Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-17
SHOOTING ARRAY.
TT GREW OUT OF A sCANDALous
RuMon ABOUT A YOUNG LADY.
MIR. n. l.. Payne Attacked by e. A.
Rice and II. Nj. Cox, and shot
by the tatter--arrested and
Bailcd.
Bailcd.

FARMvILLE. VA. April I6.-(spe-
cIaL)-A most unfortunate shooting ARRAY
occurred on one Of the public
thoroughfares of Farmville yesterday
about noon. The prominence In the
community Of the principals rendered the
shock to all greater than 1t ordinarily
would have been.
The occurrence grew out OF scandal
lous rumor. accusing Mr.. Il. A.
Rice OF wrongdolng with certain
yourg lady temporarily staying In this
place. This ugly report was put upon
the swiftly-fying wings of Madame
Rumor Saturday morning. and before
The going down OF the sun II had been
whispered in nearly every ear. All day
sunday ST was freely aired on the street
formers and throughout the town. Ma
lurally an investigation ensued on the
part OF Mr.. Rice, while the young lady
said to have left town Sunday after
ioon. The report was traced yesterday
BY Mr.. Rice 10 Mr. X. l.. Payne. a builder
md contractor. Rice at once armed
himself with pistol and made
Iearoh for Mr.. Payne 10 avenge the
wrong which he claimed had been done
aim. Before coming across him, how
,vor he met his father. Mr.. i. II. c.
Rice. who was in company with Mr..
B. NJ Cox. 1t is said that young Rice
ipprised them Of his mission, and they
lissuaded him from using the pistol and
mggestod the cowhide. The latter was
quickly procured. and the search con-
inued by the young man IN company
With his father and Mr. Cox.
Dir. Payne was finally met. al the cor
YER OF Middle and Second streets.
THE MEETING.
He was on the way to dinner. and had
ais arm fun Of tools. Mr.. Il. A. Rice
.sked him If he had not circulated the |
Icaudalous report above referred TO- and. |
recording TO the statement Of Payne. |
before he could explain Cox struck |
II him with his fist and young |
Rice slashed him across the face with |
The whip. Mr.. Payne attempted TO de-
end himself against his assailants with
me OF his working tools, when Mr. Cox
whipped out a revolver and shot him.
The ball penetrated the left shoulder and
soursed downward. landing in the muscle
# his arm. The wound. though painful. is
Tot considered dangerous. Mr.. Cox at
5nce surrendered himself to the authOri-
les Warrants were issued for the ar
est OF the Messrs. Rice.
At the preliminary trial this morning
before Justice r. \. Booker, eX-Gov-
,rn0r Mckinney and Colonel J. p. FitZ-
gerald appeared for the defendants and
waived examination.
SENT on.
II is reported that the father Of young
Rice snapped his pistol In Payne's face
two or three times. and hence he along |
with Mr. Cox. was sent on to the
grand jury to answer a bin Of indict-
meut They all gave the required bail
TIE affair is deeply deplored by all
classes Of people. Mr. Cox is eXpost- }
master Of this place, and is held in the
highest esteem. He Is a man of family, q
and is the present clerk to the president
IF the State Female Normal School Mr.. {
?. II. c. Rice IS the agent OF the Farm
lille and Powhatan Railroad Company Q
iere. and is greatly respected by all.
EMPHATIC DENIAL.
It is but just 10 say that in Mr.. +
'aynes statement he gives emphatic
enial 10 the charge that he was the
originator OF the report about Mr. Rice
nd the young lady in question