The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-03-14
The SLAYER OF FLOYD
DECLARED not GUILTY
JTRY BRINGS IN VERDICT OF AC'
QCITTAL IN SHORT WHILE.
Verdict is Surprise to Many Present.
Received by Prisoner With Slight
Smile.
The State.

The State.
Whiteville, \. c., March 11.-"Not
guilty." spoken in distinct tones by
R. F. CoviIgton, foreman of the jury,
was the verdict rendered this after
noon at $50 by the jury, which has
for six DAYS had in their hands the
fate of Mr.. and Mrs. \. NJ. Hayes,
charged with the murder of Robert
M. Floyd, on the evening Of Febru-
ary 4. last.
Both of the defendants pale, but
showing little more concern than has
characterized their action throughout
the trial, stood up, held up their right
hand and received the verdict.
The announcement of the verdict
brought a slight smile to the face of
Mrs. Hayes, while her husband show
ed no signs Of the result having
dawned upon him.
The jury having at once been dis
missed the prisoners shook hands
heartily with the - men who had
given them their freedom.
Some Demonstration.
There were shown demonstration
by the friends of the defndants upon
the announcement Of the verdict, but
this was soon hushed in the express
sions of disappointment by most OF
the people in the court room and be-
Titled the open indignation as express
ed by a. great number on the streets
Immediately after the crowd reached
the court house square.
While the defendants had number
of friends in Whiteville it was clear
" evident that the verdict was a dis
appointment to the court attendants.
With the testimony ali in, the gen
eral impression was that a verdict of
at least manslaughter would be rem
dered. Hearing the cnarge Of Judge
Cook to the jury strengthened this
impression, hence the utter surprise
at the verdict rendered.
Whiteville. n. c.. March 10.-With
all the testimony in and four OF the
eight arguments heard, the case OF
the State of North Carolina against
Mrs. Rosa D. Hayes and Neal NJ.
Hayes, charged with the murder OF
Robert NJ. Floyd, will, in all probabil-
ity, go to the jury late tomorrow aft
ernoon. There yet remain four
speeches by counsel and the judges
charge on the law covering the in
dictments. The jury will be called
upon to decide whether or not Mrs.
HAYES is guilty of the murder Of
Flovd, and whether or not her hus-
band, Neal Hayes, was an accessory
before the fact. Mrs. Hayes admits
the killing of the young man in her
home, at Tabor, n. c., on February
4 of this year, but claims that it was
justified by his attempted assault up
on her. Neal Hayes, while not him
self taking the witness stand, through
various testimony denies any knoWl-
edge of or any part in the killing.
The Issue Clear-Cut.
For the jury in this case, which
has excited so much interest IN the
two Carolinas, the issue is clearcut.
It must believe the story told by Mrs
Hayes, or it must deny that she told
the truth when she v1ained it was to
protect herself and her honor that
she shot young Floyd. It must credit
her story entirely and discredit the
various facts, circumstances an
statements introduced by the State,
or it must place credence in that tes-
timony that conflicts with Mrs. Hay
es's version. It is Mrs. Hayess word
AGAINST an array os physical fac
circumstances and certain statement
that she herself is credited with hav-
ing made, and which vary materially
with the story she told on the stand.
Frag gmentary those facts and circum-
stances may appear, but with con-
summate skill has the prosecution so
marshalled them that the jury must
necessarily take note of their signi-
fcance. Circumstances had to be re-
lied upon, for there was no witness
to the tragedy's beginning save the
innocent sixteen-months-old babe of
the accused woman, who, declares
the defendant, was on the bed upon
which she struggled against her al
legged assailant.
The States Case.