National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-04
THE ROCKVILLE MURDER.
PAYNE ARRESTED FOR THE KILLING


PAYNE ARRESTED FOR THE KILLING
OF HIS WIFE.
The last iEsue Of the Rockville SentiRel gives
the following particulars Of the murder OF Mrs.
Payne, near that city, on Christmas day:
ION Christmas Eve the deceased left home for
the purpose Of visiting Rockville TO purchase
some articles for the family, and q short time
after she lett her husband followed, Overtaking
her near Ricketts, crossing. They arrived in
town together and remained here for some hours,
visiting several stores and making some pur-
chases, after which they LEFT on foot, and were
afterwards seen together on the farm Of Nr.
james Shaw, and going in the direction Of the
locality where the body was found. Nothing
til about O'Clock that night, when Payne called
at the house Of Mr.. Warfeld, near Rock creek,
wagon had broken down, in which were his wife
and daughter, and that be wished to get light
to find come articles he had. lost out OF It. The
matches were furnished, and he took his depart
ure. Afterwards he called at the house Of Mr..
Thomas Clagett, accompanied by two dogs, and
asked for more matches, stating that he was out
hunting. After he had LETT some time, cries
were heard in the direction Of the creek. but no
attention was paid to them.
1.-THE further movements OF the couple are not
known until Payne arrived at home alone about
two O'Clock in the morning, and upon being
questioned by the daughter OF Mrs. Payne in
regard to the whereabouts Of her mother, he
stated that he had not seen her since he left
Rockville, and did not know where she was.
After being in the house for a short time, he re-
QueblGu lue daughter 10 get MIN o CloAn BnlFt.
which che did, and he put It on. The one he
took of was afterwards found with the entire
bosom torn out and destroyed.
he daughter becoming alarmed at the ab-
sence Of her mother, requested him to 20 and
look for her, and after q long persuasion he was
induced TO go. After being absent for some time
be returned, bringing with him q basket and
some other articles. lie stated to her that her
mSther was sitting under a tree on the farm Of
Mr.. james Casbell, but he did not know whether
she was dead or alive, and he was afraid 70 go
near her. After remaining at home o short
tine he again went out, and returning, said to
her daughter that her mother was dead, and
commenced crying. He afterwards went to the
houses Of MessTE. Belt, WarfieId and OashelI,
and with them visited the body, but professed to
have no knowledge as to how she came to her
death. He was witness before the cOrOner's
jury, and stated under oath that he had not seen
her since he left Rockville.
''On Saturday it..Was determined to hold a post
norton examination of the body before burial
and on Sunday that duty was performed by Drs.
Stonestreet and Magruder. The body Of the
poor, unfortunate woman bore evidence Of brutal
treatment, and was bruised and mutilated in a
shocking manner. On one side Of her head there
was chastity wound, which looked as If made
with blow OF the fist or some blunt instrument,
and upon the removal OF the scalp large elot OF
cO9gulated blood was found upon the skull bone.
The physicians failed TO discover any particular
wound that would be necessarily fatal, but came
10 the conclusion that they were Of such a char
acter as TO cause insensihility, ana render the
person liable to die from exposure.
THE two dogs that were with them remained
by the side Of the corpse until morning, quite in
contrast 10 the other brute, who left her there
alone, on that bleak December night. Her cloth
ing was torn into sbreds, and the ground showed
marks Of her having been dragged several hun
dIed yards, She was in the fOrty-frst year Of
her age, and leaves four children by her first hus-
tand, who was named johnson.
THE evidence in the case pointed so strongly to
Payne as the murderer that he was committed
10 answer the charge at the March term Of the
Circuit Court. The various statements he has
made since the occurrence have all been found to
be false, and unless come new evidence in his
favor is found, he will be very likely to suffer the
penalty OF the law