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

at the bedside of his dying mother, who
was buried last Friday. Saturday af-
ternoon Skinner left his home to go
for the first time in all that period to
his office, and stopped on the way at
the home of his father, which it is said
he had not left over 50 mute before
he was killed. 1t is further stated T
positively that he was in his office
talking with MI. Alfred A. Thompson
one of his employers. and said to the
latter that he would step over to the
postoffice and be back in a minute;
that barely five minute had passed
before some of the clerks in the office
heard two shots, the second of which
was the one which took his life.
What One Witness Saw.
Your correspondent interviewed a
most interesting witness of the shoot
ing. The latter said he was in the
postoffice lobby, saw Skinner Their
talking to some one; that Skinner was
not at all nervous, and smiled; that
he walked down the steps with him on
Fayetteville street; that Skinner turn
ed as if to go diagonally across the
street; that the first shot was fired
when Skinner was about the edge of
the sidewalk, that there was no con-
Versation beteen Skinner and Hay
wood; that Haywood tOok aim and
fred the second time When Skinner was
about half way between the sidewalk
n the street car track: that when
the bullet struck. hat fell off.
that he put his left hand to his side.
I walked across the street car rack in
a half circle and fell on the track with
his face toward his slayer; that Hay
wood stood between the southeast
! corner of the postoffice and the south
| east entrance, on the middle of the
sidewalk; that Skinner was about p
feet away when first fired at and
| about SIS to 40 feet distant when the
| second shot WAS fired.
Lived Only Half a Minute.
1t is said that Skinner did not live
more than half a minute after he fell,
of the postoffice: that when he say this
He had On an overcoat. His pistol was
in the left hip pocket of his trousers.
The Wound.
1t is the theory Of SINNERS friends
that ne was probably about 40 feet
away from Haywood when the bullet
struck him, and that having heard the
first shot he had turned partially to
see who was shooting and that then
the bullet struck him three inches to
the left Of the left breast, through
both lungs, severing the aorta, smash
ing the eth rib and lodging in the flesh
Immediately under the skin on the
right side, having passed traversly
through the entire body. The calibre
of the bullet was So.
Talk in the Legislature.
The killing caused a great e OF
talk among the members of the legiS-
lature. One Of these, a senator was
heard TO say to two others, that rs
thought the present murder law divid-
ing that crime into degrees was wrong
1 fhnf hn bod fnr SnYon TINA had in MINI
the introducing of a bill to return tt
the old form or simply charging muir.
der: and he made the assertion thai
since the division of that crime into
degrees, it had increased 25 per cent
in North Carolina.
Some Lawyers Who Will Appear.
w. II. Day is retained as n Of tn
counsel for the defense OF Ernest Hay
wood. 1t is said that John E. Wood
ard, of Wilson and Walter E. Daniel:
will aid in the prosecution. Lawyer:
who know Daniels say he is the strong
est prosecuting lawyer in North Caro-
lima.
The Funeral Services.
Raleigh, N. c., February 23.-This af
ernoon the funeral services over tn
remains of Ludlow skinner who me
his death at the hands of Ernest Hav
wood Saturday afternoon, were hell
from Christ church, conducted by tn
pastor, DR.. NJ. NJ. Marshall.
This was one of the most largely at
tended funerals ever seen in Raleigh
Not one-third of the crowd could gail
i entrance to the church, and the street
f were ~thronged. The floral Offering
were beautiful and covered the entir
! altar.
r Ludlow SINNERS remains were in
= tered in Oakwood cemetery Il tn
- --o lotaI,- nnyvarn1 wit
floral designs of every character. Tn
: choir sang There is a Blessed Home,
= "Tarry With Me, Oh My Savior" an
: paradise, Oh, Paradise" at tn
p church, while at the grave. ASLEEP i
Jesus" and abide With Me" wer
sung.
The pallbearers We're: Victor H. Boy
!, den, w. w. Vass, P. r. Albright. {
l NJ. Calling. Perrin Busbee. L. a. Nah
! Ter and Howard Thomas.
Among members of the family pres
" ent We're: John Winder, of Columbu:
- n ao5 gIrc IIIohaG of Nay- RnrI