The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-08-18
THE NASHVILLE TRAGEDY.
Col. Payne's Statement Of How he
Shot Mr.. Allen.
The. Coolest and Most Deliberate
Murder on Record.


From three column narrative of Col.
PAYNE, of the causes which led to his kill
ing Mr.. ALLEN, at Nashville, and the man
ner in which he accomplished the deed,
We extract the following statement of the
actual occurrence
*** now armed to vindicate my honor.
I however determined to inform Mr.. Allen
again before executed 1t, and to tell him that
neither intended to, nor would waylay
him, or even 60 out of my way to hunt him
up, nor would attack him in any crowd
where there would be danger of injury to in
nocent persons from either his or my bad
shooting. To meet him face to face was de-
manded by my honor-not in nocturnal hours,
such as he selected, to do that which was
In my favor was made on the 26th day of May
past. I was on the lookout for Allen, to let
him know my intention. On Monday week
after the decision, suddenly came on him, In
front of Dr.. Forbes house on Cherry street. /
halted him, and asked: Mr.. Allen have you
read the testimony in Chancery court IN the
sos ass a soa nor DO HSe i'm
tend to; have heard enough Of that already,
and won't stop to talk with you about II.
He then started toward Broad street. said
to him, " But you must hear what have to
say, and besides that have some information
to impart to you, that you may think vain.
able. / want you to read Hrs Payne's an
swer to my cross bin again, as 1t is one
other, perpetrated by her, at your instance,
to save you by its hlsehoods-every ale
cation of which You know to be false, and,
II she is to be believed, her attorney knew
it to be false when he penned it. This crime,
added TO your other crimes, is enough to make
the pale cheeks Of my dead children crimson
with shame in the cold graves where they now
lay. To this degradation of me, and all that
can be dear to man, you, by your infamous
conduct have forced me to put on record,
where it is to stand forever, the evidence Of
the shame and infamy of my little boys moth
er, which Is to crimson with shame his manly,
though boy face, tho longest day he may live
ton You may need. By your conduct you have
reduced my once innocent wife not only to In
fanny, but to beggary, and intend to make
you and your executors gild the coach in which
you have sent her riding to hell, and that I
will make you wash your and her crimes In
your hearts blood. Do you understand me,
sir9" Mr.. Alen-"I do, sir. and that Is q
game that two can play at, and you win never
find me unprepared; for ever since this fuss
came up have been prepared for you" I'VE
now understand one another" I replied
"good morning, Mr.. Allen" May it please
the court, ! ought, perhaps, before have re-
marked that had requested Major Barnes to
pay him the last quarters rent, due January 1,
1865. When he called to get 1t and was about
leaving the store, passed in . few feet of him
as he was going out Mrs. Payne had few
days before that filed her answer to my cross
bill, and which have characterized in this
statement by the morality which, in my mind,
l thought received its inspiration from Allen.
When, as ! was passing him near the head of
the steps, he said that whatever had grown out
OF his intimacy with Mrs. Payne that WAS
alone to blame; for had introduced him to
her, and invited him to visit my house; and
that / would find he did not intend to be
shot by a dog. ! would have shot him then
had any one else, besides myself, heard
this admission Of his guilt and threat,
and perhaps ! would have done so
anyhow, but his back was towards me and he
was going down the steps. Ever since had
the interview with Allen, near Dr.. Forbes res
idence, l was on the lookout for him, and
may say, he for me. / saw him three times
before we met Wednesday evening last; but
he was in such crowd l saw clearly that in
nocent persons might be injured by bad shoot
ing, and did not wish to hurt a hair of any
such, or that even he might do 1t in this con-
test. But on Wednesday evening Major Barnes
and myself left the store at p. N. on our way
home to supper. Just as was crossing to the
far side of Broad street, on College street. 60
ing south, and on the left hand side of College,
thought saw Mr.. Allen sitting with gen.
tlemsn against Mr.. Parish's stable across the
street from where I was. Ny eyesight has
been 90 much injured since this last trouble
came up, that in the year past I have not slept
that time. therefore could not distinguish
whether it was Captain Allen or not I there
fore stopped and took out my glasses and
found that it was him, and that he was looking
directly at me. put up my glasses, and de-
termined to avail myself of that occasion, as
there was no danger to innocent parties, 80 far
as could see. There was considerable num-
ber OF market wagons on the street, (there Is
no sidewalk there, and the first wagon was in
few feet of Broad street. l unbuttoned my
vest to prevent the pistol catching under it if
should attempt to draw it. I then advanced
along the pathway to the head of the first
wagon, when passed into the street. The
market wagons ahead of me were standing
two or three deep, and on the left of College
len was sitting with Mr.. Tindan Hooked up
and down the street to see if there were any
person or persons likely to be in the Way. or
might get hurt. The way was cear.
There were persons standing in front
of the saloon to the right as ! stood
facing Captain Allen, and some to his left,
near the door of the stable, but both parties
bearing little 70 the eft, when would be eI-
actly in front of Capt Allen, and at rixht an
giles with tho stable against which he Was sit.
ting, this tier of market wagons would be I'M
mediately at my back, and would intercept any
shot from Alens pistol, and . protecHon to
any one that n'Sht ns Ping -. O. Aas sids
h,onoht NE ek<,,t nna third Of TIA ~ 49,