Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-19
SISTER OF BRIDE
TELLS HER STORY
Of THE SHOOTING
Mrs. Gaines Describes the
Scene That Lead Up to the
Killing of Bywaters.
BEGGED HER TO REMAIN
Mrs. Bywaters Deplored the Fact
That She Had Been Forced
to Marry.
HUSBANDS DUTY POINTED OUT
Dramatic Recital of the Incidents
L Preceding the Death of the Newly
Made Husband-What Culpeper
People Say About the Crime.
HUSBANDS DUTY POINTED OUT

Special From STAFF Correspondent.
CULPEPER. Va. December 19.-The in
quest in the Bywaters case at Culpeper was
begun shortly before noon today.
Before the hearing was begun the coroner
and jury reported to the mayors office
in order to accommodate those who had to
take part in the hearing. Mrs. Gaines, at
tired in black costume and apparently
self-composed, was the first witness ex-
amned
When l reached the house Saturday."
she stated, my brothers said to me. It's
all over, they are married." Witness went
to her sisters room and found her alone
and weeping bitterly. She said. ooh. Nellie.
why did they make me marry him? They
have broken my heart because they made
me marry him. Il tried to comfort her the
best l could"
Now that you are married it's your hus-
bands duty to remain with you. and it's
my duty to go back and stay with my
children. She insisted upon my staying. but
/ told her it was impossible for me to do
= Do, anu ueI itI HuSDdHu WOulu HdVe
to stay. He said 1t was impossible for him
to stay there. Witness said when she went
downstairs TO see her husband he was in
the sitting with her two brothers.
6he told Bywaters that he would have to
remain. and he said he would have to go
back to town to make some business
rangements and tell his mother. He also
said he wanted to get his announcement
cards out by morning.
MY sister seemed to be in a dying con-
with her seemed to be a trihng matter
with him."
Bywaters Furious.
She said that Bywaters became furious
when she tried to persuade him to re-
main and he was rather insulting in his
manner. Witness said she told him he
was the lowest dog that ever lived tell
ing him that, he had taken her sister to
Washington and had an operation per-
formed in the cruelest manner.
She told him she had been with her
sister for two Gays and had witnessed her
physical and mental agony and added that
now he wanted to leave her without any
protection. Il told him l prayed to God
that the child might have died rather
than be spared to live the life she would
have to live with him"
Witness said he laughed at her and sneer-
ed in her face.
My husband then told Bywaters he want
ed to tell him what he thought of him. He
had violated every obligation as an Odd
Fellow and a gentleman.
= "Bywaters said: Yes, 1 know it-you and
the Odd Fellows. what have you got to do
with 1t? Mrs. Gaines said that Bywaters
used every vile name under heaven right in
her face and in the face of her brothers and
threatened her husband. mentioning a knife
Her brothers kept him from her husband.
witness was asked. Did your sister ask
your brothers not to shoot?"
Perhaps she did, she answered
Did your sister spring out of bed when
the shots were fired?
She did"
What did she say?"
She didn't say anything. but she ran
about the house screaming"
Does that account for her being down.
stairs when we got there" the coroner
asked.
Yes, sir
She could not recall anything her sister
said while she was screaming.
Lemon First on Scene.
John Lemon, she said. was the first per
son to reach the house after the shooting
occurred
lie called there in response to a telephone
message sent him informing him that some
body had been shot
Did either OF your brothers go upon the
roof after the shooting occurred?"
No. sir
Mr. Lemon. she stated was the first Der
sOn to go through the room in which her
sister had been confined and go out upon
the roof.
Mrs Gaines" asked Capt Wood do
know If husband wa
He was not was the response.
Where is Mrs. Bywaters now and where
has she been since the shooting?"
AT my house"
Did you know Bywaters was going with
your sister,
II did" was her response.
Where We're the Strother boys all the
time the shooting was going on?" asked
Attorney Jeffries.
They We're in my sisters room"
Asked by Mr.. Jeffries what idea she
meant to convey when she said not a shot
was fired In the room the witness said she
meant that they did not fire at him until he
was out OF the room.
Who telephoned over to town after the
shooting occurred?' asked Mr. Jeffries.
jim" she answered.
What did Phil dor
He went after Mr.. Lemon. When Mr.
Lemon found that Bywaters was not dead
he asked her for some water for Bywaters
Then he came and asked IL there was any
whisky in the house. and she gave a half
pint mask or liquor that had been purchased
for her sister
Mrs. Gaines said she thought Senator
Jenr;es was at the house at the time Mr.
Lemon came down and announced that
Bywaters was dead
She recoiiected hearing counsel say that
the body should not be disturbed until, the
commonwealth attorney and the sheriff
were notified.
what relation were you and your
brothers and sisters to Will Bywatersr'
WIFI Bywaters," she answered .swss
one OF my mothers nearest relatives but I
don't know the degree of relationship He
was treated as one of her near relations
and was taken into her home as such
rs your father living?"
mo. sir"
The inquest is still on.