Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-07-11
TWO CENTS.

ber1ng that this was Decoration day, changed
the sentence SO that he should be executed this
ing to The STAR correspondent. Williams said
that Mr. Holtzclaw had always been good and
kind employer and friend to him, but that
BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND WHISKY
he forgot this kindness so far that he made up
his mind to murder him on the way from his
Office to his residence, which was little ways
outside OF town, and that he picked out the
n1gn1 n ne - dd ID because 50 few few persons were, on
He said he thought that Ills victim always car
ried money with him, and it was the hope OF
securing this that urged him on with his fearful
design. After shooting Holtzclaw, which he
DID from behind plank set up along side OF a
renee, ne took from his pockets s. 50 fn silver,
pocket o0ok containing about $40 In notes.
Iooklng-glass. He was surprised to find so little
money, and soon was sorry that he picked out
aime III Wnen Hoitzclaw had such q small amount
gun, went to Mr.. Holtzclaw's room at the house
where he boarded and ransacked that. but
found nothing of value. The following day,
1mpl1cate, he walked to neighboring VILLAGE
where he spent more OF the money buying
whisky. On his return from there he was ar
sentence, which has been in the county fail
here, he has, the sheriff says, been what
s 6e caso Mas toa good 10 g sSs doing what
but very little to say. lie, however, spent the
greater portion OF his time sitting down on his
though he was visited very frequently by vari
GUS ministers, several of them colored, he gave
them but little evidence that he was thinking
Oh ora anything except the present life. During the
past couple OF days, however, he told several
that he thought he had been converted and
hoped he had been pardoned for his crime. He
was especially anxious that others should ben
pondent to be sure to tell every one he could
that whisky has been my ruination, as it has
been OF many man. and for Gods sake tell
he was twenty mine years OF age, and was raised
IN portsmouth, Va. His previous reputation
had been good with but single thing against
him, as far as known, and that was Of roboing
Mr. Holtzclaw OF several small articles some
time ago. The affair was OF such q trifilng
character that Mr.. Holtzclaw would not prose-
cute him.
THE CRIME FOR WHICH PAYNE SUFFERED DEATH.
Payne was younger by some years than his
companion on the scaffold, Williams, and was
heavier built and lighter In color He and
Adams were employed by Mr.. Geo B. Cochran,
handS. On the 18th Of Aprii aSt they Quarreied,
and when separated Payne remarked, "Ill fix
him YETI The men went to their homes by
about them until the following morning when
the body OF Adams was found under a rail- fence
on an adjoining farm, parts OF his head having
Pa9ne e Or nSgs ing sne
tAOr1t1eS, telling everything In connection with
the murder: 1t was apparent from his own story
that he laid In wait and attacked Adams as he
was Climbing over the fence. The instrument
OF death was an axe-handle, with which
he not only buTsted Adams head open
but scattered his brains over the ground. He
HIS defense was that he acted in eifdefense.
and that II he had not killed Adams the latter
would have killed him. The facts as brought
out by.the prosecution, however, were that he
trouble In returning verdict of murder In the
nrst degree, the penalty OF which in this state
Is death. BY another peculiar accident Judge
Gaines sentenced him to be hanged Friday,
July 4, Qt was Judge Keith who passed SEN
tence on Williams but that being national
holiday OF course it had to be postponed The
change was then made so that both should be
hanged this morning from the same Scaffold.
Payne was raised In this town, and leaves
wife and two children here