The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-03-13
Virginia Jury Upholds the Unwrit-
ten Law by Verdict
I'm STR0THERS CASE.
Two Young Men, Who Were Charged
With Murder, Were Acquitted for
Having Killed Man by the Name
Of Bywaters for Seducing Their
Sister Under a Promise Of Mar
riage.

The unwritten law has been up
held by a Virginia jury, which rem
dered a verdict of not guilty on
Thursday at Culpepper in the case
Of James and Phillip Strother, who
was tried for murder, they having
killed William F. Bywaters for ruin
ing their sister under promise Of
marriage.
The case had excited great inter-
est all over Virginia, and the trial
lasted several days. The jury was
out one hour and a half before it
brought its verdict Of not guilty.
The case was fought very hard on
both sides, but the Terdict was not
unexpected, as it was plain that pub
lie sentiment was in favor of the two
young men who were being tried.
All the parties connected with the
case were prominent.
The jurors retired to the jury
room Immediately after Judge Har-
rison had put the case In their hands
Then began the most trying test OF
the ordeal for the defendants. The
strain was most apparent on the
face of Phillip Strother, the young
er defendant, while James apparent
ly, was confident Of favorable YER
dict.
He sat in silence, listening to the
comments Of his counsel, and occas-
ionly offerd words Of consolation to
his wife, who sat at his side. AS the
minutes passed away the situation
became more strained, many in the
court room taking the delay as an
unfavorable sign to the accused.
Judge Harrison, himself keyed to
high pitch, paced restlessly up and
down the narrow space behind his
bench, while the counsel for both
sides gathered to discuss the mean
ing of what seemed to them a delay.
At precisely lilo o'clock, the
jurymen, preceded by Sheriff Bow
ersett, filed into the court room and
took their accustomed seats.
A breathless silence fell over the
room as the spectators waited the
announcement of the verdict.
gentlemen Of the jury" asked
Deputy Clerk Gilkerson, have you
agreed upon your verdict?'
1--WE have" replied Foreman Price
handing the verdict to the court Of
ficer. 'We find the defendants,
James and Philip Strother, not gull
ty," was the message read aloud
by Clerk Gilkerson.
The announcement was the signal
for an outburst Of approval which
Judge Harrison quickly silenced.
The effect of the verdict was, how
ever, instantaneous.
James Strother reached for the
hand Of Mr. Moore, one OF his coun-
sci, and Philip was quickly surround
ed by the friends who have stood
by the brothers since the opening
Of the trial. -
Mrs. James Strother, overcame by
emotion, fell forward into her hus'
bands arms, sobbing and exclalmlng
her thanks.
When the effects Of the critical
moment passed, Judge Harrison ad'
dressed the jury as follows:
Gentlemen Of the jury | thanS
YOU for verdict which l think VIII
be approved by the public. II Is an
establishd precedent in tae State OF
Virginia that no man tried for de-
tending the sanity Of his home
should be found guilty.
After further words Of approVa
from the bench, the jurymen left the
court room, with the intention o.
going directly to their homes II
Shenandoah county.