The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-03-15

the witness stand at 3:S0 o'clock this
afternoon. In her own behalf. Mrs.
Rosa ID. Hayes told how and why she
killed Robert NJ. Floyd. at her home.
I'm Tabor. N. c.. on February {. of
this year. For two hours the accus-
ed woman submitted to examination
by counsel for the defence. telling her
story calmly and deliberately, and
!, then for half an hour was subjected
10 cross-examination by the States
attorneys. Mrs. Hayes was plainly
excited when she first took the stand,
but collected herself and reclted the
facts and circumstances of the trag-
edy with unusual deiiberateness and
even complacency. She grew angry
once or twice. when closely question
ed by attorneys for the prosecution,
and her answers were In tones that
suggested a violent temper. She ges-
ticulated with her left hand fire.
quently and with her right nervously
I .toyed with the large fur mum she
carried.
In way she was a pathetic figure
on the stand. declaring. as she did,
that in about three months she ex.
pected to become a mother. A little
\ woman. girlish in appearance. she
naturally excited some sympathy.
This. however. was N a measure off,
set oy the manner sle bore and the
tones which she employed in telling
OF her awful deed. She spoke OF the
deceased as Floyd" never calling
him Mr.. Floyd" She endeavored to
make II plain that she and the dead
man were never more than friends.
but admitted that she had been with
him a good deal and had seen him
frequently.
The defence OF Mrs. Hayes Is that
she killed Floyd because he was at
tempting to assault her: that she was
afraid TO call for help. but shot. after
warning her alleged assailant that
she would shoot IL he did not leave
her alone.
The shooting. she claimed, was
done upon the necessity OF the mo-
ement and without the knowledge o.
her husband. who was at his place
OF business when II occurred on
this ground. OF course. the defence
will seek TO clear Neal Hayes Of the
charge against him.
In her story OF the killing. Mrs.
= AHayes varied to a considerable de-
gree from the facts brought out at
the coroner's inquest. For instance.
today she does not recall which pls-
tol she used first: claims that both
Of them ere on the bed ut the time
and before leaving that room, GO
ling toward the front door, she had
begun to use the second pistol. 1t is
recalled that she said before that II
was after she had fallen out the door
that she went back In the house. Sc
cured the Smith & wesson and shot
Floyd after he had fallen on the
!, porch. Today she denies having shot
the man after he was down and does
not know when she shot him In the
forehead.
Next to the testimony of Mrs.
hayes. the most interesting feature Of
tcday's proceedings was the appear
. ancs OF G. NJ. Perry. a student at the
College OF Charleston. and a close
personal friend of Floyd. Mr.. Per-
ry's recital OF the contents Of two let
tors. said to have been written by
Mrs. Hayes to Floyd some time last
November. signed Rosa" caused
much comment
= according TO witness the letters
were In the most endearing terms.
declaring that she was unhappy with
h"r husband. and expressing the de-
sire To go away with Floyd. 20 some
place where they were unknown. Be-
fore giving the contents OF the let
1919. Mr.. Perry stated that he could
give them In substance only. hut
when doing so lined out the sem
t'poes as II he had the letter In hand
reading them. The defence scored
h"a lily when counsel tested Mr.. Per-
~ remarkable memory with the
(othrr letters he had read. with these
p. allied To give more than the mere
rH.port. Mr.. Perry was very defiant I'm
~ attitude toward counsel for the
dc nee.
While Mr. Perry was recltlng the
contents OF these letters. Mrs. Hayes
was very restless and several times
bl1shed crimson. Awhile she kept
her hands to her face. and then she
was seen 20 be almost wringing her