The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-12-18
BRIDEGROOM SLAIN
". F. Bywaters Dead an Hour After
Hurried Marriage.
TWELVE BULLETS RlDDltD BODY
Sensational Developments Brothers Say They
Avenged Wrougsd Sister Released on 5000
Bail Each
Bail Each.

One hour alter he was married to Miss
Viola StrOther Saturday night. WIN. +.
ByWaterS. Is prominent citizen oi Cul-
pepper county. we'll known - u fox
huuter and sportsman, WAS shot and
killed AT "RotherwOOd. the country
plac. OF the late Cot. John L. Strother,
iather Of the bride The shots were fired
while Bywaters was attempting To
escape from the Strother house. His
body WAS iidd. ed 10y twelve bullets.
Coroner Lewis took charge Ot the body
IL was taken 10 an undertaking estah-
li-hment at Culpeprr. The coroner's
Jury was postponed
Bywaters went 10 Culpeper Saturday
afternoon and procured license to marry
Miss STROLLER The marriage WAS per
formed 10y Rev j. ". Ware. of the Epls-
copal church, about $40 o'clocS. BY
waters death is the result of his refusal
10 remain over night at the Strother
home.
Bywaters insisted on going TO Cul-
pepper. where. il is said he had an engage
ment The brothers OF his wife demand
ed that he remain with his bride.
Bywaters slipped from the house by
means of a window and attempted To
make hi, c-cap, over the roof when the
shots were fired. and lac fell mortaly
wounded
With ,he break Of day Sunday the
wheels of Justice began to move, and
what are said To bee the circumstances
which led up to the shooting We're testi-
tied 90 by relatives of the bride.
a E.. 8 flta--
except the bride. who lay IA bed WHERE
she WAS married and her brothers.
james and Philip Strother, who We're AZ
rested to await the action of thecOroner :
Jury. made statement 70 Coroner +. II
Lewis
Although the statement of the broth
rr>-in-law WAS thrilling in the extreme,
Mr. Grorge French StrOtheI. of Nelch.
". Va. an older brother. narrated a
story even morr 50 before Bail Commits
~iouer ". Il. Williams. of Orange L. II
Mr. Williams released The Mv>srs StrOther
on s. 600 bail each. BOnd-men. : Rus
sell Smith, T.. L. Perry. Raleigh I Green,
I ". J. Strothrr and Dr. Johnson StrOther
BRIDE said no nr plINo.
The story Of the Strother family is that
/ Bywaters wished To desert his bride a
/ short while after the marriage ceremony,
and while she was in what they said Was
a pr-carious condition. The widow OF
/ the victim Is said 10 b. at deaths door
at the home of her sister, Mrs. Gaines
/ Alter the tragedy the young woman was
removed to her sister : home, two miles
| from the ~cpue oi the shooting
Al her brothers went 10 the Virginia
/ Hotel ~ Culpeper after the hearing and
/ remained there over night. conferences
were held between them and Attorney j.
l.. J,firies.
Bail Commissioner Williams went to
/ Culpeper upon request owing 10 the re-
cent death of the local official Judge ID.
/ A. Grimsl-y. who l. a relative OF the vie
tim. did not care TO appoint anyone TO
act
BROTHER FACES RIM.
MIR STROLLER is a tall. heavy-set man,
with cean-cut features and chin which
/ speaks of determined mind.
/ IL came here a few days ago. he said.
/ in making his statement. Il had heard
my sister, Viola. had been away from
home. and wanted 10 ascertain the
cause. When looked into the matter
/ had reason to suspect that she had been
| To Washington 10 have "a criminal opera
ton performed. When my sister returned
/ home spoke To her about my suspicious.
She denied IT,
Having reason 20 suspect Bywaters
/ was Responsible | went 10 him. tie, too.
denied H. That was Thursday. and
/ when spoke 70 him be- raised his right
| hand and swore he was innocent. Finally
saw him and my sister together and
| both denied thecharge. ! told Bywaters
/ if found that h. was guilty | would Kill
him
IL frankly told him considered it one
OF the most horrible crimes | could imag-
inc aud intended 10 learn the real facts.
On the following day my sister was eX-
tremely III. and Dr. II I Cheli was called
in She came near dying. and the examl-
nation made by the doctor proved my
suspicious were correct a. 10 the opera
ton.
BEGGED FOR HIS LIFE.
Immediately got Bywaters and my
sister together and they admitted every
thing. She begged for his life. for told
him would rather kill him than see him
marry her. However. my sister pleaded
and the doctor declared she was in such
a condition he would not be responsible
for her If she We're TO receive such "a
shock. Despite that told him II | found
out he only intended 10 marry my sister
to save his lie or if he deserted her |
would hunt him and Kill him. Bywaters
said he wanted to marry her and only
wanted her consent To prove bis deyo-
ton lie said nothing could take him
from her until she got well. Saturday
be got the licenee and they were married,
but did not witness the ceremony.
During my connection with Bywaters
told him how mean q thingit would be
if he did do such thing, for he being a
distant relative had been taken in our
home almost ~ a brother
DR.. II. T. Cheli, who was called IN when
Miss STROLLER became i'll, declared he
found Miss StrOther in a desperate con-
dition. and that it was the result OF a
criminal operation.
DR.. + l.. Gaines made his statement IN
before Coroner Lewis.
a.tstrr nrntItOr RON