The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-03
|. S. AYRES & CO.
The NELLIE PAYNE TRIAL.
People from All Parts of the County
i'm Attendance.

FOWLER, April 29.-ISpecial.1 Fowler as
sumed the appearance of a circus today. Large
bodies of people from all parts of the county
were in attendance at the trial of Nellie c.
Payne. The case was opened by Prosecutor
Brown in very able manner and atterWard
the examination OF the witnesses began.
The first witness was Elmer Mcknight. who
testified to seeing Mrs. Payne alone on the
streets the night OF the shooting Feb. IL. Mrs.
Maggie Condor and Mrs. Lon Smith gave
similar testimony. Mrs. Lizzie Matchett testi-
fled that Mrs. Payne told her she was often
alone at night and could protect herself. Horace
Ross testified that the lady called at his
mothers house and asked IL the boys were at
home and he afterwards received a letter from
her (which was submitted in evidenoe). Joseph
Henry, the next Witness testified that when be
was at the fremont house Mr.. and Mrs. Payne
were boarding there, and witness saw several
men In Mrs. Payne's room. but saw no action
on her part out of the way.
DR.. Brook, the attending physician at the
time Mr.. Payne was shot. was the next witness
aud gave q graphic statement Of how he was
called the night OF the shooting
by Mrs. Payne, who stated that
her husband had been shot; that
the armed himself with re-
vOlver aud directed Mrs. Payne to call some of
the neighbors. He next detailed the condition
in which he found Mr.. Payne, the nature of the
wound, and stated that he thought Mr.. Payne
would be in danger as long as the bullet re-
manned in his breast, where it still is. Mr..
Payne stated that the shooting was a mystery
TO him, as be did not see how any one could
have got into and out OF the house without be.
Ing heard and in reply to a question Mrs.
Payne said there was no pistol in the house.
Mrs Payne asked me If | thought Mr.. Payne'l
wound was fatal; if thought the act would be
repeated, and how | accounted for the watch
being found In the bed covering: told her
did not know. Mrs. Payne asked me if had
any objection 10 her sending Lafayette physi-
clan. / told her had not
Court adjourned at o'clock p. m.
LAFAYETTE, May l. - Especial. i
Today Isaac Purdy of Chicago was the
first witness in the Payne case at Fowler
He testified to taking with Mrs. Payne
in the stairway when he was at work al
the house, and to conversations about
going away together. She said she
would furnish the funds. but witness said
he coul Id not leave his family. The wit
ness testified to being alone with Mrs.
Pavne In her bedroom at the fremont
house in 1887, and to having seen other
men 90 TO her room in 1878. Mrs.
Payne said TO witness several times that
she did not love her husband as she
should.
Ella Foster, who worked for Mccormick
where Brake boarded In 1892, testified to
seeing Mrs Payne 90 up stairs towards
Bra ke's room. Frank Dawson and Frank
Longwell testified seeing Brake go to
Payne's house at midnight more than
once and enter at the front door w;thou.
knocking. The witnesses spied on him
and heard Mrs Payne and Brake talking
inside. Chris Anstett saw Mrs PAYNE on
the night of the shooting on the street
near Markets store, going north about 10
o'clock. Webb Rhoads also saw Brake go
to Payne's about o'clock D. N. He
watched them and heard suspicious noises
inside: the lights were dimmed. also he
said that she came to witness, house
intoxicated one night last year.
Harry Grissel, photographer, saw Brake
and Mrs. Payne come out of the Circle
house at Indianapolis three or four years
ago. He also saw men go to her room at
the fremont. She had said in his hearing
that she did not like Payne had seen her
on the streets late at night.
Ernest Phares saw Brake enter Payne's
house last fall about q p. N. without
knocking.