Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-02-26
Twelve Men From Shenandoah Ac.
ceptsd by Court and Lawyers.
mrs. BYWAVERs READY 70 TESTIFY
General Opinion Among the Citizens
Of culpeper is That the Accused
Brothers win Go satisfac
tory Jury Secured in Short Time.
(By Associated Press.l

CULPEPER, VA, Feb. 25.-If any.
thing can be judged by expressions
here of what the jury will do with
James and Philip Strother, charged
with the murder Of William f. BY
waters, the men will be acquitted In
short order.i Sentiment is overwhem.
ingly with Item.
Mrs. Viola BywatcrS, the bride and
widow, is in the town and is said to
be ready to Jake the stand when call
ed. She has been at tho home OF
her sister, Mrs. f. l.. Gaines, three
miles away from Culpeper since the
tragedy.
Deputy SHriff ]. a. Bowersett ar
rived here fis morning at / O'Clock
with forty-fif' men from Shenandoah
county, from which the panel of six
teen men isIto be chosen and from
that body tYelve will be chosen to
try the Strotfers.
The venird is composed of promi-
nent citizenSof Shenandoah county,
including mdchants, commissioners
of revenue, jptices OF the peace, and
farmers. OF tie fifty men summoned,
two have bee, excused by Judge
Thomas w. Harrison, the presiding
judge at the tial. on account of sick
ness. Judged Harrison arrived here
last night frd. Winchester.
The court convened at 10 O'Clock
this mornings There were about one
hundred persfis in the court room
when Sheriff t'ulliam made his an
nouncement oFning court.
All four of The Strother brothers
were early ilt court. Philip ]. and
James A. Stroner, charged with the
shooting Of William F. Bywaters, oc-
cupied seats frectly behind their
counsel.
"CommonweEth of Virginia against
Philip J. and ames A. Strother; in
dictment for fony." This was the
statement of 1puty Clerk Gilkerson.
After several hours work the fol-
lowing jury wa drawn:
Asa A. Shee. Woodstock; e. NJ.
Bushong. New sIarket; M. A. Price,
New Market; Lniel Lichliter, Wood
stock; w. C. lntz, Mount jackson;
Josiah Wisman Woodstock; James o.
Bott, Toms Crlk Charles o. Keller.
Toms Greek; p. n. Jarrett, Stras-
burg; j. C. TEncs, Mount olive;
w. III. Fleming W. w. Bird. Mount
Jackson.
The Ma, Contention.
1t was madeclear that the uues-
tion as to w,ther Bywaters was
trying to ded't his wife, OF an
hour, whose lB ne had ruined and
whose brotheI had forced mar
riage to CONGO as far as possible
the shame he hd brought upon her,
) is the one alhnd which will rage
the battle.
1t is probable the prosecution will
complete its DE tomorrow. 1t is
understood ths defense will con-
sumo probably three days. The
commonwealth syill take up more
time in rebuilt than will be con-
:'umed in dirS presentation of its
side. The dense has not sum
moned any wtesses. 1t will pur-
sue the somehat novel course of
depending enkly upon witnesses
introduced byfhe State. 1t is
thought not lGkely. however, tina
the defense u put one or two
witnesses on % stand other than
those the prosetion has summoned
May Net G, Mrs. Bywaters.
1t is learnedhat the prosecution
will not call Mrs. Bywaters, al
though that sig summoned her. 1t
has been imtsible to ascertain
from counsel / the defense wheth