The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-02-11
WOMAN MAN KILLER.
Mrs Hayes Shot Floyd Nine Times,
Kidding His Body.

Conway, Feb. 6.-Facts brought out
at the inquest over the body Of Rob-
ert III. Floyd which was held at Ia
Dor 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 eliberately she told her
story, without a tremor and appa-
rently without being moved. Nine
times she shot him, according to her
account-seven times while in a strug-
gle, enptying a Colts automatic re-
volver. 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 an
other pistol and shot him twice more.
The reason assigned by the woman
for her act is that Floyd made an i'm
proper proposal to her and upon her
| resenting it laid hands on her and
tried to overcome her by violence.
1t was learned from Tabor late this
| afternoon that n. M. Hayes, the hus-
| band, and his brother, Llyod Hayes
have both been arrested and taken
along with Mrs. Hayes to the Jail at
Whiteville. the county seat Of Column
bus county. The preliminary hearing,
| which was set for tomorrow, has been
postponed until Wednesday. There
was no intimation given as to what
connection Llyod Hayes had with the
tragedy or why he has been arrested.
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 threat 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 desirous
that he should treat those Of Mrs.
Hayes.
The letter was Of the friendliest ma
ture 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 sweethearts pre-
vious to her marriage to Hayes, and
the two men had been rivals for her
hand at the same time.
Floyd. with this letter, came to
Tabor and first called upon Mr.. Hayes
at his place of business down town
showed him the Letter ard told h'-,
he was at his service. Hayes, who
was often detained down town late
IN connection With his store and bar
b"r shop, told the young man % g
on up to the house and insisted that
he take supper and spend the night.
From this point nothing is known
except what is learned from Mrs.
Hayes account Of the killing. After
entering the home Floyd was killed
before even removing his hat or over
coat.
Mrs. Hayes testified before the cor
oner's jury that Floyd came to the
door Of her home, which was locked;
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.
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 tus
selled toward the head Of the bed.
when ran my hands under the pill
low, got an automatic revolver, and
holding it close to his breast l shot
MIN 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, punctur-
,, ing his body from the waist line to
the forehead.
Il had always 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 per-
her story calmly and distinctly. Her
husband, standing nearby, evidenced
not the least ronoor,