Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-07-23
A NAN SHOT DEAD.
He Ii Killed by Mistake.
Lloyd Thomas. Thinking Peurese
fayne n Thief. Sheets and
Kills Him.

Aoout 81 O'Clock this merning, Penrese
Payne, colored, was slot and instantly killed by
Lloyd Thomas, also colored, while the former
was standing in alley between Massachusetts,
avenue and NJ and Eth and 18th streets, she
latter mStak1ng the former tOC a thief. hr.
James II. Murphy resides and keeps a store at
the southwest corner of Massachusetts, ayeaUe
and 18th street, and recently his place has been
entered several times and rebsed, he says, OF
about $50 worth OF money ard goods. The
police OF the second precinct have kent a pretty
close eye about the premises since these com
pleints were made, and last night Officers Steel
and White were "off and on" about the prern-
lseS. Payne resided with his family in the ad-
joining house. and thomss occupied the third
story back ROOM About O'Clock this morning 2
Onicer White noticed some susp.cioUs-lOokiBg
parties going towards Murphy's house, and fol-
lowed them: Calling Murphy, who was up at
the time Win a sick child, the suspected thieves
we-e followed a short distance, when they were
1857 sight OF. Surprising that they were still in
the neigh hOrhCod, the officer called Payne, who
hsO previously volunteered his services when
they tght be required, and he hastily dressed
hlElseli, and shouldering a musket took a posi-
ton at the corner OF the alley, ia the rear of
h4ssachusetfs avenue, near the Enclosure sur
rounding the schOO. house, in which il was sup
posed the thieves had secreted themSel ve, In
afe~ minutes thereafter Mrs. Murphy, standing
near the head OF the alley on 18th street, Jaw
some one get over the fence of the schOoi-house
and walk up the main alley, (beI0w the small
alley IN which Payne was standing,l when she
called out, Halt; there he goes - aud the
man turned and ran OF. Thomas had Leari
TIE alarm, and seeing, as he thought
tGe th:ei turning into the alley fired, and PAYNE
i'll OhceIs White and Steel. 90 going into
The alley. found instead OF a dead N IF the
man. PenrOse Payne, laying on his face. de d
Win wound in the back OF his head from the
slugs with which Thomas muskeE had besa
loaded. The wound seems to have caused ia
slant death. He had his mUsket in his band at
the time. Thomas, on hearing the result of his
shot, expressed the greatest sorrow as he and
The deceased were on the best terms, and as
serted that he was under the impression that
Pay ne was either in the house or in front at the
time he fired. Thomas, with q friend, imme-
distely went to the fourth precinct station and
gave himself into the custody OF the Off GERS.
age, and a married man. He is carpenter BY
trade, and has worked for MesSrs. Kant & Will
liams for several years.
The musket was loaded with fifteen or more
slug, and one entered the shoulder of deceased,
aud two or more penetrated the back OF his
head. The inch fence on the opposite side of
the cross alley, 80 yards distant, was perforated,
and dog in yard was killed. After Thomas
bad given himself up at the 4th precinct station
heut Greer turned him over to officer White
OF the %, and he was taken to the house OF the
deceased Coroner Patterson was notified of
the occurrence bv the police and visited The
premises, and examined the Lody. After hear
ing the statemt nts OF parties present AZ the time
and also the neighbOrs be decided that as the
HI ling OF Payne was entirely accidental, an in
quest was unnect ssarv, and he gave an order
for the release of Thomas. The deceased was a
native OF Fredericksburg, Va, aud "a resided
small children. He was member of Chrvstai
FOunt Lodge OF Good Samartans who are
making preparations for his funeral CT Thurs
day.