Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-28

French Strother, as the witness Is 50 ia
niliarly known, told Of how Will Bywaters
mad advised that no doctor be summoned,
because he thought Viola should not be SUBJ
1ected to the indignity of an examination.
witness accused him of being murdered,
blood.
- Bywaters Laughed.
asked Mr.. Moore.
He laughed"
After Bywaters and his sister had con-
fessed witness told him he would kill him,
but his sister appealed to him to spare him
and he yielded to her.
He begged for his life" said French
Strother. and SO did She"
devotion to her, and said he would have
married Viola long while ago If she had
agreed. He told Bywaters he did not want
him to marry Viola, and again he told of
his great affection for her. Witness stated
that Bywaters said he was responsible for
her condition, and all he wanted was an
opportunity to prove his devotion. He sug-
gested he should marry her and nurse her
through her illness.
Witness did not take much stock in what
Bywaters told him. and said to him: 1T is
my duty to kill YOU
Bywaters again repeated his protestations
of love and affection for Viola, witness
stated, but witness told him he thought he
only wanted to marry her to save his own
And if that is the only reason" witness
said he told him, lit will avail you moth
ing, for if you mistreat or desert her I will
make it my business to look you up and
deal with you as you ought to be dealt
with"
Were you present at the wedding?' the
witness was asked.
Il was not" was his response.
why not?"
Mrs. Nellie Gaines a Witness.
Gaines and sister Of the defendants, who
made such an excellent witness at the
coroner's inquest, was sworn as witness
for her brothers. She was dressed in
neat-fitting black costume and did not
wear veil.
What is your name?"
"Helen Strother Gaines
Il believe they call you Nellie?"
Yes
Witness said there were eight children in
the family, and her earlier days were spent
at Rotherwood. After the death of her
mother, in April, 1905, the family at Roth
erwood consisted of two sisters, Bessie and
Viola, and a brother, Philip. She referred
menced his visits to the house before she
was married, and he was received the same
as were the other near relatives. Viola
was quiet child, unusually quiet and re-
ton to friends.
when she was sixteen years DID," said
Mrs. Gaines, Viola was sent away to
more attention to Bywaters.
Viola" she said, did not seek the COM
pany of other young men and she and By
with each other. Upon several occasions
Bywaters had expressed himself as feeling
as a brother toward the girls and several
times he was sent for to come to the
house,
Witness was then questioned about the
visits Viola had made to Washington.
Upon the occasion Of the third visit Bessie
telephoned her that Viola had gone to
ing her absence letter was received that
was postmarked Rectortown.
How long was she gone?"
about two weeks"
Bessie also received letter from Viola
telling her she was in Washington and that
she was sick. Witness became uneasy and
the next morning, Wednesday, to find her
She had been told in the meantime Of the
incident In the hall when Bywaters was
seen coming from the direction Of Viola's
ROOM Witness went to Washington and
called at the Office Of DR.. Walters, but she
got no information about her sister. By
waters returned home to Culpeper and the
next day. Thursday, her sister came home
ut distressed me to see her." said Mrs.
Gaines Il saw at a glance that she was
sick. She was seated at the breakfast table
pretending she was eating.
Mrs. Gaines said she saw Viola was suf-
fering intensely, but the latter denied that
there was anything amiss. Her brother
French came In and told witness Of his sus-
operated upon. Viola went to her room
and witness thought she was dying. She
said that If Bywaters would come she
would explain ALL Witness had the ply
stefan summoned and Bywaters reached
the house shortly afterward. Bywaters Of
fered to shake hands with her, but she de-
clined, accusing him of having caused her
sisters illness
Bywaters protested that there was moth
ing the matter with Viola, and admitted
that If there was any trouble he was re-
sponsible.
But" said witness, "he added that there
was nothing serious the matter with her.
Admits the Charge.
Witness stated that Bywaters seemed
very Indifferent. and several times he
laughed. Finally, she said, he admitted his
guilt. and said that both of them were to
blame. She said Bywaters then said he
wanted to marry Viola, but French said
that he did not know that he would let
him marry telling him that if he did marry
he would have to live with her and treat her
Kindly. French, she also stated told him
what the consequence would be If he ILL
treated her or tried to desert her.
Witness met her brothers in town Satur-
day, and they told her they had decided to
have the marriage ceremony performed,
telling her it was to take place at o'clock,
and asking her to be there. she told them
she did not know that she would comply
with their request.
II didn't want to see her married." de-
clared Mrs. Gaines. Il would rather have
seen her dead"
When witness reached the house Satur-
day she was told that the wedding was
over She went to the room of her sister,
and Viola said: "Oh, Nellie, why did they
make me marry him? They have broken
my heart.
Witness said she tried to comfort her and
do all she could to assist her. She was
asked to remain at the house, but she said
that Viola had been married. and that it
was the duty of her husband to remain
and protect her. When Bywaters was
asked to remain. said Mrs. Gaines, he be-
came insulting, and said he wanted to go
to town to make some business arrange
ments and consult his mother.
Her sister. she stated. seemed to be dying,
but the necessity Of his remaining with her
seemed to be trifling matter with him.
Then she told him she prayed to God that
Viola might die rather than be spared to
live the life she would have to live with
him. She told him she thought he was no
better than the lowest dog that had ever
lived, and he laughed at her and sneered
in her face. Her husband came up, and
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