The Washington herald., 1906-12-20

were heavily yelled. At first Mrs. Gaines
appeared a bit nervous. but this soon
passed of. She then threw back her veil
and thereafter told her story simply and
with fine directness.
The lawyers present agreed that they
had seldom seen a woman on the stand
with more poise and self-possession-
There were times when the same ques-
tions were asked her at intervals OF over
half an hour, and in such cases her an
swers never varied, and most of the
times they were couched in Identical Ian
guage.
Once or twice, when the questions were
on intimate personal grounds or dealt
with subjects that are not usually dis
cussed in public. Mrs. Williams put a
protecting arm about the witness, but
always Mrs Gaines threw it OF trihe
impatiently and stood the ordeal bravely
without particular incident. the flow
OF testimony went on uninterrupted. IL
was a deadly slow process, as the tesu-
mony, questions and answers were taken
down in long hand. Once the coroner
apolOgized for this by saying there were
no stenOgraphers to be had but girls.
We'll. / wouldn't have objected to a
lady" said Mrs. Gaines. looking about
1t was the only sign she gave Of feeling
at all uncomfortable in the midst OF the
crowd Of men.
Upbraids Him for Acts.
Il was just at the point where she
was testifying that she was upbraidlng
Bywaters for leaving his wife In a dying
condition that the door opened and Philip
and Jim Strother came in. They took
seats quietly where they could watch
their sisters face.
\ little later. when Capt Woods was
cross examining Mrs Gaines and men,
toned the name Of French" StrOther
when the witness had not done so, French
jumped TO his feet, saying. she didn't
say nothing Ike that"
Don't interfere, French said his
counsel
sit down." said the coroner, but
French, growing. stepped to the table
until the incident was explained Then
he returned 10 his seat by his brother
Jim.
After that there was no more interrup-
ton save that caused by the entrance of
Judge Jenries. counsel for the Strother
boys He did not look particularly
pleased at the fact that the inquest had
started without him, but he made no
protest.
The testimony of Mrs. Gaines was right
10 the point from the start She told OF
going from her house to Rotherwood.
there to learn the news that her sister
Viola was married. and was then Mrs
Bywaters. She went upstairs and found
her sister on the bed, weeping bitterly.
Says Her Heart Il Broken.
oh, Nellie, Nellie" sobbed Viola, why
did they make me marry him. They've
broken my heartr'
Continuing. Mrs. Gaines said in re-
Spouse to questions by the coroner:
Il then left her and went downstairs
TO tell her husband that ! could not and
that he would have to stay with her He
and my two brothers were in the sitting
room together, and my husband vas
there
He told me in front of the BOYS tnat
he could not stay; said he had To 90
back to town to make some business. ar
rangements and to announce the we'd
ding. OF course. this made us feel hurt.
because AT the time his bride, my sister,
was very Unsurpassed TO be in a dying
rendition. We didn't think she could live.
He spoke Of it all as if it was a light
matter
Il said 70 him: William. let me tell
you what / think Of you. 1 think YOU
are the lowest man that ever lived
also said TO him: Viola is in a dying
condition. You can telephone TO town.
1t Is your duty 10 stay with her
Then he became furious with me and
was insulting in his manner before my
own husband, and right In the face of my
Two brothers
Il said to him: William. let me tell
you what I think Of you. I think YOU
are the lowest man that ever lived You
have ruined my sister: had criminal op-
erations performed on her. and you have
stood by for two days and seen her go
through the greatest physical and mental
agony for You. and now you want 10
leave her in this condition, without any
protection.
Prayed God She Might Die.
And, really. I was so sorry for my
sister that 1 prayed my God that the
child might die and be spared having TO
live the life she would have to with
such husband.
He laughed at me and sneered in my
face About this time my husband said
20 him. Billy, YOU have violated every
obligation rs IN Odd Fellow and a gem
tIsmdn.
t'BywateTs replied: Yes. ! know il, but.
You, what have you go 20 do
with it% Tie cursed my husband and
called him every name under heaven, and