Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-03-06
TIE sTRoTHEI,sTRI

ced that one of the prisoners, Philip
Strother, was suffering from slight al,
tack Of grip. nrd upon advice Of his ply
stefan, DIR. II I. Caelf, be remained at
bis hotel. DR.. Cbelf Vas called to the
stand and after explaining the condition
OF the defendant, coart adjourned until
o'clock, it having been determined
that he prisoner you'd be aole to sp-
pear by that time.
Osing TO the fact that arguments we're
to begin, the courtroom was packed to
the doors with spectators, ard 50 dense
did the Gro Nd become that Judge Harri-
son ordered the doors to be locked.
A htlle after 2 o'clock the prisoner,
Philip Str,Iher, eDtered with bis brother
and DR.. Chelf. who remained with him
until court adjourned. The defendant
an wed his sickness plainly, and once
dunug the argument he aim Ist collapsed
aud was pr mi ted to leave the building.
About Is minutes later he returned aud
sat ia the reclining chair, which was
provided for him.
Judge Harrison, upon converting court
read the instructions, which he had pre-
pared Mopd = night, to the jurymen,
after which Mr.. Keith arose and began
his argument for he commonwealth. lie
gsye some bold statements If facts, and
directed mos OF his remarksat the ''emo-
tioual insanity" plea, which he referred
- that H,r1 81 ,nuarifu ukfrh ran
only be cured by shedding human blood.
He declared that there Was no eVids nee
to show that the Strother boys were in
snne and that, as they coolly and dellb-
erst.ly planned 10 keep Bywpters al
RotherSood, even though tboy had to
kill him, aud finslIy carried this plan In
to execution, they should be convicted
of murder He said "Yon have got
TO believe beyond all reasonable doubt
that the minds Of James and Poilip
5trother were 80 impaired 5y what bad
happened that their reason WAS dethrontd
swept away, or else you must bring 10
verdict Of either murder or man
slaughter"
An eloquent plea 10 behalf OF the
"unwritten Law" as q Justification for
he crims committed bv the Srnther
brothers was made by John l.. ] fries,
The s4rior counsel for The defense. Mr.
] fries addressed he jury Immediately
after the conclusion Of the argument OF
Mr. Keith.
Mr. Jeffries practically based bis ar.
gument upon the ian written law"
Many had expected that the slap given
this so-cslled claw" by Judge q 'Frison
IN open court few days aso sOuld
cause the counsel for the defense To l's
ess stress upon this seemingly popular
defense and dwell more particularly
upon emotional INSANITY"
Judging from the forcible APPEAL b
the counsel for the Strnther', however,
II appeared that the remsfks Of the pre-
.idlng officer of the court created great
or determination 10 the nirds of the at
torneys for the Stro hers 10 seek az ac-
quittal Of their clients by means OF the
"unwritten law"
As Mr. Jefries pursued his argument
1t could be readily seen that, 10 depend
ing upon the "unwritten Law" for the
acquittal OF the 5tro.hers, be did not for
a moment allow the jury to lose sight Of
the fact that "emotlonsl insanity" was
one Of the lines of defense upon which
they rested their case, but at opportuue
times, to better bring one OF his argu'
ments closer home. he would resort to
probable mental arrangement OF the
Strothers. There was pathos in bis
words and, as he pictured the grief OF
the stricken family of the Strolhers and
the destruction of their home at Rother-
wood, even some Of the jurymen could
hardly restraln their feelings.
Dir. JefInes described the betrayal OF
Dinab, Jacobs daughter, by Schecbem
and Jacob slew not only the betrsyer,
out bis entire household. The speaker
took up q Bible and read the s'mpl'
story, concluding land God ssid unto
Jacob, Ar SO and go up TO Bethel:
aud jacob arose and went: " 2 and
they did not pursue af or the sons Of
Jacob" The speaker declared that no.
where in tho Bible vas there au Instance
OF Gods Furnishing tho man who pro-
tec.ed his home.
While addressing the jury no referred
10 the home as the foundation stone of
any government, and the man who slew
the destroyer o! that homo did great
act Of duty to his country. At times the
senior counsel for the defense also re-
ferred to the mental condition Of the
prisoner on the night Of the murder, and
stated with emphasis THAI the Strother
boys wero so enraged ct the attempted
desertion of their sister by Bywaters
after he had ruined her that no power
under heaven could have restrained them
from committing murder. During bis
speech be said: 'Sbould you hnd 1t In
your hearts and minds to bring verdict
Of gully against Jan % and Philip Stro,'
ther, want you 10 vito In your vers
dict that thsy are convicted by VIZ
ginis Jury of criminally Staying the be
trayer Of their sister, their mothers
youngest child" Court then adjourned
until today when Mr.. Il. W. Moore
spoke fer the defence.
Calpeper, March g. Immediately
siter the opening OF court today, Attor.
neg F.. Walton More began the second
argument for the defense.
he characterized the dead ByWaters
as 4" his derelict on the ocean of moral
ity," and In defense of the Strothers be
exclaimed: Manhood stands here on
its ancient heights. These boys shot