The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
Trouble is Said to Have Been About a Woman, But
 il is Denied
HAVIS CLAIMS THAT
 II WAS SELF DEFENSE
William Wise, Prominent Saloon Man, md Havis Arrested on Charge of Murder-The Former Is lmpll-
 cated and Was Present.

Elias NJ Lathem, travelling salesman shot and instantly killed by Glen Havis, who Is said to be a gambler, in the lobby of the Morris hotel yesterday morning at 1O:45 o'clock. Havis and William Wise, the well known saloon man and whole sale liquor dealer. were arrested on wal rants sworn out before Justice of the Peace I. H. Benners by coronor Paris and charging murder.
 The trouble. which is said to have been about lady occurred near the laGTes entrance or Nineteenth street entrance, of the hotel. Three shots were fired from a 3S-calibre pistol by Havis. One of them reached it's mark, but the other two went wild.
 The shot that caused death struck La- them about three inches above the left nipple, struck the second rib and defected to the right passing through the large artery which supplies the brain with blood It was located and extracted from under the right arm where it had lodged The other two bullets struck the wall just back of the door which leads into the wash room and the bar.
 Staggered and Fell.
 After being shot Lathem staggered through this door and into the bar room, where he fell few feet from the en- trance. He was dead when he fell. Havis and Wise went out through the ladies' entrance and to the Florence bar, where they were arrested by Lieutenant John son, Policeman Givens and Detective Waldrop. They were carried to the city jail and from there to the county Jail, where they are now.
 A very large crowd gathered in the hotel lobby after the shooting and for some time there was great excitement. Everyone was inquirng the cause of the shooting and trying to find the particulars from the negro porter and from J. A Clifford, son of the proprietor of the hotel, who were the only witnesses They state that Havis tried to run out through the main entrance, but that Wise held him and togther they went out of the side entrance.
 Just after being arrested Havis admitted that he did the shooting, and that 1t was in self-defense. Wise would not reply to the questions asked him, other than that he mad nothing to say about it. He has steadily refused to make a statement, and his attorneys wlll only state that the matter will have different appearance when the testimony in the case comes out.
 Early Investigation.
 The matter will be placed in the hands of the grand jury Monday, and will prob- ably be sifted at once. A preliminary hearing may be held but it is doubtful. Coroner Paris has rendered his verdict to the effect that Lathem came to his death at the hands of Glen Havis and William Wise from a pistol ball fired by the hand of the former. He also states that he has no evidence to show that the shooting was done in se.--defense, as has been claimed and that eye witnesses stated to him that Lathem did not pull a pistol make attempt to pull one until after Havis commenced shooting. Coroner Paris will not state what he be- lieves to be the cause of the matter, and when asked if woman was connected with the case, he refused to answer.
 The coroner further claims that he has evidence that Havis said ed you; hate to kill you, but guess I will have to do it." This was just prior to the shooting, according to the coroner.
 At the time when Havis and Wlse sent for Lathem he was in the room of travelling man. and not at assgnation as has been stated.
 Detailed Account.
 As nearly as can be ascertained the fol- lowing is the correct account of the af- fair:
 Havis and Wise went to the hotel to find Lathem, and the former went up stairs to Lathem's room which was No 57. He failed to find Lathem, and came back down. After talking with Wise a few minutes they offered Burrel Brooks, or Burl Wlksia, the elevator boy. some money to go up and tell Lathem that they wanted to see him. Lathem came down on the elevator with the boy without speaking. He, Havis and Wise went into the corner by the private office and next to the barber shop door, where they talked for some time. Several profane words were spoken, and l. A. Clifford the hotel cleik, [ there and laid his hand on Lath ams ealdsf and told them that the. mus "eul out the bad lang uage." LathtA med to him and apol- ogized
 The talk contn, d fer some time, and then there WIS some seuflng. Clifford ran out of the private cffice and saw Wise holding Iathem down and beating him with somn gGrlcf net.ument, which Is believed to have been 2 leather sling shot which wag terNaids found the floor. At the ssn tune Hs~vis- was striking Lathem in the rihs with an us- derhand blow. Clinora seobed Havis arm and pulled him of of athem. In do- ing so he lost his haisl and when he recovered hin self, he aaEs Havis had a pistol out and pointed s head. Fear ing he would oe shot ll aro ran to the office and calie1 to eieHs Jud Carder, asking for hi pistol While he had his back turned Che shots were fired, and when he turnei arouna Havis was stand ing by pile cr trunks just under the steps which lead lp from he ladies en- trance. Lathem was gering through the door leadir intc the wash room and the bar. Lath 10 fell ust inside the bar without spes Ring a Hard. Wise and Havis then pass out trough the side entrance.
 Lathem's body W tasau to Lige Loy's undertaking cie0iisnneH.. where an