Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-10-21
f. HOTEL MAN is SLAIN.
John Bsaman, of Fond du Lac, Murdered by a
Negro, William Payne, Because he Refuses
Payne Drink of Whiskeu.

Sheriff Hymer, of Lancaster. has
received dispatches warning him
to be on the lookout for a negro MUIR
derer named VIM. Payne, who may
be headed this way. Our sheriff has
wired all of his deputies in Grant
county to keep sharp watch for the
strange negro. Particulars of the ter
rible affair have been learned as
follows:
John Beaman, aged 50-years, pro-
prietor of the Beaman hotel at Fond
du Lac, was murdered at 4 O'Clock
Sunday morning by negro named
VIM. Payne
The hotel runs all night and has
bar attached. Six men were present
when the deed was committed, but
the murderer ran from the hotel bar
room, and, rushing down one of the
principal streets. made his escape.
Payne was drunk and talking loud
and flourishing a razor. He said he
was going to kill some one. He fol-
lowed Beaman behind the bar. forced
him against the wall, caught him by
the whiskers, and with the words:
This is the way I'll do it, brandished
his razor, and, before anyone sus-
pected any serious intention, cut
Beaman's throat from ear to ear
nearly severing his head.
The blood spurted across the room
deluging the frightened spectators
who rushed out doors. PAYNE escaped
during the excitement.
The murdered man attempted to
catch hold of his assassin. but his
strength failed him and he fell to the
floor and expired.
Five hundred men organized and
made a vigorous search for the muir
derer. At one time it was reported
that he was captured, and 1900 per-
sons gathered around the city lookup.
If the report had been true, Payne
would undoubtedly have been.
lynched.
A reward has been offered and re-
quest made to Gov. Scofeld that the
state offer $500 in addition.
The following description Of Payne
has been telegraphed over the state
by Sheriff Schaefer.
''Mulatto height, 5 feet 9 inches;
weight, 145 pounds; 24-years old;
light. brown-skinned; slim built; thin,
smooth-faced; high cheek bones; hair
short and kinky; upper front tooth
on left side filed with gold; talks in a
smooth, confidential manner with
slight, hoarse, gutteral voice; wore a
grey clothes"
Payne is between 26 and % years
of age and had been a member of
small company of colored musicians
who had been giving entertainments
in the rural districts. He made his
headquarters in Fond du Lac for
year and when not on the road did
chores for his board at the hotel kept
bv the murdered man. The refusal
of Mr.. Beaman to give him another
drink of whisky was the cause. it is
said, of the crime. The colony of
colored people in Fond du Lac, who
are generally respectable citizens,
repudiate Payne, as he was of
quarrelsome disposition and worthless
in character.
Mr.. Beaman went to Fond du Lac
ten years ago from Rosendale, where
he had been engaged in farming.
LATER-Wm. Payne, who murdered
John Beaman, was captured at Cal
vary station Monday morning and
taken to Fond du Lac. The news Of
his capture created considerable stir
and the sheriff quietly removed him
to the Oshkosh Jail About 1000
people gathered at the Fond du Lac
n and after a time quietly dis
pul-ed, not knowing that Payne had
been removed to Oshkosh. When
the people afterward learned that the
prisoner had been taken to Oshkosh
they were highly indignant, saying
that they had no intention Of harm
ing him.
In an interview at the Jail Payne
said that he was very drunk when he
committed the crime and had not
known what he had done until he was
informed q the murder by the sheriff
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