The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-03-02
MRS. BYWATERS
TESTIFIES
Tells Pitiful Story in Court
at Culpeper.
EFFORT TO SHIELD HER LOVER
Trusted Him and Believed He Would Marry Her
Ne Always Sought lsy-TestlmOny Of
French Shother and Mrs. Gaines.

I
John l.. Lee, one OF the counsel for de-
Tense, asked the questions to bring out
her testimony. Mr.. Keithcross-examined
her. Mrs. Gaines stood by her side ian
ming her or handing her water, while her
brothers sat not lar away.
All except counsel for both sides, rela.
tives and newspaper men were excluded
while Mrs Bywaters was on the stand
The first words Were from Clerk Coons.
He read the oath. Mrs. Bywaters kissed
the Bible.
"Now, my child" Mr.. Lee began,
"please tell the court and Jury your
name"
Mrs. Bywaters in low voice, said she
was 23 years old, had lived all her life at
Rotherwood, the scene OF the shooting
except during her two years at school in
| Winchester.
Mr.. Lee-When did you first meet By
waters
Al was a child in short dresses He
was a near relative
q -Didhe come tOyOur house frequent
~ when you were n child?
A Yes, sir
Q.-When did your father di
An Feb, 1904.
Q-Had Bywaters done anything be-
fore that time TO indicate that he was 10
love with you?
Ale had treated mo as a sister. but
after fathers death he began to treat me
like u sweetheart
In response TO questions Mrs BiWaters
said she had lived with her mother, her
brother Philip and her sister Bessie after
the death OF her father, as her other ST.
ter had married and her brothers had LETT
home.
CONSIDERED HIM PROTECTOR
Mr.. Lee-After your father died how
was Bywaters looked upon in the house?
Ale was regarded as brother, aud
" hen Philip was away he was looked
upon as a protector OF the family.
Q-When did your mother die?
A.-FOurteen months after father.
Now, my child, said Mr. Lee again,
tell the jury when your love for bywa
tiers ripened into improper relations?
Alt was few months before moth /
er's death.
Q-Now please tell the circumstances
which caused you to yield to Bywaters.
A-Well, | had great confidence In him,
loved him, he declared it would make |
nim love NE more than ever and sworc |
he would always be true. | believed him /
and had confidence in him
Q-That must have been about Nov !
or Dec. 1902
A-les, sir.
Odd he continue to pay devoted at
tentiOn to you?
A-Ies, sir.
Q-When didyou discover your trouble?
A.-September, 1906.
Odd you tell him?
Al did. told him and asked him e.
marry me had so much confidence III
him I thought he would marry me to |
hide it from the world. but be said he |
was not able TO marry me.
Odd he say anything about your |
fears being real?
A.-Yes, he said must be mistaken,
but convinced him.
Q.-What suggestion did he make?
A He suggested an operation.
Odd you yield at first or remon-
strate with him?
Al told him | thought he ought 10
marry me; taat had thought he would
be glad to marry me and protect me, but
as be declared be was not ready 20 marry
/ finally agreed to the operation.
Odd you know what such an opera
ton was?
Al did not.
Q.-Where did you go to have the OPP
sratiOn performed?
A-Washington.
Q-Your first visit was when?
A-Eary in October OF last year.
Then Mrs. Bywaters told of the trip
She said she went on different train from
Bywaters, that they registered at th'
MontrOse Hotel as man and wife under
Al assumed name and that DR.. Leon per
formed the operation the following day
Leon, she said. was very angry because
she became so i'll and treated her in a
manner anything but gentle or kind
Bywaters, she declared, did not remon-
strate with the physician.
Q-Was the operation successful
BEGGED TO BE GIVEN HIS NAME.
A.-No. Mr.. Bywaters insisted that an
other must be performed. Again
begged him to marry me, told hun how
terribly had suffered but he insisted.
Two weeks after the first operation we
were back in Washington and went I,
see Dr. Walters. He refused to help u
and urged that we be married, so we re-
turned TO Culpeper.
Q.-DO you remember an occurrence
which transpired one night when Philip
suspected something wrong between
you and Bywaters?
A.-You mean the night Philip saw
him coming from the room adjoining
mine? | remember, but at the time
denied all knowledge OF it.
Odd you beg your brother Jim moi
to ask Bywaters for an explanation Of
Affairs
Al did, for didn't want them to
suspect him.
Odd you tell Bywaters about +,
later?
Al did
Odd he write you this letter?
A.-Yes, sir.
BYWATERs WAS INDIGNANT,
Mr.. Lee read the following letter:
Washington. ID e.,
November 20. 1906.
NY Own Dear ViOla-YOu Just cam
imagine how feel-ju-t feel heartbroken
Never was as blue ia my life. You and
your people have always been so nice
TO me, aad now for them to- suspicion
me Of sneaking act. lt nearly kills me
TO think about it came down on the
Early train this A. NJ Have been in my
room the most OF the day. Never was
troubled as much in my life met Jim and
Phil last night, and was SO in hopes
they would mention the subject to me.
| was riding and they were driving
would have mentioned it, but thought 4
probably you wouldn't want thsp-t,o
know you said anything to ne am
going to tell Philip the~clrcumstances
when see him sgejiaa.
mat Wet into the room to see ii
there wSss glass to take a drink out OF
Hi heard him open the hall door aud
didn't want him TO see me attempting
to take a drink for fear it would tempt
him. Don't fail tocome here Wednesday;
am so anxious to see you. willsurely
- h. !