J. Baxter Hayworth, Shot in Back of Head, Has Died, June 26, 1922

Local Merchant Dies From Wound in Back of Head. . . J.B. Hayworth Dies at Hospital Without Explanation

J. Baxter Hayworth, who on Wednesday evening shortly after 6 o’clock was found in his store near the Nokomis mill with a bullet wound in the back of his head, died Friday morning about 11:30 o’clock at the High Point hospital, where he was taken on Wednesday night.

The body was brought here Friday afternoon and prepared for burial. A post mortem examination was conducted by local physicians and the two portions of bullet imbedded in his brain were removed.

Funeral was conducted from the home on East Center Street yesterday afternoon by Dr. L.T. Wilds and interment was in Chestnut Hill Cemetery at Salisbury.

Mr. Hayworth, who had conducted a store and lunch room here for several years after moving to Lexington from Salisbury about six years ago, was 43 years old. He leaves and wife and six children here, and several brothers and sisters and other relatives at Salisbury, his former home.

The former merchant was unconscious for some time prior to this death although he is said to have been conscious the morning following the shooting, at which time he told a doctor at the hospital, so it is reported, that he did not shoot himself and would not tell who did the deed in case he should die. This statement was not changed, so as far as learned here. He is also said to have declared shortly after the shooting here that he did not shoot himself but that nobody else did it. He was probably only partly conscious at the time he made these statements.

The fact that Mr. Hayworth was shot in the back of the head led some to believe that he had been a victim of foul play. A thorough investigation is said to have been made, and no definite clue could be secured that would tend to further confirm this conclusion.

There are two views expressed as to his mental attitude prior to the shooting. Some of his relatives and closest friends said that he had appeared to be in fine spirits. On the other hand he is said to have been having difficulties in meeting all his financial obligations, but probably not more than many men in business have confronted during the past two years.

The post mortem examination is said to have disclosed that only one bullet entered the skull and this broke in two instead of splitting, as at first supposed. While the bullets in the pistol found beside Mr. Hayworth’s body were jacketed, they are said not have been what is usually termed the regulation teel jacketed bullet.

From the front page of the Lexington Dispatch, June 26, 1922.