Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-23
WORK OF DETECTIVES
OFFICERS COLLECTING EVIDENCE
IN THE LEON CASE.

| 1t was stated at police headquarters last
night that the condition of Mrs Viola By
waters is improving. 1t is expected tina,
| Mrs. Bywaters will be the star witness
| against Dr. Edward Leon Thompson, who
! is alleged to have performed an operation
upon her in this city last month, as hereto
| fore stated in The Star. Detective Corn
well will be able to interview her, it is be-
! lieved, at the home of her brother, near
| Culpeper, Va, shortly after Christmas.
The police have been informed that a
| young couple called upon a physician In
this city last month and wanted him to
| perform an operation such as it is alleged
| Mrs Bywaters was subjected to. They
| said they were from a town in Ohio. The
| physician did not know their names, but
| when he saw the picture of VIII +. BY
| waters. which was printed in The Star, he
| reached the conclusion that he was the
| man who in company with the young Wo-
! man had called upon him.
| Detectives investigating the local end
| of the Culpeper shooting have ascer-
| tanned, it is said, some interesting facts
! in connection with the visit to this city
! of Bywaters and Miss Strother, now Mrs.
Bywaters. They have ascertained. it -
| claimed that the couple went to the
| offices of three physicians during the
| time they were in this city, and that
after the first visit to the office or Dr.
| Leon the young woman did not want to
return, but was unable to induce an
other physician to do the work. 1t is al
| legged that she did return to see Leon
| Attended by DR.. Walters.
1t was not until after the operation had
| been performed the police state. that
| the young woman called in DR.. L. D. Wal
| tiers to attend her. He, 1T is said, attended
| her in the room at the hotel and it was
| against his advice that she returned
home when she did. Bywaters, it is stat
| ed gave evidence of being short of funds.
| and it is thought that is why he left the
| hotel at the time he is said to have gone,
| Miss Strother going home at the same
time. During the time the young woman
| was here under treatment as here
| tofore stated she was supposed to have
| been visiting friends in Virginia. BY
| waters left here upon two or three oc-
| casions during the time she was i'll, It
| is stated. and went to Culpeper, being
anxious that his friends and relatives
should see him there in order that he
would not be suspected
| Information has been obtained by friends
| of the young woman, 1t is said, to indicate
| that she was advised by an acquaintance in
Virginia to see DR.. Leon for the purpose
desired. The person who gave her this adj
vice will probably be called upon ID testify
against the physician should the case ever
come to trial. The detectives are also look
ing for witnesses in this city who are al
legged to have discussed the affair with By
waiting in front fthe home of the ply
stefan about the time the last operation Is
alleged to have been performed.
Grand Jury to Act.
DR. Leon as stated in The Star, was be-
fore the Police Court yesterday. and was
released on bond in the sum of $500. It
is now proposed that the grand jury shall
investigate the case without reference to
the action of the Police Court Such an in
vestigaton, 1t Is pointed out, would have
the effect of preventing Mrs. Bywaters
from appearing in the Police Court as a
witness Her brothers and other relatives
are anxious to avoid much unpleasant
notoriety as possible, and by eliminating
the folice Court proceeding sucn notoriety
will be minimiZed.
Should the case come to trial, 1t is
thought there will be an interesting array
of witnesses placed upon the stand sew
eral of them from Virginia. In all prob
ability one and perhaps both OF the
Strother boys will be called. They are the
brothers of Mrs. Bywaters, and are under
bond for the killing of their brother-in-
law. Inspector Boardman will have De-
tective Cornwell continue his Investigations
until something definite is accomplished
and he hopes to be able to present the evil
dence before the grand jury by the time
Dr. Leon is called for trial in the criminal
court upon charge that Is similar to the
one under investigation