Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-10-07
CHEATED BY GRIM DEATH.
THE GIBBETLOSES IT'S PLEDGED
VICTIM.
Reuben PaytOn, the st. Simon's Island
Murderer, Dies in the JaiI-History of
the Crime for Which He was Con-
demned-A Negro Gamblers End.

Reuben PaytOn, the st. SimOn's Island
Murderer, Dies in the JaiI-History of
the Crime for Which He was Con-
demned-A Negro Gamblers End.
The gallows was cheated of its victim
| yesterday in the death of Reuben Payton.
the negro who killed Watt Russell at ST.
Simon's Island, last April, and who died
at the Jail early yesterday afternoon. The
prisoner, who was under sentence Of
death, was taken sick in his cell few
days ago with bilious fever. When the
first symptoms of the disease were no
ticed he was removed from his cell. where
he had been confined since his commit
ment last May, to a large room IN the
second floor of the Jail. He was attended
by DIR. Bulloch and at times by DIR. Har-
ris, and was permitted by Sheriff Roman
to have such food as he had craving for,
when the permission of the physicians
was obtained. His Illness was not deemed
serious, until Sunday afternoon. He
laughinglV remarked, II am not going to
die this time; my hour will not come for
good while yet"
Yesterday morning he was resting
quietly, and his death was unexpected by
him up to within a few minutes of the
hour when he ceased to breathe.
The fact of his demise was communica-
ted to the Sheriff, who was at the court
house, and to the Clerk of the Board of
County Commissioners about O'clock
yesterday afternoon. Undertaken Dixon
was authorized to prepare the remains
for interment, and at 4:30 O'Clock the
body was removed from the Jail in q neat
coffin and Inferred in the colored ceme-
terry.
The history of the crime in which Pay
ton figured as the author was given in
the MORNING News sometime ago. Rus
sell, the victim of the crime, with Payton
and number of other negroes, were en-
plOyed at a saw mill on st. Simon's Island
where they were in the habit of going ev-
cry night or so to an old shanty on the
island about a mile from the mill to gam
BILE. The participants in these games are
said not to have had at any one time a
large sum OF money to play, and one night
varying fortune left Russell indebted in
the sum of 81 % to Payton. He showed a
great deal of procrastination in making
settlement, and Payton occasionally re-
minded him of the obligation.
In this way the claim stood un-
til one night last April when the men
met at the mill Immediately after
work, and Russell said to Payton: "If
you will go with me out there" meaning
the place where they were in the habit Of
L Will pay you Tue uOlldT anu
quarter | owe yOu.n PaytOn said that he
had other matters to attend to, and that he
did not care to go, but Russell persisted
PaytOn had in his pocket 30 cents, but
expected that he would receive during the
night the amount which Russell induced
him to go after.
The party gambled until late hour.
Russell lost his 81 and Payton his 30 cents,
the latter still being under the impression,
however, that Russell had the sum prOmis-
ed him stored away in his clothes, and that
would be forthcoming on the way back to
the mill, near which the men had their
sleeping quarters. He finally said to
Russell:
''Give me tie dollar and quarter you
promised me-" Russell replied that he
couldn't do it, that he had lost all the
money he had. PaytOn said, ''You didn't
have any money when you went there,
did your
Eyes; had two dollars, which lost"
He then upbraided him in jocular way
for taking him so far for nothing and
called him some slanderous name
Russell retorted by using a similar
expression. Payt0n demanded that he
take back the name he called him.
He had knife in his hand and was
about TO cut a pice of tobacco,
and advancing towards Russell, poked
the blade at him. 1t penetrated his bcdy
near the heart, and Russell fell and died
in about twenty minutes. PaytOn claimed
| afterwards that he had no intention to
kill the man, and that he was not even
vexed with him.
He was arrested and tried in Glynn
county Superior Court, at Brunswick, in
the beginning of the following month, and
found guilty of murder, though his attOr-
neys, MessTs. Smith and Harris, made
brilliant defense OF their client, and dis
puted every step taken by the Solicitor
General in his prosecution. The prisoner
was sentenced to be hung on June 20, and
was sent to Chatham county iaiI for safe
keeping, where he was committed on
May 10.
During the interval following the sem
tence, and the day appointed tor the exc
cution, PaytOn's lawyers obtained
supersedeas, and took the case for review
before the Supreme Court. This was
done without apprising the prisoner or
the Sheriff OF Chatham county. Pay
ton devoted himself to meditation
| and prayer. The clergy visited
him daily, and by June 30 he
was recOnciled and expressed his willing
ness to atone for the crime he had COM
| mitted. But the Sheriff of Glynn county
| failed to come to Savannah and take him
to the place of execution. The non-ar-
rival of that officer was apparently dis
| appointment to the condemned man, and
a matter of surprise to the authorities of
| Chatham county. Gov. Mcdaniel was
asked by telegraph from Savannah if he
| had stayed the execution, and replied that
| he had not. The reason that the sentence
| was not carried out was not explained
| for some weeks, when it was ascertained
| that the supersedeas had been granted.
The case would have been heard in the
| Supreme Court some time next month.
| The deceased, who has cheated the gal
| lows by his death, was tall and muscu-
lar negro, with deep, sunken eyes, high
| cheek bones, and medium size mouth
| and nose, the latter almost straight. His
face was partially covered by a thin
| growth of beard, and short moustache.
He was native of North Carolina, and
"a years of age. He came to Georgia
along with his father and mother a num-
Der of years ago. His parents are still
| living at Albany, and the fact of his death
will be communicated to them by letter.