The Washington herald., 1906-12-20

By stat Correspondent
Culpeper, Va, Dec. 1g.-To-day was an
eventful one in the notorious Strother-
Bywaters case
The coroner's jury. after taking the
testimony OF Mrs. Gaines, the sister Of the
accused StrOther boys and Of Mrs. By
waters, the widowed bride Of an hour,
rendered a verdict
Il found simply that W F. Bywaters
came to his death FROM bullet wounds
inflicted by James and Philip J. Strother,
and affixed no degree to the crime
Within an hour afterward the testi-
mony was presented before Alden Bell.
mayor Of Culpeper acting as magistrate.
The case was submitted on the evidence
already adduced, and the two brothers.
waving further examination. were bound
over IN bonds Of $500 each to the Janu-
airy term of the grand jury.
The most sensational development oc-
CURED in the afternoon. The morning
was occupied with the testimony Of Mrs
Gaines, and as soon as she was done
the jury was driven out four miles into
the country TO the farm Of her husband.
E. /. Gaines Here on the sick bed lay
Mrs BywateTs. the young widow. who.
propped up in bed. gave her testimony IN
A clear voice, shaken only with tears
when she was forced 10 speak Of her
dead husbands tenderness and love to-
ward her.
Tells of the Shooting.
Mrs Gaines testified that the shooting
OF Bywaters took place wholly within
his vife's bedroom at "Rotherwood
Mrs. Bywaters averred that the shooting
took place outside her room This was
the only Important point upon which the
evidence was at variance
IN her testimony. too. Mrs Bywaters
swore that she and Bywaters made three
trips to Washington to see DR.. Leon and
DR.. Waters-frst. on October /. again
about Thanksgiving. and once later. They
stopped at the Hotel MOntrose. registering
as Mr and Mrs. Tyson She
became the subject OF criminal mail
practice and. finally. last week nearly
died. It was the fear of her sudden death
from weakness that impeled the girls
brothers 10 insist upon the immediate
marriage for the sake of the girls honor
and good name.
Acted as Girls Protector.
The testimony Of Mrs Gaines showed
that BywateTs was a cousin of the
Strother family It showed also that the
Strother sisters were left with their
brother, Philip, as their only protection.
and that Bywaters came forward with
cOUSinly s0liCitude. and wanted 10 share
the role of protector Of the family. IN
this guise and under this influence he
wroHged Viola Strother. and for the pur-
pose Of hiding his crime he tried 20 get
the girl 10 conceal her illness until Il
well-nigh proved fatal to her.
When he tried 90 leave his bride. who
vas then supposed 10 be dying, he was
shot by the girls brothers.
The result of the testimony to-day is
such that the community is convinced
that both brothers Will be set free in
January. after a perfunctory trial
Early this morning tie Strother broth
ers. Jim and Philip. who did the shoot
ing. and French, the big brother, who
looks like Jim Jeffries. arrived in town
and attracted much attention as thew
walked the streets.
II had been said the day before that
Mrs. Bywaters, the widowed bride. was
so i'll that her testimony could not be
taken before January 70, but Dr. CheIf
came in early with the news that she
had so far recovered that she could re-
-
The news made a stir in the town. a.
it was hoped that this meant speed,
termination OF the case one way or the
other. and thus relieve Culpeper of some
of the notoriety.
Capt. Wood Is Retained.
Early. too. it was announced that the
Bywaters family had retained, to assist
the commonwealth attorney. Cant.
man who won fame by his success -
prosecution of Mayor McCue, who "
hanged for the murder of his wife.
When Philip Strother appeared IN
street in company with his brother
was noticeable that he was wounded
was rumored that he had received 1
IN a struggle with his sisters husba
but Philip said. and his story was bo
out by others. that his injuries cs
from walking of a bridge in the DIR
Later in the day it developed that !
Strother the older of the two. who
been practicing law at Welsh, "
has been mayor OF that town for M
ter s. and only vacates the Office n
spTiny To take the seat in the West
gina -giSlatUre, to which he was recen
elected.
1t was Il o'clock in the morning VIII,
the crush OF officials. lawyers. and ne
paper men being so great, the inqu
was shifted from The Office OF Coro.
Lewis 10 the mayors office
Mrs Gaines. in company with her cd
sin. GIrs. George Williams. and her hi
band was waiting there She al on
took the formal oath on the Bible a
began her testimony. which. By dir,
and cross-examinatiOn, lasted for thu
hours.
Mrs. Gaines and those with her We
all dressed Ia black, and the two WON