Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-26
her 500 more.
Thu -Heueated Story.

her $500 more.
The oft-Repeated Story.
'The state win probably ask the question
In this case that has been asked one thou
| sand times before-why did they shoot him
after he had married her? The question
answers itself. They had hidden her
shame. protected her honor and name and
the good name of the family. and he had
| dragged 1t all down into the cesspooi Of
public scandal and scorn by abandoning
her then and there.
And before the marriage vows had cool
ed upon his lips. he told her he was going
20 tell his mother. Imagine. gentlemen.
how those boys felt at the insult: imagine
| their resentment Of the insult. They had
seen all these things have detailed to you.
and now after 1t had happened as II had. TO
see him put insult upon their sister. who
was then supposed to be lying upon her
He had to leave that night" said coun-
| sci sarcastically. "and they told him he
| must not do It. Not only was It an insult
| to her. but ID was modification that might
end her life. What excuse did he give?
He said he wanted to come to town to get
out some announcement cards"
Counsel went on to state that Bywaters
was talked to by the Strother boys, and
that he finally told them he would not stay
there. What happened on the lower floor
| when the brothers and Mrs. Gaines dis
| cussed the affair. he stated, had nothing
to 90 with the killing Bywaters was again
| that night. and despite the warnings he
jerked away from his wife, almost pulling
her from the bed, and ran down the stairs
| Phil. Strother fired at him as he RAM
stated counsel, land that accounts for the
bullet hole In the stairway. He was turned
back by Mrs. Gaines and shots were fired
at him as he jumped through the window
/ to, the porch. It was one of these shots
that struck the shutter Jim Strother shot
| at him three times in the dark and then
| ran to the yard and fred to the roof Of the
porch. Philip emptied his weapon and then
got another revolver from his overcoat
pocket. =
Gentlemen Of the jury" said council
dramatically, no man with sense Of
nonor' with, proper appreciation of his
ing what these boys did. When they saw
| him jerk away from their sisters arms
she who they thought was dying-and start
of exposing her to disgrace. they couldn't
any more help shooting him than they
could help drawing their breath.
And l ask you. gentlemen Of the jury,
| II you could have helped it?'
| Frenzied as they were, he stated, they
| could never have taken live man and
put him upon the roof of that porch
Nobody denies that they were shooting
| him to DEATH declared counsel. could
you. gentlemen. have helped It yourselves
had you been treated that way? The ques-
ton for you to determine is whether they
did right or wrong. Haven't they done
state and to you?
when you answer these questions" con-
cluded counsel, Il know what your vedict
| will be-
Shortly after counsel had finished their
| opening addresses an incident occurred
| which explained the recent disappearance
| from the store window Of 8. Diener, Main
| and Davis streets, of a dummy figure that
had been used for the display of clothing.
This dummy was brought into court and
| some of the articles Of wearing apparel
that were worn by Bywaters the night he
was killed was fitted upon 1t. Seated near
the figure was the father of the deceased,
| who remained and heard all about the
wounds his son had received. Five wit
| nesses were examined. and court adjourned
shortly before o'clock until $50 o'clock
this morning.
Testimony Of the Coroner.
DR.. Edward H. Lewis. the coroner, testi-
fed that about 7:30 o'clock the night Of
December Is he was in his office when he
was told that Will Bywaters had been
killed. Witness got a vehicle and went to
the Strother home. Upon reaching there
he asked: Where is the body?" Some-
| body told him 1t was upon the porch
who went with you?" he was asked
| "Mr. Thompson, the undertaken, and an
other man. he responded. -"
Witness said when he reached the house
| he went to the upper floor with Sheriff Pull
| liam. He went out upon the roof of the
porch and saw the body. ~ Is
| my first idea,'' he said, was to examine
| the body and ascertain the nature of the
| wounds. I did so, and found one wound
| here Indicating upon the figure point
! near the shoulder).
witness said he found the body lying
upon it's back with the head resting toward
| the house. The roof of the porch is about
1 - ND o,,1 To- hn,,
| eleven feet wide by about twelve feet long.
| What was the condition of Will F. By
waters when you reached there!' the
coroner was asked by Capt. Woods.
He was dead" was the answer of the
| coroner.
| DR.. Lewis explained that when he went
| upon the porch he opened Bywaters' coat
| and vest and saw that the shirt was stained
| with blood. The wound in the shoulder.
| the physician stated, was slightly down.
| ward.
Did the bullet go through the body?'
muscles"
| Witness was asked about the size of the
| bullet and he said he thought 1t was thirty
eight caliber, although having no use for
weapons he did not really know the exact
| size. The wound made by the bullet. said
| witness, would have caused death, but the
T! wounded man would have lived few min
utes. After finding that wound he wanted
| to turn the body over. but finding he could
| not get assistance he concluded he would
| take the remains to the undertaker's.
did you examine the clothing?" Capt.
Woods asked.
Found No Weapon.
The witness answered in the affirmative,
and was then asked If he found anything
| in the nature of weapon upon the body.
Nothing in the nature of weapon" re-
| sponded the coroner, unless you call q
| pocket knife a weapon
What kind of a kife was it%'
THAT I can't say"
Witness said he took what was in the
! pockets of Bywaters and turned them over
| to the sheriff.
Capt. Woods presented a drawing show
| ing the interior and exterior of the house,
| and pointing out the location of the bed
| upon which Mrs. Bywaters was resting at
| the time the shooting occurred.
What was the condition Of the bed?'
'1t was about in the condition bed
| would be just after its occupant had left
| It."
Witness said he saw two blood spots on
| the floor, one larger than the other, The
| spots were dry, the witness stated.
| "They were more of stains than they
| were spots,' he added.
i 80