The Washington herald., 1907-02-21
STROTHERS ON TRIAL
Case of William E. BywatePS'
Slayer Set for To-day.
CULPEPER HOTELS CROWDED
Intense Interest Aroused in District
and Fears of Physical Clashes Are
Expressed - PostpOnement Owing
to Illness of widowed Bride Is
Considered More Than Probable.
e Washington Herald.

Special to The Washington Herald.
Culpeper. Va. Feb. 20.-The defendants,
lawyers, witnesses, newspaper men. and
scores of partisans nh all hotels in this
city tonight. being here to attend the
famous trial of the Strothers brothers.
James F. and Philip j., which will DE
called at 10 O'Clock tomorrow morning.
The defendants are charged with the
death OF William F. Bywaters last De-
cember. Bywaters was shot and killed
within an hour after he had married Miss
Viola Strothers, a sister Of the two men
who viii be placed on trial The ''un-
written law" will be their defense
Owing to the relationship of Judge Wal
ter GrimsleE, of the CuIpeper circuit. TO
the family Of Bywaters. Gov. Swanson
has designated Thomas w. Harrison. Of
Winchester. to preside.
Both sides will be represented by some
of the most prominent attorneys OF this
section Of the State. Micajah Woods. of
Charlottesville noted for his prosecution
of the McCue case. has been retained by
the Bywaters family to aid the prosecu-
ton Assisting him will be NJ and John
Keath, of Warrenton.
Brother VIII Aid Defense.
For the defendants there Will be Lewis
Strother, a leading lawyer Of Welch, Va.
and a member OF the state legislature
He is a brother of the defendants and
was present at the time of the shooting.
John Jeffries. Of Norfolk will be the
leading counsel and viii have as assist
ants John L. Lee, of Lynchburg. and
r Walter Moore. of Fairfax. Others
will probably be called to assists in an
advisory capacity
Il is not believed that the jury can he
completed from panels selected in this
county because Of the violent partisan
ship. and it is possible that change Of
venue will be taken. or venir0nen viii
be secured from other counties.
Mrs Bywaters. according To her physi-
clan is in ne condition 10 appear as "A
witness She has been seriously Ell since
the time Of the tragedy. and the case
may BE- postponed until she viii be strong
enough to come TO the courtroom and face
the ordeal OF "a accumulation, which
viii necessitate revealing the history Of
her life since her acquaintance with her
slain husband.
McCue Case Is Recalled.
The case already is attracting more at
tention than did the famous trial of j.
Samuel McCue, former mayor of Char
lottesville. who was convicted of killing
his wife. and who paid the death penalty.
Few, if any. who are here tonight be
Heye that this trial viii have a similar
outcome, as it Is generally conceded that
the Strothers brothers had provocation for
their attack on Bywaters.
The shooting OF Bywaters took place
after a forced marriage late on the even
ing of Saturday. December L. Bywsters
was reluctant 20 marry Miss Strothers.
and Immediately after the ceremony was
performed at Rotherwood, the country
home Of the Strothers. be started 20 re-
turn 20 Culpeper. The StrOthers were
anxious to have him remain with his sick
bride. and in his efforts to escape he was
shot and killed.
bitter partisan spirit developed imme-
diately, and fatal clashes have several
times been narrowly averted The ten
sion tonight is greater than ever. and il
is feared that trouble may occur before
the case is finished