Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-02-28
THE srRorHERs TRIAL

on the STAND.
Mrs. Bywaters denied that there was
any qusrrel in the room before the shoot
ing, and said that her brothers had
shown great friendship for Bywaters.
At 1902 o clock Mrs. Bywaters had
conc uded her testimony, and was taken
10 hand BY the aciing prosecuting al
torney, John A. G Keith. Mr Keith
was, in his cross examination, unable to
shake the testimony Of the young woman
and 10 the main she practically reiterated
her original story.
The largest crowd of the week attend
cd the afternoon session. Standing room
became imposs bic because OF the in
ability of witnesses to pass Ia aud out OF
the building Judge Harrison agsin or
dered the courtroom cleared, and the
trial proceeded behind closed doors
G.. French Stro,ber, brother of the de-
PENDANTS, was the first witness called.
aud proved good witness. DC told OF
his meeting his brother in WEIGH, w.
Va, who requested that he return to
Culpeper Immediately. Upon further
inquiry he said hs brother Informed him
III 1t their sister Viola had left home and
they we're trying TO loca'e her.
"When / arrived home" be said, 81
found much to arouse by suspicious, but
Viola denied thst she had ever been To-
innate with Bywaters. She left the room
about this time, aud l noticed some
blood spots on the floor. When my sis
ter returned | continued to question her,
and finally insisted that Bywaters vas
the guilty man.
"She still denied it, and stated to
her that if she did not tell me the truth
I would find it out if | had to employ
detectives to do it. She then suggested
that / let Bywaeers come to the house.
| 'honed for him, and be came. Enter
ing the house by the rear door. By
waters offered me his hand, but | de-
clined it. I told him that there was
something that | desired to know before
| shook hands with him. When | said
this he laughed. / told him it was not
laughing matter. Again he smiled,
and seemed to be surprised. at the same
time remarking that he had done moth
ing wrong, and could prove it. L re
piled that 1 would be the happiest man
10 the world if he could. Still in ms
presence Bywaters denied that he had
ever had any improper relations with
Viola, and said that if anyone would at
tempt to outrage the Strother family be
would be the first to kill him. BE re.
ferred to the fact that he had sister,
and that be would kill the man who
would harm her. From this l myself
thought that I had been mistaken.
About this time my sister, Mrs. Gaines
came in and accused Bywaters, but ht
remarked that the charge could not be
proven.
Gas both Bywaters and Viola con-
tinued to deny that they had improper
relations with each ether, / was deter
mined to get at the truth of the MATES
so 'honed for DR.. Chelf aud DR.. John
son Strother. Bywaters, until l told
him that l proposed to have Viola ex'
amined, seemed happy and | found
him in an adjoining room smoking 8
cigarette When he found out what l
was dotermiskd to do he said there was
no zeed Tor q physician, but to send to
Capeper and get something for Viola.
All this time," continued the witness,
"Bywaters still denied that he had done
wrong and said that if | would take
him again in the presence of Viola be
would prove his innocence. did SO,
and then it was that he acknowledged
his guilt to me. | reminded him OF
what he had said. Re replied that he
ought to be killed. but begged for bis
life. aud so did Viola. He said that
he was willing to marry her and had
always been willing, but she was not.
I told him that / did not want him to
marry my sister, as he had treated her
worse than q brute. He continued to
plead Tor mis- life and declared that he
only wanted an opportunity to sho"
his love for Viola.
81 still refused and said it was nv
duty TO kill him, but on account OF Viola
did finally consent, but il was out OF
consideration for my sister, as | had no
faith in him. At the same time ! gave
Bywsters to understand that II he ever
mi.trested or deserted Viola after he did
marry her would hunt him up and kill
bin
Witness said thkt be then went to Gull
pepper, and after consul alton with his
other brothers it wac decided that the
marriage should take place the next
DAY.
lie further stated that he Was not pres
ent a. the.wedding nor did he know sny-
thing of the shooting OF Bywa,ers, as be
vas in Culpeper at the time.
The witness was dismissed without be-
ing cross examined by the prosecuting
attorney
Mrs. Helen Gaines, sister Of the
Strother boys, was next called, and she
related many incidents leading up to the
shooting. She testified to the condition
that Viola Bywaters was in prior to the
marriage and Of the frequent denisls by
both her sister and Bywa;ers that any
improper relations existed between them.
Mrs. Gaines also referred TO the quarrel
she had With Bywaters on the night OF
the shooting and of the words that pass,
ed between the husband other sister and
Mr. Gaines -.
in answer to q question propounded
by Mr.. Moore, counsel for the defense,
witness said that after Bywsters had in-
listed ON going to Culpeper, her brothers,