The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-02-09
Why SHE DID 1T.
Mrs. Hayes Says She Had to Shoot Floyd
il Defence Of Her Honor.
SHOT nlM nine Times

SHUi haIl NINE | lHiES
At Coroner's Investigation, Slayer
of Young Medical Student Testifies
That She Shot to Defend Her Hon.
or, as Floyd Had Laid Hands Upon
Her to Assault Her.
Facts brought out at the Inquest
over the body of Robert H. Floyd,
which was held at Tabor, N. c., Mon
day; make the story of the killing
even more sensational! than at first
reported. Mrs. Hayes was the only
witness at the inquest and cooliy,
calmly and deliberately she told her
story, without a tremor and appa-
rently without being moved.
Nine times she shot him, accord
ing to her account-seven times
while in struggle, emptying Colts
automatic 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.
The reason assigned by the wo-
man 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.
It was learned from Tabor late
Monday afternoon that N. M. 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. There was no in
timation given as to what connection
Lloyd Hayes had with the tragedy or
why he had 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 anG
treat some moles which Mrs. Hayes
had on her face. Floyd, who had
some local reputation as a 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
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 sweethearts
previous 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 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
go 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 MS
ayes account Of the killing. After
entering the home Floyd was killed
before even removing his hat or over"
coat.
Mrs. Hayes testified before The
coroner'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 further
statement in her testimony: I'VE
tusselled 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 I shot
him seven times. I was running
backward toward the door and he
holding me. We fell out the door
together, when I 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.
81 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
person put on the stand and she re-
lated her story calmly and distinctly.
Her husband, standing nearby, EVIL
denced net the least concern.
Bad Negro Shot.