The Washington herald., 1907-02-27
TRIAL OF STROTHERS
WILL NOT BE LONG
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

4 Nl(1L vi - nv AAGANO
WILL NOT BE LONG
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.
will by the end Of this week. CT possibly
before, walk out Of the courtroom free
and acquitted men.
state Has Hard Fight,
tViewed from the present outlook. the
State has a hard fight before it. Mrs
Bywaters. her sister. Mrs. Gaines, ME.
Gaines. and the defendants. and the other
witnesses TO be called by the defense,
have had. if such was their desire, ample
time to compare notes on the story Of the
shooting. Every detail could have been
perfected and memOrized and each witness
primed to face any questions asked by the
prosecution. They viii. il is expected,
tell the story Of the killing as outlined
at the opening Of the trial by the defense.
The prosecution viii endeavor 10 deduce
facts tending 90 show that Bywaters was
shot 70 death in the bedroom or while try
ing to escape the bullets Of his assail-
ants. Meanwhile, Culpeper County waits,
watches. and speculates.
Clerk CoonS Called.
H ". Z. Coons. clerk Of the court. was the
first witness called to-day He testified
n regard to the marriage license secured
for Bywaters on December j.. and stated
that his suspicious were in TO way
eroused by the demeanor Of the two men
who came 10 the Office Philip Strvti..s
and Bywaters. As they came in ne heard
StrOther tell Bywaters that he meant
business. but he, Coons. had no idea at
the time to what Strother had reference.
Rev. Dr.. Josiah A Ware. Episcopal
minister at CuIpepeT. was called and told
the circumstances connected with the
marriage ceremony he performed at
StrOtherwood the evening or December l..
The witness testified that James StTOther
came to him thar afternoon and told him
that Viola and Bywaters had been sweet
hearts for years. and that she was sick
and wanted 20 be married Immediately,
and asked him 90 come out 90 the house
and perform the ceremony. Or. Ware
stated that he went with STROLLER and
met Philip Strother az the house where
I he was cor Quoted to the bedroom in which
Viola lay IN.
Married by Rev. DIR. Ware.
He performed the fun ceremony. re-
ceived his fee. and left soon afterward.
The witness said that Immediately after
the ceremony James Strother knelt by the
side OF his sister kissed her tenderly. and
then gave his hand to Bywaters. DR..
Ware said he had no suspicious st the
time of anything wrong
Deputy Sheriff J. s. Bowersett took the
stand and Identified TWO revolvers turned
over 10 him by the defendants after the
shooting.
l. B. CrUmp. a neighbor Of the Strother
family was called and testified to having
heard the shots and having accompanied
his son TO the scene. Witness said that
Philip told him he had shot Bywsters on
account of the ruin of his sister and Of
Bywaters' attempt TO escape after the
marriage. James Strcther joined them
and declared that he had taken part i'm
the shooting also. Bywaters was dead
when Crump arrived at the house.
j. &. Lemon on stand.
Judge. jury. defendants. attorneys, and
spectators were deeply affected by the
testimony of j. G. Lemon. the last wit
ness called during the morning session.
Mr.. Lemon. who is a neighbor Of the
Strother family, recited wildly and with
infinite pathos the incidents connected
with his wish to the Strother house after
the shooting.
His frank blue ewes filled with tears
and his soft Southern tones were choked
and broken with emotion as he told of
the death of Bywaters, The father of
the dead boy sat listening stOlidly until
Mr.. Lemon began to tell Of young By
waters last words and death struggles.
Father love could bear no more, and for
the first time during the trial the old
mans composure failed ard he sobbed
in anguish. holding his haRdkerchief to
his streaming eyes.
Hearers shed Tears.
Judge Harrison's eyes were dimmed.
Several of the jurymen wept openly and
unashamed. James Strother glanced at
the pitiable figure Of the old father of
the man he had shot TO death and tears
filed his eyes and trickled unchecked
down his cheeks The hardy, rough but
gentle-hearted countrymen that thronged
the courtroom stood with bowed heads,
and at the conclusion of Mr. Lemons
testimony the room resOunded with
trumpet-like blasts Of nose blowing. Only
young Philip Strother appeared unmOved
He sat with his eyes fastened on space,
and if the pathetic recital Of the old
farmer affected him he gave no visible
sign.
Mr. Lemon told Of having heard the
shots and screams while at his home half
mile away from the Strother house; Of
Philip Strother sending for him to come
over 10 the house; of the recital by the
brothers Of the circumstances connected
with the shooting, and their reasons for
the act.
Lemon shown Dead Body.
Mr.. Lemon said that he was taken up
TO the bedroom and shown the window
out of which the brothers said Bywaters
was trying to escape when they shot
him. James held a lantern, and Lemon
looked out of the window upon the little
porch roof, where lay the apparently life
less form of Bywaters. Thinking him
dead, Lemon turned away and went down
stairs with the brothers.
I asked Philip why he had done this
awful thing, and he told me. asked him