Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-02-28

possibly ten years the senior


possibly ten years the senior of
Viola.
Mrs, Bywntcrs Cross Questioned.
Mr. j. "A. C. Keith. acting Common.
wcalths attorney. cross examined the
widow for the prosecution. lie was
as considerable and courteous as he
could possibly be. though tenacious of
purpose and searching In his uucs.
lions.
The pale faced woman, however.
remained mdaunted and doggedly
firm In her replies. She reiterated
That she could not speak definitely of
the shooting, MS she was 50 torn by
shame Mt her husbands efforts to
escape that she took litslc note of
anything else. The man. said she,
had had two opportunities To marry
her. and had not taken incm. and on
this Occasion she was ftrricI hv his
efforts TO desert Tho witness could
not recall that any bullet had been
Tired at Bywaters as he fled down the
steps.
Mr., Keith, In questioning the wild
ow. used her evidence offered Mt the
inquest thus sceldng to trip her. He
made little gains In this respect. how.
ever, as the witness explained all in.
constituencies by her assertion that
her excitement on tho occasion of tho
homicide made her excited and unob.
servant.
Afternoon Session.
At tho afternoon session. the dc.
Tense called two witnesses, Mrs. Ed
ward l.. Gaines, Il sister. and George
French Strotier, 4 brother of Mrs.
Bywatcrs.
Those who crowded into the little
Culpcper court house during the
morning session to hear Mrs. by.
waters ,cstimor" who arain mp.
Feared at tho afternoon session. hut
the court ordered the room clerrct
and the testimony was heard Ivy
only tho court officials and inry.
tho counsel and the newspaper RI.
porters.
Mrs. Gaines story.
Questioned by Attorney Jefrries of
the defense. Mrs. Gaines told, In II
simple unaffected way Of Bywaters'
introduction into the Stroller hom".
his affection for Viola. md then of
the events leading up to the trnG-
cdv ut RotheYwood.
There was no color of pasaion nj
the outset of her TESTIMONY. but
when she dwclt uDon the criminal
operation alleged to have bean per-
formed ON Viola at the insistenc"
Of Bvwnters, her bitterness against
th" dend man was apnaront.
She declared repeatedly Tint her
NJ n,fn ut hn rn.
motost tio"rht NJ killing Rvwnters
RvWaters Asserted inr ocence.
Mrs. Gaines said that when charg'
nd with the betrayal or their sis.
ter, Bywaters asserted his limo
Genre. as did Viola, but later when
confronted nv the statement Of 1t
physician who called to BROTHER.
wood" both broke down and con
tossed.
She declared that Dywntcrs' in.
difference when ne openly r'dlculed
V'nla's condition. made her turn OH
him. DECLARING "you IRE the lowest
down dog that ever lived
While an actual witness tn the
shooting. Mrs Gaines hisrlayed but
= hazy recollection of the words
1 ''NSS'u lnflN'' III INNMdNciS ann i''
brothers In tho bedroom immediately
J Before the latter onened fire.
etory of Shooting.
She remembered however, thai
| Phillip had fired the first shot q:
Bywaters rushed past her in ar
attempt to escape down the back
stairway; that Mr.. Gaine- forced
Bywaters back into the brides bed
room; that he made second at
tempt to escape, this time through
an open window and onto the root
nj the porch: both James and Phil
lin Strother then opening fire.
J She stuck steadfastly to The state
ment that her brothers had fired most
! of the shots through tie window
after Bywaters had reached the
roof.
After Mrs. Gaines had been briefly
rrors eynmirod bv Captain Mical
Woods. for the prosecution. as t.
| the position In which her brother!
stood when they shot Bywaters. sh'
was excused.
! George French Strothcr.
| George French Strother was call
ed. He testified that he came here
from WEIGH, wv. ". III Decembc
with his brother James because OF
| reports OF his sister being away
from home. He said while he die
not favor n marriage Of his sister
| to Bywaters he consented to Tho
ceremony after his brother had
persuaded him that it was the only
way to cover his sisters shame
His testimony like that of Mrs
Gaines was that neither of the broth
ers thought of killing Bywaters unit