The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-02-27
Especial to The Messenger.)

NSPNNANA
Raleigh, N. c., February 23.-Coun-
sci for Ernest Haywood. who killed
Ludlow Skinner, this afternoon gave
out the following statement for publ
cation:
LAS counse for Mr.. Ernest Haywood,
we think it proper that we make TINS
statement. The accounts Of the unfor-
tunate occurrence of Saturday after
noon. are incomplete n inaccurate.
Mr.. Haywood did not shoot from be-
hind, nor did he shoot an ~unsuspectins
man. On the contrary there had been
a personal alteration betWeen hin and
the deceased: begun by Mr.. Skinner
and in which Mr.. skinner struck Mr..
Haywood first and knocked him down.
Both men, hen reached for their pls-
tolls, and Mr.. Haywood fired first, not
having stricken a blow.
'"These facts will be proven by men
of the highest character, who were
eye witnesses. Among those who saw
the alteration is Hon. Robt. N.
Simms, and he saw Mr.. Skinner strike
Mr.. Haywood. Mr.. Haywood a made
no statement to his counsel or any
other person, rejecting on the charac-
ter of any one; and he is in no way
| responsible for any scandals now De-
ing reported or published
Interview With Simms.
AS soon as your correspondent saw
his statement, he went to the law OF
| fee of Mr.. Simms and asked the latter
| if he saw Skinner strike Haywood. Mr..
Simms said he did not know who be-
gan the difficulty, but that he saw
Skinner strike Haywood on the side
of the head, knock him against the
granite side of the step, or the steps
themselves, near the southeast corner
of the postofice, that When he saw TINS
he was standing on he sidewalk OF
the postoffice. a few feet north of the
main entrance; that he did not know
whether one or both of the men were
trying to draw a pistol, as he could see
only the right side Of Skinner: that
Skinner sprang off three or -FOUR steps
after the blow: that as Skinner sprang
back from the steps, he recognized that
If was skinner: that rs Skinner thus
SDrang back, the other man recovered
himself and fired; that he could not
tell whether that bullet struck Skin
ner, that Skinner got to the edge OF
the sidewalk. hestitated a moment
her turned and started across the
street: that about the time Skinner
left the sidewalk. the second shot Was
1 fired. that Skinner walked on with
rather a hesitating movement almost
directly across the street. staggered to
left. sank down and as he was raining
Mr.. Simm5, to avoid the terrible slsnt
turned his head away. When he look
ed a moment later Skinner was on the
round that he could not say he saw
skinner make any gesture as IL 10 ara"
{ his pistol; that at the time OF the sec
ond shot mis- impression is n
back was toward HAYWOOD.
Mr.. Simms is a prominent young az
torrey and an eX-member or the leglS'
lature.
:. Still all the Talk.
Nothing has been talked of here since
Saturday afternoon save the shooting
and killing of Ludlow Skinner by Ern'
est Haywood. There was a stream o
callers ali day yesterday at the deaC
mans home. Today his brother-1n'
law John H. Winder arrived from Co
lumbus. Ohio, at noon. The funera
services were held this afternoon IRON
Christ Episcopal church.
Writ of Habeas Corpus.
2 A report was widely current to-
that ernest haywood "oulo sue GU
t a writ of habeas corpus, in order t
: get leave to give bail. and that th1
, would be done today but one Of Hay
woods attorneys said it would not b
f done today, but certainly later on.
when the Case Will be Tried.
l The next term Of the criminal cour
here begins March 29th. Judge Bryai
presiding, but as he is a brother o
, the mother-in-law of Ludlow Skinner
: of course he cannot try the case. O.
; the other hand it is said the Solicito
! Of this district is related to the Hay
:; woods ard HI he Will not be able t
l prosecute. 1t seems TO. be the opin1o
!, that the trial will not be delayed be
L yond March, and that the governo
will consent to an exchange Of court
by which some other judge will TAX
: Judge Rryan's place.
Several Callers on Haywood.
4 HAYWOOD is occupying what used t
5 be the women's cell. on the secon
floor Of the jail, quite a good size
= cell. His people sent him a bed. a rus
? etc. and his desk was also sent to hin
= He furnishes his own meals. these be
= ing sent from a ana Is sal
= TO have quite a good appetite. He ia
: seen only some of his nearest relative:
r and a few lawyers. Yesterday ms SIS
= ter, Mrs. Bridgers. Of Wilmington, an
his brother, Mr.. Alfred Haywood. c
Haw River, arrived and went at ono
to see him, in company with anothe
brother, Mr.. Edgar Haywood, of Ra
O leigh.
q Rumors as to the Cause.
a There continue to be all sorts of III
= mors as 10 the cause OF the shooting
= and one which was being circulated las
{ night and today was that there was a
understanding that the men woul
shoot on sight. 4 kinsman Of Hay
wood said he believed his, though
vas only guess work. 1t seems to
beyond doubt hat Skinner a NJ
seen Haywood in at least 10 days, &
during that period Skinner a bee