Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-07-02
Interview with John williams ana
Winter Payne.

| uceroes 10 the county Jail at WarrenloD. under
seulerc5 CT death for murder 1t will be re-
| u,cnlbe:ed that on the mornrg Of the III day
of February, 1872 the dead body CT Howard
| Hozclaw, tclt graph operator end express
| aseut al Warrtnton Junction, was found q
short dis.GLco from that place, and 1t at otcs
became evident that murder had been com
mitlcd. Suspicion at oIc, fixed itself upon
Johu Williams ss the pcrpctrator oil the crime,
and the rcxt day be was arrested and lodged 10
the i1il st Alexandra for sale keeping rpm the
threats OF lynchbg made by tho friends OF the
| murdered mao. Long before the day oil thai
came on what from the first appeared to be a
slroug suspicion OF guilt became stronger. aud
the chain f ci1cuulstantial evidence, supported
| by tie pa.o. testimony OF WITNESSES, became So
perfect, conclusive AID overwhelming that VII.
lians Determined TO makc clean breast o! II
| by cjnl, sion. lie at onc time pretended that
there were conlcdcret:s associated @lth BIN III
the cJmms. i'm Of the decd with which he was
| charged, but his statements 10 this regard were
50 cot Il cng aud contradictory thai no ono be-
litval them, and he iuaiy acknowledged that
he alone had planned and executed the mus.
der. At Ii; trial before tho Circuit Court CT
l'.u1uicr county. 10 the latter part OF February,
the aecasel vas convicted Of murler 10 the
G,st degree aud sentctc,d to b hanged on the
the 30ih day Of May last, but that being Deco
ration Day this sentcLc, was commuted TIL the
llth Of this mouth.
Winter Payne, who has been the rival OF
Williams 10 crime. a1d will be his paltocr 10
death, murdered James Adams, negro, 81
wears OF age near Salem, on the lS.h day OF
April last, by sinking his victim over the head
with O club as he was stopping to 20 through q
mir Of bars, crushing the skull, aDd scattering
flacucuts OF flesh and brains arourd on the
grass. Adams Vas found the nest day with
his cars, 1850 aud fac, eaten oti by dogs.
PAYNE was ably defended by Mr.. James Scott,
Of WarIcntoD, i; his trial. which came on be
fore the County Court Ct Fauq1ler in May, bat
the evidelco OF his gull: was SO oVcrpoHerlng
that the jury returned verdlc. OF guilty OF
murder 10 the frs. degree, aud the court. ndsc
VIM. H. Gaines presiding, sentenced MN 10
no hanged on the .i,h Of July, but that day be
inr q national holiday, this sentence was alter.
cards conmutod till the llh Of this month.
These mcn will be hung in the il yard OF
Warrcuton between the hours OF Eve and seven
O'Clock on the morning Of the llth. The ex
ccution will be conducted 10 as quiet manner
ss possible. OILY the officers OF the law, news
!, paper reporters, and o few spectators will DC
admitted. The yard 10 which the hanging will
take pIsc, is enclosed by stone wall som, 80
odd feet hish, and Is only about 20 by 40 feet 10
area.
The representative Of the Gsz,tto found this
"oob!e pair Of brothers. io the same CELL WI
Inns was walking up AID down the floor, with
his arms deliberately folded across his breast,
his head erect, and his features calm; Payne
was sitting on STOOL like detected patience on
O monument Whiting for death, his head upon
his hands, and his hands upon his knees AID
dressing himself 10 Williams, who advanced to
the door OF the oCll--
The Reporter said We'll, Williams, run
most of the leading newspapers 10 this country,
and rs the public always fees au Interest 10
man 10 yout situation. | have called TO have
little talk with you about yourself. How old
arc vou and where did you live before tho war?
Wiliams-l ON % years old; belonged TO
uan nam,d Richard Wilkins, Of Portsmouth,
Va; was hired GU. most Of the timer
Repar.cr--Can you read and write?
Williams Il en- read little; went to school
about three months after VAS set tree; cant
write muct; can make out to scrbble my name.
Reporter--Did you have any grudgc asans:
Mr. Holz,aW?
Wiliiams-No. indeed, sir; he Was a good
friend Of mine; had known him over eighteen
months: he had d1no me a good macy tavors.
Reportcr-They say that you tcck something
belonging to hin once, ard he wtu|d not have
you prose Gated, but let you cit when you re.
turrea the properly, and shielded yon from ar
resi-; is that a fact?
Wiams-lcs sir, he did, (sniIinalyi; have
you got any tobacco?
Eaportc1-l don't use tobacco. but will get
you some; what induced you 10 70 back on your
best iiieod, and murder him?
Wianls--l VS. dIulk end the devil VAS in
mr.
R:porter-WiI you have anything to sly on
The scatfoId?
Wiiams--I don't know; would it do any
good | have already told all, and tho lawyers
aib left much for me TO say.
Raportcr-l suppose yGu arc ready TO 90 CD
the lib? Have you made your pcac, with God
and d. you CXpcc. to go 10 heaven aud all that
Wl!iim:--L feel very bad sometimes and
can { eat much.
Reporter-D0 you expect to 90 to heaven?
Williams-l am 10 hopes. lon koow man
will hope. try to lhlGk 80. ] am getting
batter satisfied.
Rop0rteI-Wcro your incarceration terml.
mated by the interpGslion OF executive clemen'
cy aud your restoration to civil and political
equality before tho law coDsummatcd, would
sou continue TO abuse the privileges Of civil and
religious liberty by deeds OF moral urpltude
Williams-l don't know, bose. You is too
smart for me TO talk to.
Rapcrter-Wero you set free would you be
better man &?
Willisus--I th1k would. Yes, | would
fry.
Turning to Winter Payne. who still kept his
discousolatc position, aDd seemed not to be
aware Of any ln!rusipo upon the quiet Of his
prison cell,
The reporter said-Wintcr. am sorry 10
SEQ 7ou in this fix. How old are you?
Reporter-Wherc were you born?
| PaynC-I don't know.
Reporct-ro whom did you bc!oGg beiole
the var ?
Psyne-To PclIs Ann L,wlcr.
| eportcI-Where did she live
Payne-L don't know. | don't know any.
thing uow.
Reporter-D.d sou hit him good crack
| PaYne-I DOM knnY. ThcY say | hit him