The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-07-23
M u r ID E r E ID.
Nellie Stickley Shot BY Her Lover
Joseph Payton, the Murderer, Arrested


named Nellie Stickley, native of Mays
ville KY, from which her parents removed,
when she was quite a child, to Madison,
Ind. She is the youngest of five sisters.
at Madison she was seduced by young
man about year ago. She was driven from
home and, together with her sister Dora,
Mollie and Ida, came to this city.
The murderer is Joseph Payton, young
man about twenty years old. He is a
brother TO Ed. Payton, the well-known Vine
street saloon-keeper. He is Kentuckian by
birth, and made the acquaintance OF the
girl he murdered, last fall. She was at the
time an inmate of the house in which she
was killed and which is kept by her sister
Dora or Dody Davis, as she calls herself.
Payton was constant visitor there, until
some time ago, when he began to tire of
his Nellie and pay attentions to other girls
in the house.
On last Sunday he met Nellie on the
street and compelled her to walk with him,
saying that if she didn't he would shoot her.
He even pointed the pistol at her head and
frightened the girl badly. Since then she
was afraid of her life.
Yesterday afternoon, after o'clock, Pay
ton came to the house and asked to see
Nellie. When told that he could not see
her, he became excited and said he would
not leave until he had seen her. Nellie
finally came out and went into the hallway
to have talk with him. This hallway sep
arates the house next door, No. "a, also oc-
cupied as a brothel, from Mrs Davis, the
building being a double one, and most Of
the time the pair were visible to the girls in
both houses. Portions of their converse
ton, too, were audible, and Payton was
heard trying 10 induce Nellie to go down
stairs into Smiths house with him. He
told her he was out of a Job and was going
to Paris, KY, and before he went would
like to talk With her down in Mrs. Smiths.
She refused to go, and he pleaded with her
nearly an hour, every now and again kiss
ing her and endeavoring to coax her to do
as he asked her. She refused, however, and
finally started to go into the house when
suddenly one of the girls, Mollie Kane, saw
him grasp her by the shoulder with one
hand, and forcing her back against the wall,
with the other drew revolver, which he
placed against her breast and fired, the ,wo
not being foot apart at the time.
Nellie broke from Payton and ran, her
hand pressed to her bosom, across the hall
way into No, q, kept by Mrs. Bryce. Pay
ton again fired, but missed, Nellie fled
pursued by him, through three rooms final
ly reaching one far enough ahead to lock
the door behind her.
Payton then leisurely put up his pistol,
remarked that he had settled her at last +"
and walked out of the house.
The wounded girl had in the meantime
been taken to her sisters house, and COM
planning of weakness, was laid upon a
lounge. In five minutes she was a corpse.
As soon as the murderer left he was fol-
lowed by two boys, Abe Fiellcr and Thomas
Clark. He went straight to his brothers.
saloon on Vine street, opposite the Grand
Opera-house, changed his silk hat for q
straw hat, and left for Clay fuckers saloon,
on Vine, near Second. Here lie called for
some whisky. The boys notified Detective
Wappenstein and Officer Ramsey, who ar
rested Payton.
On the way to the Ninth-street Station lie
inquired about the girl and being told that
she was dead, said he was sorry for her. His
revolver, small Bonanza" was taken
from him and found to contain three loaded
barrels and two empty ones. In his cell he
said he killed her and was glad of it. At
one time he told the above then again that
he did it in self defense; another time that
lie llti DCCutlSc llttlt w
kill him; then that his brother discharged
him on account of the girl and therefore he
shot her. In fuckers saloon he had said
that he shot girl, remarking: Il wanted
to kill her, and | want to kiss her corpse
when she is dead
In personal appearance Payton looks to
be about the last man one would think
capableUf murder. He is about the medium
height, rather slim, with dark hair and eyes,
and talks i'll draWling tone. He betrayed
but little concern on his arrest, but about
midnight seemed to be beginning TO realize
his position.
The Stickley family were notified of their
daughters death, and left Madison last
night by boat. Payton's brother who left
the city at noon, was telegraphed for last
night.
Payton was brought before the Police
Court this morning and, through his attor-
ney, Mr.. L. c. Campbell, asked for a con-
tinuance of his trial until Friday next. The
continuance was granted and Payton was
committed without bail.
The Inquest.
CAROLINE BREIs,
the first witness testified that she lived at
No. "a East Fourth; did not know Payton;
saw him come there about a dozen
for a long time; he generally came in
the evening and some times in the
afternoon to see Nellie Stickley. Saw him
yesterday afternoon about o'clock. He
staid but short time when the shooting
occurred. Heard some man talking in the
hall to the deceased then a shot, and
Nellie came running through my room;
PAXTON followed and wanted to
break open the door of the room