Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-12-18
Tuc c,f,pEpEn TRAGEDY.

JcelcIuaJ W oltchu tbC aHSSi~
Young man who vas shot to death by his
brothers-in-lsw, Messrs. James A. and
Philip ]. Strother, Just after he bad
married their sister Saturday evening.
While the funeral service was being con-
Quoted at the home of Mrs. b. r. By-
waters, mother OF the victim, on PIED
mont street. the three Strolher brothers -
George French and the two accused-'al
in the Virginia Hotel With members Of
their family aud adviser. Mrs. BY
waters, the widowed bride, had only
the counsel OF her sister, Mrs. Edward
L. Gaines, and her physician, Dr.. II
Il. Chelf, who has watched her condition
untiringly until he declared yesterday
afternoon that he believed she was i'm
proved
The 5trothers have declined to dis
cuss the subject because the jury OF IN
quest summoned by Coroner l.. ID.
Lewis will meet again Wednesday and
Mrs. Gaines, their sister, is to be the
main witness unless the accused men de-
eide to make statements. Up to this
time they have not decided what they
will do.
Because of the illness OF Mrs. By
waters the jury of Inquest will not be
able to render o verdict after their seq
sion Wednesday. DR.. Chef has order
ed absolute peace and quiet for his
patient II is hoped that she will be
able to appear before the jury by Jsnu'
ary > and this date will be selected fol
the continuance Of the hearing.
1t vas the desire of the family that
the funeral service be as private as pos
sible, but, despite that fact, there were
about 20 vehicles in the cortege as II
moved through the streets to Fair View
Cemetery, where the body was buried 10
the family lot. Three ministers, Rsvs. +
W Winfrey, OF the Baptist; Frank
Wells. of the Methodist; and j. w.
Ware, ofSt. Stephens Episcopal Church,
used portions Of the burial service from
each creed at the house, aud Phoenix
Lodge, of Odd Fellows, had their cere
moDy at the grave.
The casket was borne by the Old Eel
lows and ak cousins OF Mr. Bywsten
acted as honorary pallbeareiP. They
we're ]. F. Duncan, James Tlmberlake,
Burnett Miller. A. n. Browning, I. f.
Grimsley and John S. Barbour.
Most of the discussion prior to the
shooting was heard by Mrs. Gaines, @
sister Of the Strothers, but it was not
until the bridegroom ran to bis wife's
room that the commotion IL said to have
begun. Mra. Gaines, it is said, did mol
enter the room until shot had been
fred. Then, it has been said, she hur-
ricd her husband ont of the room, lesv-
ing Bywalers, his wife and bis two
brothers in law there.
The people are anxious to hear what
Mrs. Gaines will say regarding the con-
yersation which passed between her
brothers, her husband and her brother
in-law before they all went upstairs. II
is said the family of the victim ia most
anxious 10 know what took place after
the marriage. Friends Of Bywaters
declare that he was first shot in the
room itself and did not try 10 escape
until after be was wounded II is assert
ed that when the bullets began to fly
Mrs. Bywaters, the bride Of an hour,
sprang from her sick bed and tried 10
protect her husband from her brothers,
but in vain When she saw that Bywaters
had BEEN slain, she became hysterical
from grief and horror, and pileously beg
ged her brothers to kill her also, since
they had shot the man she loved since
childhood This version Of the tragedy,
tits expected, will be brought out at the
inquest.
Friends of the Strothers declare they
have nothing to conceal and will bring
out every detail. They say when Mr..
Bywaters declared he intended to return
to bis mothers home in Culpeper, after
the ceremony. Mr.. Philip Strother said
he would drive him to town If he would
promise to come back, but the victim, il
is said, never answered.
Rumur has IT that he Strother brothers
believed Bywaters wanted to leave iheil
home Immediately so that he would DoI
| legally recognize the marriage and pu'
10 claim that he had been forced tC
we'd their sister. They felt, it is said
that Bywaters would have them pnt uu-
der bond to keep the peace so as to pro
tect his life against them and then have
the marriage set aside
While much sympathy is being ex
pressed for the victims mother, wht
has been seriously affected by the shocs
OF her sons untimely death, that which
is felt for tho young widow is equal
" strong. She has always beer
looked upon AS sweet CIR
| who wss devoted to Mr.. Bywaters
Everyone thought she would be his wife
somo day, and hersw face and charm
ing manner WOO her the admiration o
nearly everyone in Culpeper.
From her childhood Mr.. B76ater:
bad been her companion, it Is said, and
they were together much Of the time.
| While she ia not considered beautiful
even By her most intimate friends, she
has an attractive face and wealth o.
golden brown hair. She is tall, slender
and stylish. >-
Richmond, Va, Dec Is. -Therf
we're 10 new developments 10 the BS
water tragedy at Culpeper today. The
S.rothers decline TO discuss the killing
of Bywater, because the jury of inquest
summoned by Coroner Lewis will meet
again tomorrow morning and their sister
Mr.. Gaines, is To be the main witness
Because of The illness Of Mr. Bywater
1t is not believed that she will be able tc