The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-02-27
THE PLEA OF SELF DEFENSE
Will Be Urged BY Haywood as the
Cause of Shooting Skinner.
CAUSES WHICH LED TO TRAGEDY.

(Chariotte Observer February 2Srd)
Raleigh N. c., February 22.-Ernest
zavwood will contend that he shot J.
Ludlow Skinner in self-defense. 1t IS
-rrantIy reported here and elsawher
All Haywood will plead temporary i"
.nity, but this is denied by H1ywoCd
counsel. Haywood will allege- tina
Skinner came up to him and wIthJu
p~rovocation knocked him down. AS he
arose both he and Skinner reached for
their pistols. He was quicker thal
Skinner and fired before Skinner could
draw his weapon. The first shot, Hay
wood says, inflicted the mortal wound
and he fired the second time because
he though Skinner was coming back
to attack him.
TO ASK FOR WRIT OF HABEAS
CORPUS.
Haywood's version Of the shooting
was given me shortly after my arrival
here his afternoon, and L was told at
the same time that within the next few
WdyS I'D" OOu "O"AN
for a writ of habeas corpus, in order
that Haywood might be released from
Jail after showing that he had killed
Skinner in self-defense. The fact that
Haywood will make the contention sug-
geSted indicates that there VIII D. an
expose of the sensational incidents
leading up o this homicide. In an in
teryIeW with friends of SKINNER &hd
Haywood l asked the question il con-
ceaIment OF the several elements IN
volyed in the tragedy was possible, and
7 vas told that any attempt at con-
aealment would be useless. After d
careful investigation and acting under
conservative advice, l have decided to
tell the hidden and real Story that lies
back OF the tragedy.
STATEMENTS OF The TRAGEDY.
But it will be better to give in the
outset in detail the contrasting state
ments relative to the actual shooting.
The preponderance o. the test moHy
thus far due is responsible for the
story that was told n yesterdays Ob-
server. 1t will be declared that just
after Skinner left the postoffica Hay
wood fired at him. but missed. Skinner
s%uickened his pace, or started to run,
III LIS O0Nh " ICY 'OONY "
was that Haywood fired the fatal shot.
All the witnesses examined so far state
that they saw 10 evidence Of an alter
cation ketween the two men prior to
the shooting, and no witness except
Charles A Separk says that he saw
Skinner male a motion as II TO q aW a
revolver. IIe states rhPt he saw SIX n
ner as Skinner faced haywood, throw
his left hand pack towards his hip. On
the other hand. Willis Briggs. editor of
The Tfmes-VisitOr. Will swear that
Skinner raised his right hand and not
his left hand and placed it on his hip.
This testimony has an important bear
ing, because Skinner was left handed,
and after his death il was found that
he had a revolver in his left hip pocket.
This of the evidence for the
state will be cOrroborated by a num-
Der of witnesses vino have not yet been
called upOn to testify. At tbs time the
homicide occurred there was Il large
number of people on Fayetteville street
and probably 80 or more persons saw
some part of the shooting.
HAYWOOD CONFIDENT OF AC-
oUITTAL.
Haywood declares that he is confident
he will be acquitted. He relates that HI
LloN2 ~ TO Tic OlIICC " IiC C5ASI u
deeds & few minutes before the trag-
edy. He came out on the street anC
was met just below the southeast cor
ner of the pOstOffice building by SKIN
ner, who. without giving any warning
Of his purpose to attack, knocked doWr
Haywood.
BOTH REACHED FOR THEIR
PISTOLS.
Haywood AYERS that ne said. "Lud
low, what do you mean?" and then h,
and Skinner simultaneously reached TO
their e pockets. Haywood says h
was quicker han Skinner. and had hi
pistol presented before Skinner coul(
get his weapon in his hand. At thu
moment. while Skinner hesitated O
was unneryed by the sight of his ad
yersary's pistol, Haywood fired. Hay
wood states that Skinner then wake
or ran away and that he tired at Skin
ner the second time, only after Skinne
he'd thrown his hand to his nip as
he purposed 10 draw his revolver.
THE FIRST SHOT FATAL.
In contradiction of all testimon,
previously given, Haywood insists tina
the first shot produced the fara
wound. In other words, HayWoc
states that he shot Skinner to deaf
when he was facing him and not whe.
Skinner hsd turned his back and wa
walking across the street.
THREE CORROBORATIYE WIT
NESSES.
What witnesses have you TO cor
roborate Haywood" l asked an attor
ney for the defenset
Three witnesses SO far" was IN
reply.
'Who are they?'
Il Will not answer that queStlo
now. But the witnesses are reiab
men. and one of them is a MEMBER
the legislature"
BEFORE THE TRAGEDY.
The material events Immediate
preceding the killing are briefly told
1t was stated Saturday that kin
had spent some time in Haywood
Office Saturday afternoon, but TIL