Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-03-01

Witness at once went to the
home. Viola then told him all as
she related ii in court yesterday.
He thought his sister was dying.
lie had helped Mrs. Gaines destroy
such evidence as they could of the
girls condition, saying they wanted
TO keep the secret to themselves.
Witness said he agreed to the
marriage in good faith. French
said the brothers had consented to
II In good faith, and Bywaters had
said he was ready to marry Viola
whenever the brothers said the
word. French Strother had asked
the witness 10 leave the house and
let him deal with the case as he
saw fit. The witness did leave and
returned the next morning. He
talked with Viola again. and he was
convinced from what she said that
Bywaters had no more affection for
her than for rabbit or dog. He
came TO town, saw Bywaters several
times, and Bywaters never once ask
ed as 10 the girls condition.
Bywaters did not know. on the
morning of Dec. Is. that the Strothers
had decided the marriage should
take place that afternoon. During
Dad talked with Bywaters. and said
that he wanted 10 know what he
was going 20 90. Bvwaters said
something about wanting TO delay
the getting of the license. French
had said to Bywaters that he did
not have to marry Viola, but he
wanted to know what he intended
To do.
The DEVELOPMENTS were great
shock to me-" said the witness.
his voice showing great emotion.
Plans IL Aid Bywaters.
Bywaters again asked to postpone
the marriage. and witness said that
lie repeated more firmly than before
that the marriage would take place
that afternoon. He said that they
would give them money and star;
them all right and keep the secrc;.
They had agreed to say that Viola
was very i'll, that they had been
lovers for years, and Tat they
wanted to marry so that Bywaters
could be with end nurse Viola.
Phillip Strother and Bywaters
drove out together. and James
Strother and the Rev. MIR. Ware
| drove out together. Bywaters want
ed to get his own horse and buggy
and go alone. Witness was afraid
Bywaters might get away and they
decided to see that he did not es-
| cape. Bywaters went to his home
| and remained about an hour, ant
while witness was talking to his
amt (Mrs. Strother). Bywaters came
by in buggy. al!ghted and walked
ilp and shook hands. ,Bywaters talk
ed a good deal and gesticnlated
freely, Witness told him to desist
that 1t might excite suspicion.
Bywaters said he had diamond
ring and wanted to give 1t to Viola.
that his sister had been keeping it
for him. Witness told Bywaters that
| the presentation of the ring was
his own business. Bywatcrs asked
what kind OF ring was necessary
for the ceremony. for Strother IL
get 1t and he would pay for It.
Bywaters. when preparing to go out,
said he had no overcoat. and when
| witness asked if he did not want
to get one, the reply was in the
negative.
Bywaters, instead of doing what
he had promised and what the
Strothers had agreed upon, witness
said. went TO Viola and urged her
to plead for delay, and she did SD.
seeming to be under hypnotic spell
Witness remarked to Bywaters
that this was not in accordance
with his promise. He said ne could
not force Bywaters to marry Viola,
and he told Phillip Strother to go
to the telephone and tell French
to come over at once.
Then Bywaters threw up his
| hands, witness said, land said to
| me: Cousin Jim. want 10 marry
Viola and nurse her back to health. y
The witness then gave the same
account that Mrs. Gaines did about
| the marriage ceremony, the ring.
the license and the fee given the
minister. He said Viola was crying
| bitterly. He described the scene
following the marriage, and as he
told of kissing Viola. of how he
loved her, his voice became husky
and only by a great effort did he
manage to continue his story.
Witness said Bywaters was ut
terly Indifferent and heartless in
his treatment of Viola. paying no at
tention. Witness said ne told Bv-
waters that Viola wes now his wife
and that II was his duty to care for
her.
Bywaters, said the witness, ex-
pressed determination to go to
town to tell his mother. Witness
told him to do it by telephone. By
waters said his mother was nervous
and he did not want to excite her.
Witness told him to telephone his
lByWatersD sister and let her tell
his mother. Bywaters then said he
wanted to get out announcement
cards, Witness told him not tn
be in hurry. Bywaters then want