Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-28
ON THE STAND IN
HIS OWN BEHALF
James Strother Tells Story of
Will ByWaters' Death.
HIS PART IN THE SHOOTING
Tragedy at Culpeper and Circum-
stances Which Preceded It.
BROTHERS AVENGED WRONG
Alleged Ill-Treatment of Their Sister
and His Indifference to
Her Fate.

James Strother, one of the two
self-confessed slayers of Will By
waters, was placed on The witness
stand at the trial today. He was a
lawyer and we'll versed in the tech
nique of court proceedings. He told
the whole story of the wrong that
had been done his sister and how he
had helped to avenge it by shooting
Bywaters, following the wedding
ceremony. 1t was dramatic recital
and story that moved every one
who heard it. The father of Bywa
tiers was present and listened to the
testimony to the end. Mrs. Strother,
wife of the defendant, and Mrs. Mel
lie Gaines, sister of Strother and
previous witness for the defense,
were also in court.
Special From Staff Correspondent.
CULPEPER,, Va, February 2s.-When
court reconvened this morning for the trial
of James A. and Philip F. Strother for
causing the death of their brother-in-law,
William F. Bywaters, Mrs. Nellie Gaines,
sister of Mrs Viola Bywaters and of the
defendants, was recalled to the witness
stand counsel for the state desiring to ask
further questions in cross-examination.
is it not a fact that on Saturday morn
ing you called your sister over the tele-
phone?" asked Capt. Woods.
1T is not" the witness replied.
d Mrs. Gaines was further questioned as to
atements made the morning she and her
husband were in conversation with By
waters. The witness said she had already
told all she remembered Of the conversa-
ton.
DO you know how long after the shoot
ing occurred that your sister wore the
ring?'
Il don't know exactly how long, but it
was several weeks
James A. Strother Testifies.
James A. Strother, one of the defendants,
was next placed on the stand. He told the
court that he was thirty-seven years Of
age. Rotherwood was his home from the
time he was ten years old until 1890, he
said, when he left the state.
Where do you live now?'
AT Welch, w. Va"
State If you are man Of family"
IT have a wife and two children
Defendant testified that he received a
letter from his brother Philip the 23d of
November last asking him to come to Gull
pepper at once. The letter was produced
and read by defendant. 1t contained a
message telling the recipient 1t was very
necessary for him to come without delay.
Il came at once" he stated, land Philip
met me at the train, and when asked him
what was the matter he said, 'Bywaters
and Viola have been foolng.'"
Defendant related what he was told
about the hallway incident and of his &C
cusing Bywaters of having been in Viola's
room in his night clothes, Philip telling
him he had his hand on his pistol that
night to kill him. but upon reflection he de-
cided he would not shoot him. He told Of
q conference he had with DR.. Strother, and
then came down to the time he conversed
with his sister.
Viola held up her hand" he said, land
declared by all that was good and holy that
she was innocent. / told her l hoped she
was innocent; that If she We're guilty I
would rather see her dead than alive
He suggested. that he would consult BY
waters about the matter. but Viola begged
him not to do so. Defendant became con-
WINGED that his sister was innocent, and
he decided TO return TO Welch.
In Washington he saw Bywaters, and the
latter talked of some trivial matters, say
ing he was going to attend the Benning
races Viola. he said, told him she wanted
to take a trip to visit a school friend, and
lie gave her 81 for expenses.
Again Called Home.
1t was decided to await Developments
and defendant went home. He discussed
the matter with French and his attention
was next called to the affair when he re-
ceived telegram from his brother Philip
again asking him to come to Culpeper at
once At the depot in Welch he met his
brother French and the two came here
together.
He met Philip at the train and the latter
detailed to him everything that had tram
spired since his departure. His sisters
letters. two postmarked Washington and
one Rectortown. were shown him. De-
PENDANT and his brother waited about
town Thursday to see IL she would come as
she had advised them in a dispatch.
when did you see Viola?"
when she came home that night"
They decided they would not question her
Thursday night. he said-that they would
wait till Friday-but Viola came down.
stairs and kissed him. She said: Jim, /
guess you think I'm guilty now, but I'm
not"
Witness questioned her and she admitted
she had not been at Rectortown.
II asked her what she was doing in
Washington" he said land she said she
went there to have her back treated. She
denied everything absolutely, and told her
to go to bed; that he would talk it over
In the morning"
Continuing, he said he did not see By
waters Friday morning and did not want