The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-02-28
A TRAGEDY In
LEXINGTON.
An Eminent Physician Killed.
Rivalry in Business the First
Cause of Trouble.
CONNECTION AND FURORE.

CONNECTION AND FURORE.
The Popuiace Wild with Excitement and
Nervousness - Tn. Town 0ncisi. and
Citizens Dsfed, hut the Criminal 10 III
nalIy Jailed. Where His Wife Visits Him.
There was tragedy in the town of
Lexington yesterday morning. Mr..
Baxter Shemwell, a prominent and
wealthy citizen of the town, struck Dr.
K. l.. Payne, q widely known physi-
clan, blow on the head. from the
effects of which he died
The trouble seems To have grown out
of business jealousy. Both partie.
were interested in drug stores in Lex
ington, Shemwell owning eighty-fiye
shares in one drug store, and DIR. PAYNE
about fifty shares in another. Ii ap-
pears that Shemwelfs aggressiveness
extended a little further than efforts to
promote his business, for
THE QUARREL CULMINATED
over a reported effort of Shemwell's To
discredit the professional work of DR..
Lee Payne, son of Dr. X. l.. Payne.
DIR. Lee Payne is examiner for some
life insurance companies, and Shem-
well had written to these companies
that the professional work done for
them by DIR. Lee Payne was not strict
! ~ done, or something else which re-
fiected on Payne. Last Saturday night
the two parties met when Payne &C
cused Shemwell of needlessly inter-
fering with his affairs. There were
some hot words and
sHEMWELL DREW A REVOLVER.
The interference of friends prevent
ed any serious consequences, for there
was no shooting. When they were
separated Shemwell said: If you will
have nothing more to do with me,
will let you alone.
Payne replied: You had better not
make further interference with my
business. Then there was quiet.
On yesterday morning (MOnday) DIR.
4. l.. Payne was standing in his office
door, which is Immediately in the
street, and saw Shemwell coming from
his home. The doctor hailed Shemwell
to see if he would
RECONCILE THE MATTER
which had occurred between his son,
DR.. Lee Payne, and Shemwell on the
proceeding Saturday night. During
the conversation something was said
at which DR.. r. l.. Payne called Shem-
we'll 'liar.' Shemwell quickly struck
DIR. Payne on the head with stick,
cutting an ugly and dangerous cash.
DR.. Payne turned to get his revolver.
when Shemwell drew one and opened
fire on the doctor. He fired several
times, but no shot took effect. BY this
time DR.. Payne had returned to the
DOOR WITH HIS REVOLVER
and tried to fire at Shemwell, but the
pistol had not been used for long
time and would not fire.
The shooting was heard by DR.. Lee
| Payne, who was in his fathers office,
| came out and began firing at Shemwell.
| Shemwell returned this fire, and the
shooting was kept up till all the
pistols were emptied. None of these
shots, however. took effect.
Shemwell then went to hardware
| store and
TRIED TO GET GUN,
but his manner led to suspicion that
| something was wrong and the store
people declined to let him have ny
/ thing. He wet to another store where
he got double barrelled shot gun and
a lot of shells, with this he was hurry
ing back to the office of the Paynes
who in the meantime had supplied
themselves with guns. On his way
back Shemwell was met by his wife
| who was nearly
CRAZED WITH FEAR AND EXCITEMENT
about seventy yards from the Payne
office. He said to her: Honey, please
get out of the way. But she threw her
arms around hin and said: You must
kill me first, and then you may Kill
whoever you will. A number of other
ladies then came up and finally per.
suaded ShemWell not to go any nearer
to the Office of the Paynes, who, it j:
reported, had determined to open fir.
upon him if he had
GONE TWENTY YARDS NEARER.
He then went back toward his store
but was all the while attempting to &c
away from his wife, when at his stor,
or near by, he managed to get posses
sion of Winchester rifle.
By this time news of the trouble haC
spread over the town like wild fire, ant
the excitement and cOmmotion were
something awful. The town officer
attempted to arrest >hemwell, but
WITH HIS SHOT GUN AND RIFLE
he warned them not to touch him. an,
they didu't. The man who had givel
him the shot gun went out an,
tried to get it back from Mr.
Shemwell, but could not approach
him. In fact about fifty of the citizen
were trying to get at Shemwell ant
disarm him, but he had grown desper
| II
approach him at their peril.
People continued to gather on tn
streets, and the main thorOughfare
were soon lined with a nervous, un
easy and excited populace.
Some private adyices received late il
the evening were to the effect that ID
r. L. Payne did not die from the ef
: fects of the blow given by Shemwel
: but that later in the day Shemwe
. managed to have another meeting wit
, Payne and
SHOT HIM DEAD
/ Three other men are reported
have been shot by Shemwell, and til
widest excitement was prevailing
the town.
: Arumor, with an alleged official b.
$ sis was to the effect that the disturb
S ance was so great and the factions
Il the different parties had been wrOugf
t up to such high tension, and the 81,
a uation had been made to the Governt
for
I CALLING OUT THE MILITARY
e to help quell the tumult.'
t Later in the evening. it was repOrte
o eAen