The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-03-02

I ! T
( ton to employ detectives and find ont
everything That alarmed her and She
said il Bywaters came they would No.
amt themselves. | rent Phil and jim to-
town. thinking could handle the mat
ter better alone, and Bywaters was tile
phoned TO.
"HIs HONEST FACE
ole offered me his hand and | refused
| IT, accused him. He laughed "a calOus
laugh and said he was innocent ne de-
clared he would resent such thing IA
quickly as | would, and that il he we're
guilty he wonld blow his brains out
Raising his hand 10 heaven, he swore he
was innocent, saying he had q sister Of
his own and would kill any man who
treated her so.
Then he said:
"'Look at my honest face; do look
like would do a thing like that
ADMITTED HIS GUILT
About that time Mrs Gaines came in
and he spoke. She told him not To dare
10 speak to her, as Viola was dying aud
he WAS responsible for It. He told her
she could not prove it. My sister asked
me TO call up DR.. Chef, but he asked me
TO try to get something myself To re-
ieve my sister ! told him her life was
| far too dear for that. Actually, believe
| he wanted her 10 die 80 as To destroy al
evidence against him.
when the doctors came they made
the discovery. He was smoking q Gig
arctic when | went to him. told him
one of the doctors said she would prob
ably have died in hall an hour If medical
aid had not been received. Still he said
it was lie, but finally he acknowledged
it.
"He said he was guilty and should be
killed
TOLD Nm WHAT TO ENPECT.
"Then lie said he did not want to die
but wanted 10 be married So he might
nurse her and care for her. | told him !
cOuldn' let him do it, for he had treated
her like a brute. Hesaid be only wanted
an opportunity To prove his devotion.
She begged for his life and the marriage,
and consented But told him did not
believe he intended doing what was right,
but that II he i'll tn ated her or deserted
her would deal with him a. he should
be dealt with.
Il never spoke to him after that and
went 20 Culpeper, where met my broth |
er aud told him OF the proposed marriage.
| did not 20 To the house again until
after the shooting The whole affair was
so disgusting ID me that did not want
to see the wedding. However, had no
idea that there would I've such thing as
shooting, and believed the marriage
would end the matter
MRS. GAINES oN riE STAND.
Mrs. Gaines was the next witness. Mr.. !
Jeiiries took her in charge. She declared
that she had been more than sister To
Mrs. Bywaters, for her mothers last
words were.
"Take care Of Niola"
Mrs. Bywaters, she said was a quiet re-
served child. and Bywaters WAS the o ie
love of her life She declared she knew
that all the time and the family looked |
upon Bywaters as sutton.
As there was no obi elton To him he
came 10 the house and did az he pleased |
Her sister Bessie, she said, telephoned her
that Mrs. Bywaters was i'll in Washing |
ton, in which city she wrote she had |
stopped while returning from Rector
town. Then she said Philip StrOther
told her of the incident in the hallway |
which had made him suspicious aud she
felt that there was something wrong,
She made trip to Washington with
Philip. she said but could not locate her
sister, and then telegraphed 10 James
StrOther. Then Mrs Gaines told about |
meeting Mrs Bywaters the morning alter
her return, her suspicion, her sister'ssud- /
den illness and other Incidents. She
narrated how Bywaters had talked 10
her. sneered at her and laughed at her
when she talked to him OF her sisters
condition.
lie told me be was surprised that
should accuse my sister, she continued,
but when he admitted everything he
said they were both to blame. p"
Mrs Gaines told how she had cut up
mattress and had done everything pos
sible 10 hide her sisters shame from the
world. Throughout the whole affair
she said Bywaters was Indifferent.
Later, she said, she warned her brother
James that she believed Bywsters was
fixing to leave and he told her the we'd
ding was 10 take place that evening
She went 10 the house for the wedding,
she said, but WAS too late.
Then she described Row her sister told
her OF Bywaters desire TO return 10
Cul eper. She told Bywaters he was
the lowest dog that ever lived, she said,
when he told her he wanted to go to
town.
Hearing voices from her sisters room
she said she went up and BywaIers near
ly knocked her down ~ be rushed past
her at the doorway.
Mr. Gaines caught him aud brought
him back into the room, she said, and she
was under the impression that someone
shot when Bywaters rushed down the
steps. Mrs. Gaines also told how she
had given Mr. Lamon whisky To give to
ByWaters when he was dying.