The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-02-09
TELLS OF KILLING FLOYD.
Mrs. Hayes Shot Him Nine Times,
Kidding His Body.

Robert H. Floyd, which was held at
Tabor yesterday, make the story of
the killing even more sensational
than at first reported. Mrs. Hayes was
the only witness at the inquest and
coolly, calmly and deliberately she
told her story, without tremor and
apparently without being moved.
Nine times she shot him, according
to her account-seven times while
in a struggle, emptying Colts au-
tomato revolver. After she and
Floyd had fallen through her bed
room door on the floor of the hall,
Mrs. Hayes got up, went back into
the room, got another pistol and shot
him twice more.
Her Reason.
The reason assigned by the woman
for her act is that Floyd made an
improper proposal to her and upon
her resenting it laid hands on her
and tried to overcome her by vio-
lence.
Preliminary Postponed.
It was learned from Tabor late
this afternoon that N. NJ. Hayes, the
husband, and his brother Lloyd
Hayes, have both been arrested and
taken along with Mrs. Hayes to the
Jail at Whiteville, the county seat of
Columbus county. The preliminary
hearing, which was set for tomorrow
has been postponed until, Wednesday.
There was no intimation given as to
what connection Lloyd Hayes had
with the tragedy or why he had been
arrested.
A Letter Found.
A letter was found in Floyd's
pocket from Mrs. Hayes written to
him in Charleston, in which he was
asked to come to Tabor as soon as
he could conveniently do SO and treat
some moles which Mrs. Hayes had
on her face. Floyd who had some
local reputation as "cancer doctor,
it is stated, had successfully treated
moles for Mr.. Hayes and for this
reason both he and his wife were de-
sirous that he should treat those of
Mrs. Hayes.
The letter was of the friendliest
nature and Floyd was urged to come
as soon as possible and assured that
his expenses would be borne and
that he would be paid for his trouble.
He and Mrs. Hayes had been sweet
hearts previous to her marriage to
Hayes, and the two men had been
rivals for her hand at the same time
Called on Husband.
Floyd, with this letter, came to
Tabor and first called upon Mr..
Hayes at his place of business down
town, showed him the letter and told
him he was at his service. Hayes,
who was often detained down town
late in connection with his store and
barber shop, told the young man to
20 on up to the house and insisted
that he take supper and sped the
night.
From this point nothing is known
except what is learned from Mrs.
Hayes's account of the killing. Al
ter entering the home Floyd was
killed before even removing his hat
or overcoat.
Mrs. Hayes testified before the
coroner's jury that Floyd came to the
door of her home, which was lock-
ed; that she opened it; that they
spoke and he made inquiry about her
moles, which he had come to treat;
he then made an insulting proposal
to her, which she resented, and that
he then laid violent hands on her.
COOL anu DellDcfdtc.
That Mrs. Hayes acted coolly and
deliberately and fully intended to kill
Floyd is borne out by the further
statement in her testimony: I'VE
tusselled toward the head of the bed,
when 1 ran my hands under the pill
low, got an automatic revolver, and
holding it close to his breast shot
him seven times. was running
backward toward the door and he
holding me. We fell out the door to-
gether, when l went back and got
another pistol and shot him twice
more"
The nine shots took effect, pune
turing his body from the waist line
to the forehead.
Il had aways considered him a
gentleman when he had been to our
house several times BEFORE" was the
estimate put on the deceased by his
slayer. Mrs. Hayes was the only
person put on the stand and she re-