The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17
BYWATERS DEATH SHAKES CULPEPER

Strother boys. whose family, according (
to Mayor Bell. Of Culpeper, have been in
Culpeper County from time immemo- /
rial
Crumps testimony was that he heard
the shots at the house and went over,
and told of finding the body DR.. Chelf
told the jury that Mrs. Bywater was
physically unable to appear before the
jury, and the most important testimony
introduced was that of Z. S. Gaines,
whose wife is a sister Of the Strother
boys and Mrs Bywater
"Bywater married Viola" said Mr.
Gaines but after the wedding he gave
US 20 understand that he considered mis-
duty done. Ny 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 / started up the stairs / met
Bywater 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 downstairs and the time / brought
him back, I do not know.
when 1 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.
Goes TO Wounded Mans Aid.
J. S. Lemon was the first man to go to
.1- Fr~fr4 r4elr-
TALLY on his face, diagonally across the
upper part of the roof, according to
Lemons statement.
"Bywater recognized me-" said Lemon,
and asked me for water ] 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 seemed greatly concerned
as long as he was conscious"
Lemon was the last man examined by
the corOner's jury, and the inquest VIII
be resumed on Wednesday morning. One
Of the points TO be brought out is just
what happened in the room Of Mrs By
water after her husband had gone 10 see
her and had been followed by the broth
ers. This may be brought out at the
continued hearing and may have an inn
Z
cause Of the shooting seems 20 hinge on
just what he may have said or done at
that time.
Live on Large Plantation.
The Strother plantation is one Of the
largest in this county. It has been in the
family for years and their name has been
as prominent in the political and social
world Of this section Of the country as any.
Each generation has brought forth its
public men. and the father Of the present
generation, Col John r. StrotheT was
a member Of the State assembly for a
long time. He died about two years ago,
and the eldest son, James, purchased the
home property The family literally has
sheep ana cattle on a thousand hills. and
from the west end OF the house one can
see no land but that belonging to this
aristocratic old family.
Through the middle Of the plantation
runs a small creek. and the house, al
though on an emInence, is surrounded
by higher hills.
After the tragedy OF Saturday night the
entire family left, the widowed bride
being taken 10 her sisters home. and with
two OF the brothers under arrest and the
3
pletely deserted.
James Strcther went 10 West Virginia
several years ago, locating in Welsh,
where he was once elected mayor and he
is now a member Of the West Virginia
legislature He is a lawyer OF repute
IN his home and Is said TO have accu-
INFLATED much money. He is past forty
years old. Of a substantial. businesslike
appearance. with a rather forbidding
brow. AS he sat in the cOrOner's Office
this evening. while his brother was tell
ing the story Of the family's troubles,
James sat back in his chair. eying the
proceedings closely, as cool as any per-
son in the place.
Brother Killed by Negro.
Philip IS the youngest brother. and he
has made his home on the place, mis-
sister keeping house for him. Another
brother. Hunt, was killed by a negro in
West Virginia about FIVE years ago.
"Rotherwood" IS a big white house.
built within the last decade, and a hand
some home. A broad porch runs entirely
across its front, 81; has every appearance
Of being the home Of cultured people who
know how 20 get the most out Of life.
/ This afternoon. however. 1t seemed TO
within. Its appearance was foreboding,
and a pathetic incident TO visitors who
made the trip TO the place, Of whom
there were not many, was the pitiful
winning Of a little white bulldog. the
! property Of Viola Strother Bywater who
| had been left in the room when the oc-
! cupants started on their trip across the
/ hills to the Gaines home.
James Johnson. a tenant, whose home
/ is near the entrance 70 the plantation,
/ said yesterday afternoon that he was
| ignorant of a prospective wedding. He
/ was in field Saturday afternoon when
| Philip Strother and VIII Bywater drove
! through the gate. but he knew nothing
Of the shooting until told of It. He told
/ of the caravan starting for the Gaines
home. and was deeply affected by the
rapid succession Of happenings in the
! big house" and although almost TWEEN
/ ty-four hours had elapsed since the af-
/ fair. he was still too unnerved TO talk of
/ it this afternoon,