The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-27

Ss oNAN ASoAAO "Oolu NC Il
treated and l have been confined in
the ordinary cells where prisoners are
usually kept So far as 1 have been
able to ascertain, prisoners in Wake
jail have always been treated with
kindness and humanity. Such treat
rlent has been accorded to me, but no
special privileges ave been.
1t has been charged that I retained
at least some of my lawyers before
the homicide. 1 hear it has been
charged that 1 retained Col. Argo n
Mr.. Pou before the difficulty. This
statement is absolutely false. l had
not had any conversation with Col.
Argo in several months. and he was
called by telephone. at my III
after Mr.. Separk arrested me and
carried me for a short time to my
office.
L had had no conversation with Mr..
Pou since December of last year until
after the difficulty occurred. In De-
cember he and I had a short CONVEX
sation about some property in Robson
county, where he was representing
one interest and 1 had charge of an
other, and the properties had been put
in the hands of receivers by an order
Of Judge Purnell, of the United States
court. After that conversation in De-
cember l had no conversation with
Mr.. Pou until after the difficulty, and
[ am informed that he went to my
office after the shooting at the re-
quest or suggestion of Mr.. ]. E. Pogue.
[ never intimated to any of my counsel
that l would need their services in
such a case until after it occurred. l
never, before it occurred, thought Of
such a thing.
l am informed and believe that there
has been a deliberate purpose on the
part of some of those sympathiZing
with the prosecution to stir up indig-
nation against me in order that 1
might not have a fair trial.
I am informed that at least n man
had been employed by the private
prosecutors in this case to make
something of a canvass of the south
western portion of Wake county, os-
tensibly looking up witnesses, but that
this man devOteS a great deal of his
time to creating a public sentiment
against me. The man I refer to is Mr..
Geo. McCuller. l am Informed that
he has been in Swift Creek, Panther
Branch. Barton'S Creek and Middle
Creek townships of Wake county, n
perhaps in others, engaged in this
business.
L quote the following from a letter
received by one of my counsel from
a prominent and influential citizen Of
Clayton, N. c., which is a village a
short distance beyond the line of Wake
county, but at which a great many
Wake county people trade. This is
the quotation: "When the unfortu-
nate affair occurred opinion was di-
vided, but it seems now that Senti-
ment is being created against Mr..
Haywood"
AS often as any person was heard to
say anything in my behalf, he was
made the target for denunciation and
abuse by some of those Sympathizing
with the prosecution.
Mr.. Robert n. Simms, a member of
the bar in this city and a man of high
character stated that he saw the diff
Guilty; that he saw Mr.. Skinner strike
me and that l fell ove the parapet
or raised place at or near the south
ern steps of he poStoffice. n that
not until after 1 had been stricken and
had fallen almost to the ground did
draw my pistol and shoot. This state
ment was exactly the truth and was
IN confederation of the statement
which I made in the presence of my
attorneys and others Immediately af-
ter the homicide. When / made that
statement I did not know who saw the
trouble. Mr.. Simms has always borne
r. high character and his reputation
for truth has never before been called
in question. But as soon as he made a
statement which was favorable to me,
he became the target for villification
and abuse, probably without parallel
IN his city. Men in sympathy with
the prosecution stated publicly that he
was a liar and a p~erjurer; that he had
been bought to make the statement.
And apparently a systematic effort
was made to destroy Mr.. Simms' char-
acter in order that the jury might not
believe the evidence he would give in
my behalf.
A man stated publicly on the streets
of Raleigh that if Mr.. Simms said in
his presence that there was a blow
struck, he would strike Mr.. Simms in
the mouth. Men in sympathy with
the prosecution threatened to with
draw friendship, business, and politi-
cal support from Mr.. Simms, and
some persons threatened to leave the
Tabernacle church or Sunday school
If Simms was allowed to teach in said
Sunday school. All this because he
had made a statement of what he saw
and this statement was favorable to
me.
1 believe that this effort to- create
public sentiment against me will b.
only temporarily successful, and l be-
lieve that when the people of the
county deliberate, as they will do with
in a short time, they will be able and
willing to accord to me a fair
trial according to the law and evidence
The homicide was only about a month
ago and all these publications and
these statements have been made since
that time; and l do not believe the PEG
pie have had time to free their minds
from the excitement and prejudice en-
, eendered n to give me that dispas-
sionate hearing which any man on
trial for his life ought 20 have. I am
confident, however, that by the next
term Of the court / car obtain a fair
trial in Wake county.
Fourth. The prejudice which has
been aroused against me and the de-
nunciation and abuse heaped upon Mr..
SimmS for making the statement ia
vorable to me has, I am Informed and
believe, deferred man. other witness
es from giving evidence in my behalf.
7 am informed by my attorneys and
believe that. especially since the de-
uunciation of Mr.. Simms by friends
Of the prosecution, they have had
rnuch difficulty in obtaining Informal