Hays Convicted Shooting Negro, Given One Year

Daniel Hays, first indicted for manslaughter by the grand jury of this county, and then indicted for murder in the second degree by the grand jury which followed, in connection with the killing of Felix Thomas, negro at Fleetwood, was yesterday found guilty of manslaughter by a jury in circuit court and his punishment was fixed at one year and one day in the penitentiary. The filling of a position formerly held by the negro by Hays at the Fleetwood mine led to the killing. The negro, it is claimed, left the job during some rainy weather and Hays was placed in charge. Then the negro returned and claimed the job and a quarrel ensued which resulted in Hays securing a small-bore shotgun with which to run the negro off. He fired on the negro, the charge of squirrel shot striking him near the belt. The wounded man was brought to the Druid City hospital, where he died. The first charge against Hays, that of manslaughter, was nol prossed when evidence developed which it was believed would substantiate a charge of murder, and the second grand jury was asked to bring a charge of murder against him. That was done, and the trial yesterday followed.