Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-02-27
THE srRoTHERs TRIAL.

of the slaIn man, will take the stsnd.
Until yesterday it vas expected that Mira
Bywaters would appear IS q witness for
the State, but il developed that the pros
ecution had changed its plans, and the
defense Immediately announced her sp-
pearence in court az their witness. Inc
dszsttes report Of the case closed yes
terdsy after Mr.. j. q. Lennon had lee-
tilted.
Immediately following Mr.. Lemons
testimony, recess Was taken to enable the
Jury to 90 to the Strother house and view
the evidences of the shooting and famii-
isrize themselves With the scene. The
iurymen we're driven out in several We
hicles, and did not return to the court
room until late in the afternoon. They
made a thorough examination of the
premises, Deputy Sheriff Bowersett and
Mr.. Lennon accompanying them TO point
out and explain the location OF the van-
GUS shot marks and articles OF furniture.
The guides were instructed BY the court
to be careful not to offer their explains
tons in the form OF testimony, bat mere
~ explain things 10 the iurymen and an
swer their questions.
When the court convened after the
return of the jury from the inspection Of
the scene of the shooting, the prosecution
called r. NJ. Thompson, an undertaken,
to the stand. Mr.. Thompson added moth
ing TO the case.
DR.. @. s. Cowie was called, and the
dummy figure, wearing the slain man g
riddled and blood-stained coat, vas
placed on the stand. Or. Cowie. it sp-
peared from Capt. Woods questioning,
had experimental upon the effect of re-
volyer bullets passing through WOODEN
cloth and into more or less hard sub
stsnces. The defense wanted to know
what it was all about, and Capt Woods
explained that he wanted 10 throw some
light on the wound in Bywaters' skull
in which was fonnd a .22.caliber bullet
and bit of lint from the coat through
the shoulder of which the bullet had
passed.
The defense will not object 10 DR..
Cowie telling of his experiment. II de-
yeIoped that the physician had fred two
shots through coat into board. On
the first shot the coat was laid against
the board. Some lint was found in the
bullet hole. On the second trial the
coat was held eight inches from the
board. No Int was found in the bullet
hole. On the strength Of this expert
ment, the prosecution wanted to be a''
lowed to ask DR.. Cowie's opinion as to
whether or not B,waters' coat must have
been pulled up and held close to the
head when the shot in question was fired.
The defense demurred and questioned
the prosecution az to what they expect
ed to prove. Captain Woods said they
wanted to show that some one, he would
not say whom, must have held Bywaters
by the collar and fred the, shot with the
other hand. The defense objected and
was sustained.
The prosecution then announced its
case closed, and the court adjourned till
today.
Oulpeper Va, Feb. 27.-Although
court did not convene until 10 O'Clock
Mrs. Bywaters was in the courthouse
long before that, sitting in the judges
room. Sorrow and suffering was written
upon her features, and the bright red
bathrobe which she wore was 10 pathetic
contrast with her looks aud mood. She
! was carried into court in large wicker
chair
Attorney Lee, for the defense, inter
rogated her. She said that she was %
years OF age last November and that she
was educated at the Episcopal Female
Institute. She had lived in this county
all her life. At eighteen she left school.
she had met Bywsters when she Was
"quite a little girl and was wearing short
dress,s" He ives relative.
"What was Mr.. Bywaters' department
| toward you before your fathers DEATH"
"He was like brother"
"And you we're like sister to him."
eyes"
She slated that after her fathers death
Bywaters became more attentive and
afectionate.
"Were you impressed with the idea
that be wanted to be your sweetheart
aud wanted to marry you 2" asked the
counsel.
eyes"
elbow did you regard him ?"
GAS brother who would protect our
home like jim and Phil"
"When did you first yield yourself to
this man ?"
about four months before my moth
er's death"
TELL this jury how you came TO give
yourself TO him 20
II loved him. had confidence in
him. He said he would love me that
much more and be always faithful and
true"
when did you discover that your
condition was not what 1t should be 2"
"ln September 1906"
"What did you do7"
az vent to Mr. Bywaters and told him,
and suggested that weget married"
"What did he say"
"He said | was mistaken, and he
would not listen to my suggestion Of
marriage"
[ The witness explained that on second
appeal, Bywaters suggested an operation.
She said she protested, and begged him
to marry her.
Mrs. Bywsters then related the facts
of her visit to Washington, and the cir