Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-12-20
WAS BRUTE TO HIS SICK Wife
strother Boys Spared His Life, the
Witness Testified Before Coroner
on Promised Conditions Which He
Was Attempting to Violate When
Shot to Death.

| tragedy which startled CulDcDpr and
inc whole State last Saturday night
was scheduled to begin before DR..
| u. II. Lewis, the coroner, at eleven
O'Clock this morning, but 1t was not
begun TIL later.
| j. l.. Jeffries. of Norfolk and Il. Fl.
Gibson, oil CulDeper, are the lawyers
VINO are mentioned to conduct the
defense, while Charles Miller Waite.
attorney for the Commonwealth and
probably Captain Micajah Woods
of Charlottesville: will conduct the
prosecution. The use of Captain
Woods name in this connection is
not authorized, and 1t remains to
be seen If he will participate.
Mrs. -. H. Gaines, sister of the
TWO Strothers men involved, was the
first witness called. She was asked
Dy the coroner to explain what hap.
pened at the home of her brothers
The evening OF the tragedy.
Mrs. Gaines said that when she
arrived she was told by her brothers.
1T is all over; they are married"
She went to her sisters room and
found her alone aud crying bitterly.
MIS-. BywaterS exclaimed: "Oh
Nellie. why did they make nc
marry him. They have broken my
heart"
Witness tried to comfort her sis.
ter Mrs. Bywaters. saying she had
| left her three babies In order to
! come to her, with no protection to
the babies.
Witness said to Mrs. Bywatcrs:
Viola, now that you are married,
1t is the duty now that Your hus.
band remain at your side and mine
to go to my children"
NO one was In the house" wit.
ness said, except the two brothers
MIR. Bywaters, his wife. and myself.
Mrs. Byaters insisted on my re.
| naming"
ByWaters Was Insulting.
Continuing the witness said that
she anu Bywaters and the two
brothers were In the sitting-room
when she told him (Bywaters) that
she could not stay, and he said
mat he was obliged to return home
and attend TO some business
My sister" witness continued.
was then supposed to be in diving
condition. He did not seem to re.
gard the condition of his wife as
of any consequence, speaking of
going to tell his mother of the
marriage, and of leaving the house
In light rain. He was insulting
In his language. and was furiously
| mad.
Il said to him: You are the
lowest dog that ever lived. You
nave taken my sister to Washington
and had an operation performed i'm
the cruelest manner. have stood
by her two days and seen her go
through physical and mental agony
for you, and now you want to leave
her in this condition without any
protection, and prayed that child
might die and be spared such a life
as she would have to live with YOU
lie laughed at ME and sneered
In my face.
About that time my husband said:
.Bywaters, | want to tell you what
think OF. you. You have violated
| every obligation as an Odd-Fellow
and as a gentleman He sad Yes,
Odd-Fellows. What have got TO do
| with it?"
"Bywaters then cursed them with
| every vile epithet under heaven NV
husband and two brothers heard him,
and he made motions as If he would
like to throttle my husband. and
my brothers kept him from striking
my husband. saw he was determ
| med to force trouble on us ana
| pulled my husband from the room
and then went on the front porch.
Tried to Conceal Sisters Shame,
l. ala not see anyone again until
| went to the dining-room where
Jim and Philip were. We talked
aDont what had happened, the insult
winch Bywaters had offered me
but particularly about the leaving
or my, sister alone that night. we
Just said he would have to stay with
her and nurse her as a husband
should. Those were the conditions
they gave him when he married her,
we decided that he should STAY.
i'hat was the condition under which
ne had begged his life. We wanted
10 conceal the fact that he had
peen forced to marry my sister.
one of my brothers said he
would go upstairs and tell him that
| ne was not to leave the house that
nisht. we were then in the dining.
| room and | heard my sisters voice.
! SAID Lets us go upstairs. When
! go. 10 the head of the steps ana
Gonlu see into the room the man.
| by"aters was sitting by my csister's
bed and she had her arms around
slhi holding him. He ierked away
from her and In trying to get down
'he steps nearly pushed me over.
When The Sooting Was Done.
My brothers were apparently not
conscious that he had left the
room, said: He is gone: nearly
knocked me over running by me-
| My husband then pulled him
back. The minute Edwin let him
go ne darted for the window. As