The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-10
LAWYER SCHM|Tz
CLAIMS ASSAULT
Says Unknown Man Struck
Him in the Back.
He RAN TO THE HOUSE
Witness in Representatives. Case Then Sought
Police Protection Physician Says
He Must Rem lin indoors
Today.

Bernard A. Schmitz, the lawyer from
Baltimore, who is one of the principal
witnesses for Haywood in the Haywood
Skinner trial, asserted last night that an
assault had been made on him, and his
life sought,
This he states occurred on Hillsboro
street near Boylan avenue at 7:45 last
evening. Rumor had it ON the streets
that he had been assaulted by some of
the Baltimore men who were here as wit
nesse in the Haywood Skinner case to
re fy agaist his character. Mr. Schmitz
says they were not the men.
Mr.. Schmitz in telling of the affair
says he left the home of Mr.. ]. Rowan
Rogers, corner of Boylan avenue and Nor
gan street. where he is stopping at 7;45
last night, went down Boylan avenue to
Hillsboro street and started up that street
towards the capitol.
When in front of Mr.. N. w. Vests
residence man stepped in front OF niln.
and his actions were such as to attract
his attention. He says that he has been
Swallowed and followed ever since he nas
been in Raleigh by some men, and he
took this man to be one of them. He
wore a black hat pulled down over his
eyes, was short man. with dark con-
plexion.
Mr.. Schmitz says that he at once turned
to go back down Hillsboro street, when
he heard a .cat- CALI and another man
came quickly from the yard of Mr.. Vests
residence Just behind him. As he turned
he ducked his head and he was struck in
the back with heavy instrument, some
thing which felt like a sand bag. AT
once he ran, running all the way to
Mr.. Rogers home, and from there tele-
phoned to Col. ]. c. l.. Harris. He says
he does not know the men, but that he
can identify the one he saw, for he is
man who has followed him.
The police were at once notified trcm
Col. Harris and officer Creighton went
to Mr.. Schmitz, as did also Mr.. Charles
U. Harris. With these Mr.. Schmitz CAME
to Col. Harris under police protection.
He called for physician and DR.. Hubert
Haywood attended him. The blow and
excitement had affected his breathing and
the physician told him to remain in the
house today.
None of the men. he says, followed him
as he ran, and when unler the electric
OF the man he saw to the police and
these are keeping lookout. He says that
he believes it was the purpose to strike
him on the head, but that he moved in
time and was struck between the should
ers.
1t was reported that two of the wit
nesses from Baltimore, H. Clay Folgcr
and Guy Wilson. whom the prosecution
say were to testify to Schmitz's bad char
acter, but who did not go on the stand.
had remarked while coming down the
court house steps where Schmitz and Col.
Harris could hear, that "Schmitz's days
are numbered" The men were seen last
night and deny this.
These two men and the others from
Baltimore, one witness for the defense,
were at the Marlborough House from half
past seven till they left on the 1:20 train
North this morning. This and the state
ment of Schmitz exonerates them. When
seen shortly after o'clock they were
calm and cool and when told of the mat
ter, laughed about it and said they
feared Mr.. Schmitz was getting afraid OF
his shadow. that they had been at the
hotel and had not been about Hilisboro
street or Boylan avenue.
No one seems to know of anyone shad-
owing or following Mr.. .Schmitz and as
no one is under suspicion there will now
be question to answer, and that is Who
struck SchmitZ?"