The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1895-02-28
TRAGEDY AT LEXINGTON.
KILLING OF DIR PAYNE BY BAX-
lER SHEMwELL.
Mr.C. r. Watson TO Appear for the
Defendant-Mrs. ShemwcN Went
10 Jail With Her Husband.


From Daily Sentinel Feb. Goth.
The shooting at Lexington was
quite an unfortunate affair.
THE SENTINEL was unable to obtain
the particulars yesterday afternoon,
Notwithstanding a telegram was sent
to the Davidson Dispatch asking for
them. A few minutes after FIVE
o'clock the following answer came to
our query for the news:
"A business man shot and killed DR..
r L. Payne, Sr., the Oldest and best
known physician of Lexington, at
about 1880 O'Clock this morning The
killing grew ont Of bad feelings be-
tween the two parties named"
Mr. G. B. Watson left here last
night for Lexington to defend Baxter
Shemwell, the man who killed DR..
Payne. He received several kilograms
from Lexington yesterday afternoon
asking him TO represent the defendant
and prosecution. Mr.. Watson had
engaged his services to appear for Mr..
Shemwell when the tele0ram came
from the prosecutors, besides he de-
cided few years ago never to prose-
cute any person who was on trial FOR
his life, no matter how lucrative the
fee might be.
ONE REPORT OF THE SHOOTING.
From the Greensboro Record it is
learned that Saturday night DR. K l..
Payne, Jr., and Baxter Shemwell had
some words in barber shop. Pistols
were drawn but some friends stopped
the row.
Yesterday morning Mr.. Shemwell
met DR.. Payne, Sr., father Of DR.. r.
l. , and the quarrel was resumed. In
moment pistols were drawn and
five shots were fred by each OF the
beliigerents, but fortunately no one
was hit.
1t is said SheIuwell went home after
another gun, but a relative stopped
him and talked it out Of his head. In
the meantime, the senior and elder
Payne were waiting quietly In their
office for the appearance OF Shemwell.
1t is feared that the worst is not
yet over, for all the parties are true
grit and never finch in fight. Why
no one was hit in the ten shots fred
is mystery. They were not scared
and were not shooting for fun-that'S
sure. Excitement was, perhaps, too
high.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
From specials sent to the morning
papers it is learned that after the first
difficulty the parties were promptly
arrested and taken before justice OF
the peace. They waived examination
and were bound over to the Superior
Court. DR.. Payne was first TO give
bond and started on his way home,
then Shemwell gave bond and imme-
diately followed the doctor down town
with pistol in each hand. Some one
on the street told DR.. Payne that
ShemWell was after him, and the Doc
tor turned around. Then Shemwell
fred the fatal shot just in front of the
Presbyterian church, of which DR..
Payne was an honored elder. Officers
were on hand in few minutes and
promptly arrested Shemwell and COM
mitted him to Jail without BAH.
Feeling ran high in Lexington yester-
day afternoon and there was some
talk of summary punishment, and
were it not for Shemwell'S family and
prominent kinsfolk, old Davidson
might have been the scene of another
| lynching.
Dr. Payne was about 60 years of age.
aud favora bly, known all over the State.
| lie was large man, six feet high, and
| weighing bout $50 pounds, good, kind
hearted and a perfect gentleman.
None knew him but to love him.
| Baxter Shemwell, the slayer, is a
son of the late DR.. Shemwell, of Da-
| wilson county. He is about IS years
| old aud small Of stature. He and his
wife. who was Miss Burnheim, are
well connected. He is now president
| of the Lexington Drug Company.
He has been the inventor and pro-
! moter of one or two patents from
which he amassed fortune and is
among the largest property owners in
| Lexington. He is quiet looking
man, ordinarily, but when aroused he
is demon, having more than on one
occasion been in bloody alterations
with his uncle, Mr.. Charles ThOmp.
son, in which Shemwell was shot anG
seriously wounded.