The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-27
.D[E ENCE PUT
MRS. BYWA7ERS
ON STAND TODAY
Prosecution Declines to-
Use Witness 1t Had
Subpoenaed. 81
JURY PAYS VISIT
TO BROTHERHOOD
Scene Of Tragedy Closely In
spected by Judge, Jurors,
Counsel and Correspond
ents-Place Now Of In #
describable Drea-
riness. y I.

by WALTER EDWARD HARRIS.
CULPEPER, VA, February 26.-Nirs.
Viola Bywatcrs will take the stand to-
morrow to tell her story OF her wrongs
and OF their avenging. The defense
will call her to the witness-chnir. and
draw from her the story which Is ex-
pected to acquit her brothers of the
crime in taking the life of the man
who worked her ruin and was trying
to desert her. So
The trial of the Strother brothers for
the murder OF William r. Bywaters
progressed so rapidly to-day that the
prosecution completed Its case with Il
the exception of ono question:, to be-
asked a witness tomorrow. OF course;
number of witnesses will be exams
ined by the prosecution n rebuttal.
The defense seized with eagerness thu ss
opportunity presented to-day to mako
Mrs. Bywaters their witness. When
the prosecution announced that they
would not have her called. Mr.. Lee, OF
the defense, sprung to his feet, and
after expressing his surprise. although
the fact that Mrs. Bywaters would
not go on the stand for the prosecution
was printed in The Times Dispatch
had been done Mrs. Bywaters. who had
been summoned by the Commonwealth.
and kept In Culpeper under subpoena
for days. He concluded by declaring
in a dramatic manner that the defense
would put her on the stand and allow
her to toll her story.
Mrs. Bywaters Takes
Stand This M forming.
pfsi,,r a
10 O'Clock to morrow The courtroo,ns
Will he cleared OF all save the. CORES
spondents and those officially connect
ed with .he court. =3E5a sSEips
She will consume the better part OF
the day telling her story to the jtlr;',g
under the examination Of the defeusl
and the cross-examinationHs of tim
general outlines. The defense claiins
1t is far from being known in all de-
tails. 1t is claimed that counsel for
the prosecution by Mr.. Jeffries. in i,i4
opening statement yesterday, didsSnot
go nearly so far nor state the case4
nearly so strongly as he might W.
have done. X,Tg
irterc sting. The story told by
Lemon. the old neighborAof the Strots
er boys, affected every spectator, so#1
simple and direct was it, and so sOi-S
tmnly and SO graphically We're tttoN
tragic details related. fsf
The recital by the minister who pas-&
formed the marriage ceremony "a faWs,
hours prier to the shooting WAS also
an impressive feature of the days
evidence. i
Prosecution Springs
New Feature of Case.
The effort made by the prosecution
this afternoon to show that the wound
| inflicted In the head, behind the left
car, was received while the coat was
}pulled high up over the spot where
the bullet entered, was the new fcl-s
| ture OF the entire trial. For practically
every thing which has been stated on
| the witness stand since tho trial be-
| gun was known to newspaper readers
day or two after the killing. Coun-
sol for the defense say they will he
| abundnntly able to rebut any testt-s
mony introduced to establish this ais
| surned fact. 81
| The jury were taken to-day to the
| home of the Strothers and shown the
scene OF the shooting. TWAS distinct
lly stated by the court that what was
| seen should not be regarded as evil
ldence. but simply as aid to understands
ling Testimony. 9@
Both James and Philip Strother Will
| take the stand in their own behalf.
| They will probably not do so before
| Thursday There is g. chance that the
! case may go to the Jury Saturday, or
oven Friday night. 1t is more probabls
That the Jury will take the case Ann-5
llny. s35Ss