Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-22

slant companion and friend; that he prom
ised her he would become her husband, long
before the day of the marriage and horni-
eide, 1T is stated, will be related by the
widow. She will also tell the court and
jury of the circumstances of visiting Wash
ington. and remaining under an assumed
name Mrs. Bywaters, 1t is stated. will also
tell of pathetic scene that took place in
front of building in Washington when
she was about to enter to be operated
upon. The young woman. realizing the pos
sibie result Of an operation and dreading
1t, It is stated. said to Bywaters:
You said you would marry me; why not
do it now?'
Regarded as Critical Moment.
That was regarded as a critical moment
in the life of the young woman who was
loved and respected by her neighbors. and
she realized that marriage at that time
would have made a great difference in her
life. Bywaters, however, it will be con-
tended, had no idea Of becoming the hus-
band of Miss Viola Strother. He had been
entertained in the Strother home as a
member of the family, and had boasted
woman during the absence of her brothers,
and 1t was while he was spending so much
time at the house that she was wronged.
Had 1t not been that he was seen leaving
the room OF Miss Viola late one night the
relatives of the latter would never have
suspected him Of wrongdoing. That night
ne denied the accusation of one of the
brothers, denied that he had been in the
room or the young woman and said he had
crossed the hall from another room where
he had secreted a bottle of liquor and
where he had gone to get a drink before
retiring
The court and jurors will hear of the
three trips to Washington and the opera
ton that was performed there, and of the
return home of the young woman. They
Will be told of how she nearly bled to death,
ha hnl6 out until he Loot ,i,,-
ute that she had not been guilty of i'm
proper conduct with Will Bywaters. Stress
Will be laid upon his alleged inhuman con-
duct after he reached the house. and had
almost succeeded in blufffng the brothers
into believing that he had been wrongly ac-
cused
Don't send for DOCTOR he is alleged
to have said fearing it will be claimed,
that an examination by a physician of the
woman, who was fast bleeding to DEATH
would reveal her true condition. The claim
will probably be made to the jury that by
not sending for the physician Will By
waters thought death would follow in a
short while and the lips of the woman
would be sealed, so that .ne finger o. guilt
could not be pointed at him. The brothers
and sisters were anxious to save her life.
however, and the call of the physician
proved more than the young man could
stand. He could hold out no longer, the
jury Will be told. and his marriage and
death followed When such a showing has
been maue, coupled with the claim that By
waters attempted to desert his bride, there
by making public the scandal, counsel for
the defendants will ask for their acquittal.
Attorney Jeffries, who represented Culpeper
county in the legislature, will appeal to the
jury. and the twelve men will also hear the
eloquent appeals of John l.. Lee of Lynch
burg and r. Walton Moore of Fairfax
Will Seek Conviction.
On the side of the commonwealth the
prosecuting officer from Fauquer, Mr.. j.
A. c. Keith, and Capt. Micajah Woods of
Charlottesville will appeal to the jury to
convict the defendants. They will do their
best to put phase upon the case entirely
different from what the defense will claim,
and as the case is to be handled by some
of the ablest members of the Virginia bar
the trial will undoubtedly be an interesting
one.
While it is believed that the summoning
OF a venire from Shenandoah county will
slmpllfy matters, those connected with the
case do not feel certain that sixteen ouali-
fled jurors will be obtained from the fifty
men who are to be brought here. Deputy
Sheriff Bowersett departed yesterday aft
ernoon for Woodstock to have the clerk of
the court and the sheriff comply with the
order of Judge Harrison.
Il will do my best to summon the men
and get back by 10 o'clock Monday morn
ing the deputy sheriff said, but there's
no certainty that l will be able to have
them here by the appointed time"
should the court find it impossible to OBJ
tain a jury from the fifty men who are
to be brought here Monday an additional
number of talesmen will have to be sum-
moned.
Judge Harrison and the attorneys who
are engaged in the case are Well-knoWn
jurists, having participated in legal battles
In several sections of the state, some of
them being among the more important
trials in the history of the state. Judge
Harrison was selected as the trial Judge
in the case because OF his ability and fair
ness. He is one of the ablest members of
the judiciary of the commonwealth of Vir-
ginia and is widely known throughout the
state. He is native Virginian, having
been born in Leesburg, Loudoun county,
only a few miles from Washington city.
His father, the late Matthew Harrison, was
bar of that county. Judge Harrison is a
graduate of the University of Virginia. He
went to Winchester after graduating and
was associated with Maj. Holmes Conrad,
office cases in Washington recently. He was
also associated with r. E. Byrd as editor
OF the Winchester Times
Elected to State Senate.
Having desire to take part in the
political welfare of his state, he was a
candidate for seat in the state senate and
was elected by an overwhelming majority.
Eight years were spent in the state senate
and the judge was also a member of the
constitutional convention. In 1895 he was
elected judge of the circuit which embraced
Warren, Shenandoah Frederick and Clarke
counties and the city of Winchester but
the circuit was shortened under the recent
act of the legislature. Judge Harrison has
been married twice and has five children.
J. A. c. Keith, commonwealth attorney
for Fauquier county, the leading counsel
for the prosecution, is well known in this
section. He is son of Isham Keith and
nephew of Judge James Keith of the su-
preme court of the state, and his friends
predict for him an honor as great as that
his uncle now enjoys. Mr.. Keith studied
law with r. Taylor Scott who was attorney
general for the state, and James V. Brooke.
After graduating he formed a partnership
with the attorney general and practiced law
with him at Warrenton until the latter
died. Later he formed a partnership with
his brother and is now a member of the
firm of Keith & Keith. Three years ago
he was appointed commonwealth attor-
ney for Fauquier to act for James P JEFF
fries and he still retains the position
Former State Senator John L. Jeffries.
leading counsel for the defense, was the
leader of the bar of this county for a
number of years. He was commonwealth
attorney and he also represented his county
in the state senate. Recently he removed
from here to Norfolk, where he is the Sc
nior member of one of the most prosperous