National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-09-03
THE MONTELLO MURDER.
An Iudiscriminate and Fatal Shooting A fra
at n Festival

An Indiscriminatc and Fatal Shooting ARRAY
at n Festival.
Last Monday night dance was given by
colored man named Burnside at his house near
Monticello, station on the Baltimore 4 Ohio
railroad, just beyond the District limits. The
colored beaux aud bellies of Brightwood Ivy
City and the adjacent country participated.
Everything passed of quietly until about 10
o'clock, when two colorod youths named
James Payne and John Smith became en-
gagged in an alteration regarding their right
to the floor. Payne threw Smith to the
ground and got his right ear ia his mouth
aud chewed 1t vigorously. After considerable
difficulty bystanders separated the men and
Smith ran out of the house. Payne followed
him and again assaulted him. The friends of
the combatants then began fighting, and in the
melee Smith was shot in the mouth and right
leg He succeeded In shaking Payne off and
attempted to escape from him. Tho latter
again followed, and Smith turning quickly
drew n seven.shooter and fired one shot at him.
1t evidently did not take effect, for Payne
grappled with Smith, and picking him up in
his arms dashed him violently to the ground
At this time tho fight began among the out.
sidcrs with renewed vigor. At least fifty
pistol-shots were fired, and one took effect in
the side OF Payne, killing him Instantly.
ceased crawlod into q ditch, where he was
afterward found by his friends, who took him
home. As soon as the news reached Lieuten-
ant Johnson, of the Second precinct he de-
tailed officers to hunt up Smith and other par
Elephants in tho affair, in order to have them
ready for coroncr's Inquest. As the killing
occurred in Maryland, the authorities of that
State took charge Of the case. An inquest WAS
held yesterday, and verdict was rendered
| that Payne WAS killed at the hands of Smith.
| Officers Rhodes and Cole arrested Smith about
10 o'clock yesterday morning, and locked him
up at the Second precinct station.
| STATEMENT OF THE PRISONER.
A representative of The NATIONAL RE.
PUBLICAN interviewed the prisoner last night
| in his cell at the Second precinct station. He
is tall, well.madc dark-skinned colored
| fellow with an honest, open countenance. He
said his name was John Smith that he was
| the son of James aud Caroline Smith, who live
in the vicinity of Burnsides, on what is
called the back" road 10 Bladensburg. He
| lives with u dairyman named Boil. His age
is seventeen, aud he claims to be sober and
/ industrious lad. He WAS at the festival at
| Burnsido's, but had drank nothing and had
seen no difficulty until about IL o'clock,
when Jim Payme's brother-in-law got
in a row about girl, and the first
thing lie knew Jim Payne reached for
| him Smith he said, Hold on, Jim. Pm your
friend jim replied, "Neyer mind, I'll lift the
back OF your head OH" ~ tried to keep out
OF the row." continued Smith, but he first
hit me aud then bit my ear; he got me under,
and when forced to get up raised mo up with
him by holding my ear in his teeth Burnside
| then came and separated us, and tried to get
away, but again met Jim Payne, who strucl,
and bit me again hit him back with my
fist, aud again got away, but he followed SO
close that drew my pistol and fred In the
crowd there was good bit of shooting at
that time, and do not know whether my shot
took effect or not | continued running with
my friends, and went TO house one of oul
party went back for some OF the women and
to learn who was hurt We first heard o