The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-05
Was Despondent and Attempts
 to Commit Suicide IN 4 CRITICAL CONDITION
Deed Done in chalifoux Building--Mr. Haywood Is General Agent of Mccormick Division of ln-
 ternatlonal Harvester Go.

E. E. Heywood. general agent for the Mccormick Division of the International Harvesting company, attempted suicide yesterday afternoon about 5:S0 o'clock by shooting himself in the neck with what Is said to have been a .SS-calibre pistol
 The attempt was made in his private office in the Chalifoux building, after he had told his clerks goodbye and in- structed them to leave the room. He IS lying at Copeland & Berry's infirmary Tn a critical condition, but 1t is too early to tell positively whether he will live or die.
 The bullet entered the right side of the neck about two inches below the jaw bone and came out directly under the ear, about three inches from where 1t entered. The jugular artery was badly lacerated by the bullet, but up to late hour this morning there had been no hemorrhages of a serious nature.
 Case of Despondeney.
 The act was committed, 1t is said, as q result of despondency. said to have been caused by family troubles Accord ing to the information obtained by the police Haywood had been drinking for several days and had seemed to be feel ing badly.
 It was at first thought that financial troubles had caused him to attempt his life, but from a reliable source 1t was learned that he was quite well off and that his finances were in the very best of shape.
 Was Divorced.
 It is learned from the same source that Haywood was divorced from his wife about a year ago this month, and that ever since he has been more or less mel ancholy and dissatisfied. He is said to have been very fond of his wife They had no children. Mrs. Haywood lives in Evansville. Ind.
 Haywood came to Birmingham last De- cember to take charge of the Harvester company's business, and has made a num- Der of friends here. He was congenial and all who knew him considered him very fine man. He was kind and considerate of his employees and did everything pos- sibe for them
 From the best information obtainable by the police, Haywood sent his stenog- rapher from his office yesterday afternoon shortly after o'clock, and also told all the employees goodbye. A few minutes af- rewards shot was fired and when peo- pie ran into the room they found him ly- ing beside his desk with the wound in his neck. A pistol still hot, was lying nearby on the floor. He did not say anything ex- cept "It was mistake" Dr. Ed Drennen was in the building at the time and was at the side of the wounded man in a minute. He at once stopped the bleeding as much as possible and stayed with Haywood until he reached the hospital, where he was in the operating room for nearly two hours.
 Became Perfectly Conscious.
 As soon as he recovered from the opi- ates Haywood was perfectly conscious. but refused to say anything about his at- tempt. When asked about 1t he told peo- pie it was none of their business. It will probably be this afternoon before it can be definitely told what his chances of re- covery are.
 Haywood was born in New Hampshire and has mother and brother living in New York. He came to Birmingham from South Dakota, where he has some exten- sive property.
 When the shooting occurred a large crowd was attracted to the place. The only statement that any attache of Hey woods office would make was that MT. Haywood had attempted suicide.