR. H T. Chelf was called In. She
came near dying. and the examination
made by the doctor proved my suspicious
were correct as to the operation.
Begged for His Life.
Immediately I got. Bywaters and my
sister together, and they admitted every
thing. She begged for his life. for l told
him would rather kill him than see him
marry her. However, my sister pleaded
for his life. and the doctor declared she
was In such condition he would not be
responsible for her II she were to receive
such shock. Despite that I told him If
I found out he only intended to marry my
sister to save his life or If he deserted her
I Inn Inn nj
said he wanted to marry her and only
wanted her consent to prove his devotion.
He said nothing could take him from her
until she got we'll Saturday he got the
license and they were married, but l did
not witness the ceremony.
During my conversation with Bywaters
he did do such a thing. for he being dis
tant relative had been taken In our home
almost as a brother"
Dr. H. T. Chelf who was called In when
Miss Strother became Ill, declared he found
Miss Strother in desperate condition. and
that 1t was the result OF a criminal opera
ton.
The warrants were then issued.
The Coroner's Inquest.
Coroner Lewis began the inquest yester-
day after a postmortem examination of
Bywater's body. lasting nearly all Satur-
day night. Ten bullet wounds were found
on the body, five from 80 caliber revolver
and five from a .3S. The first witness. L.
B. Crump, a neighbor of the Strothers,
told of hearing the pistol shots. going to
the Strother house and finding the body.
E. s. Gaines, whose wife was a Miss
Strother, gave important testimony.
"Bywater married Viola" said Mr..
Gaines but after the wedding he gave
US to understand that he considered his
duty done. My wife demonstrated with
him and told him that because Of the
illness of our child she would be unable
to stay all night with Viola. and she told
Bywater she thought he ought to stay. as
his wife was so i'll.
"Bywater again said he would not stay
but went up to his wife's room. Later the
boys went up, and Mrs. Gaines went up.
When 1 started up the stairs 1 met By
water coming down, as though fleeing. This
was on the back stairs. l grabbed him by
the coat collar and dragged him back to
the room. What transpired In the room
between the time Bywater left US down.
stairs and the time l brought him back l
do not know.
when brought him back he made for
the window. Then the boys began to shoot.
He got out the window and fell on the
porch None of us went to him.
]. 8. Lenson, the first one to reach BY
water after he fell. testified:
"Bywater recognized me-" said Lemon.
and asked me for water. 1 got it for
him. and also got some whisky. He must
have lived thirty minutes after the shoot
Ing. He mentioned no one but his mother.
about whom he seeemd greatly concerned
- 1OilB DIS he was COHSClOuS
Mr.. Lemon was the last witness before
the coroner. AT re conclusion OF his testi-
mony it was announced that the inquest
would be resumed Wednesday
Bywater's funeral will be held this after
noon, the services to be conducted by the
Rev. Mr.. Winfrey of the Methodist Church
The services at the grave will be under the
direction of the 1. o. o. F., of which By
water was prominent member.
Told the Sheriff.
The first news of the shooting was re-
ceived in Culpeper late Saturday after
noon by Sheriff Palmer. who was called
up by telephone and told by James
Strother that Bywater had been killed
and that the dead mans body was on the
roof of the porch at the Strother house
The sheriff Immediately notified Judge
u. A. Grimsley, whose wife Is q sister Of
Bywaters mother. The Judge was soon
in telephone communication with James
Strother and was told that Bywater was
dead. Strother further informed Judge
Grfmsley that Bywater had been killed
Tor trying to desert Strother's sister after
he had married her. Bywaters body was
found by the sheriff and coroner on the
porch roof. where he had fallen. There
were ten bullet wounds in the body.
Just exactly what preceded the shooting
of Bywater Is not yet known. From what
can be learned from those who have talked
to the witnesses 1t appears after French
Strother left the Strother place, James
with Bywater. Philip and Bywater went
to the court house and secured marriage
license after which they returned to
Rotherwood." the Strothers place. In
Philips buggy. Meanwhile James Strother
had gone after the minister. the Rev j.
w. Ware of the Episcopal Church. to per-
form the ceremony. The four men met at
Brotherhood" and the marriage took place
at Miss Strother's bedside.
1t is said that soon after the ceremony
Bywater declared he had done his duty
and prepared to leave Rotherwood. Mrs.
Gaines, sister to the bride, demonstrated
and the trouble began. In the room are
said to have been the bride, Mr. and Mrs
Gaines, Bywater and James and Philip
Strother Bywater, 1t is said. started to
leave the room and finding his way
blocked sprang out of the window. The
firing began and Bywater was shot ten
times before he fell to the tin roof Of the
porch. where he lay until taken in charge
by the coroner
F | r E M a N KILLED