Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-03-01
ONE OF SLAYERS OF
BYWATERS ON STAND
James Strother Tells The Story Of
the Shooting Of The Ira.
Queer Of Sister.
VICTIM DID NOT WANT TO MARRY
After the Ceremony Bywaters Be-
came Brutal and Abusive and Last
~ Broke Forcibly Away-Used
Every Bullet in Their Guns and
Reloaded for Any Future Trouble.
(By Associated Press. }

CUl.PEPER COURTHOUSE, Feb.
2S.-The fourth day of the Strotncr
trial dawned cloudy and cold II
is cheerless prospect, and tie
lief is now that the case will not
be ended before Monday of next
week
So far the trial has progressed
without the least break" between
opposing counsel. There will posi-
bly,. be tilt when the arguing of
instruction begins. In the argument
Captain Woods will open for the
State and the defense will be pre-
scented by John L., Jeffries, r. Wal
Ton Moore and John l.. Lee in the
order named ]. A. C. Keith will
close for the prosecution. The de-
tense said today that each would
require not less .han two and
half hours. Mr.. Keith says he will
speak little more than all hour 1t
is; expected that Captain Woods will
speak more than two hours.
Court Opens.
Court was called at $50 o'clock,
but it was ten o'clock before the
proceedings began, the State saying
that Mrs. Gaines was desired for
few moments. Mrs. Gaines, Mrs.
Strother and Mrs. Taylor came In
just at ten o'clock.
Mrs. Gaines took the stand ana
CAPTAIN Woods cross.exan,ilied her.
Asked If she had heard Bywaters
saw that he GBywaters) accepted
fnll blame for the condition Of
Viola, Mrs. Gaines replied firmly
that she had told all she knew
about the occurrence of that night.
Captain Woods then asked If Viola
did not wear q diamond ring given
by Bywaters after the death Of Bv-
waters. Mrs. Gaines said Viola did
have the ring for few DAYS. bnt
she could not say how long. Captain
Woods announced that he was
through.
James Strother Called.
James A. Strother. one of the de.
PENDANTS was called to the stand.
Mr.. tStrother gave his place of
birth. his age, place of residence.
profession, and the usual other que..
lions. He read letter written him
by Phillip Strother asking him to come
at once. but not to be alarmed.
He came to Culpeper and was met
by "Phil." who told him of the
trouble, said he had seen Bywaters
'~'I'S ioio iooul y lew HlEUIS
before, and that he (PhiD had his
hand ION his pistol and was about
to kill him. hut thought he might
possibly be mistaken and desired to
avoid scandal Witness said he
talked with Viola and his sisters
about his suspicious and wanted
her to tell the truth. Viola con-
WINGED him that she was innocent
He said he would talk with BY
waters, but Viola begged him no,
TO do 50.
Mr. Strother said he went to Bal
timore and later, returning by Wash
lngton. saw Bywaters in front of
lHaryey's. Bywaters had suit
case. They talked together in. q
casual way
Witness said he returned to his
home and on Dec. IL he received
telegram from Philip. then in
Washington, asking him to come 10
Culpeper at once, AS he boarded
the train French Strother stepped
Off. He told French to get on and
come with him, and his brother o.
so. They arrived here about ten
o'clock the morning of Dec. 10. Viola
had telephoned from Washington
the day before that she would be
home THURSDAY. They waited until
her train arrived and they sent her
out home, They decided that they
would not talk with Viola that night,
but that French and Mrs. Gaines
should talk with her the next morn
ing.
Witness said that Viola had, early
in December. asked for $25. He
had sent the money, as was his
custom when she asked for money.
Continuing, the witness said that
be again talked with Viola, and
she said that she had been to
Fauquier. and had spent four DAYS
there. Viola said again that she
was innocent. She said she went
to Washington to have her back
treated.
He came back to town. leaving
Philip and French to talk over the
matter. While he was in confer
ence with DR.. Strother the telephone
rang and the message was from
one Of TIE sisters, who said Viola.
was bleeding to death and asked
that physicians I've sent at once.