Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-18
ing on Alfred street. A quarrel ensued. and

Ing on Alfred street. A quarrel ensued. and
Payne claimed that Bryant fired the first
shot. Payne said he followed Bryant, who,
he said, fired second time. Payne chased
his enemy several hundred feet and killed
him. William Brawner testified that Bry-
ant came to his store March q and pro-
cured a pistol which he had left there a
year ago. Mr.. Brawner said the weapon
was rusty and had failed to go off when he
previously. had tried to discharge it.
The verdict returned by the jury read:
1--WE, the jury, find the prisoner. Frank
Payne. guilty Of murder in the second de-
gree. and fix his punishment at imprison-
nent in the penitentiary for eighteen
years" When questioned to what he had
to say. Payne said he did not consider his
trial fair. Judge Norton pronounced the
sentence, and the prisoner was remanded
to Jail.
Address to Local Democrats.
The city democratic committee has receiv-
ed letter from Mr.. ]. Taylor Ellyson
chairman of the state democratic commit
tee. urging the Importance of making
prompt and vigorous effort to secure a full
vote here May "a for the proposed consti-
tutional convention. Mr.. Elyson calls at
tention to the action of the state democratic
convention in Norfolk In declaring for a
constitutional convention. He refers to this
as binding upon every democrat in the state
to give the measure his hearty support.
The writer suggests that it might be well
to instruct voters that the official ballot If
handed in without any mark would be
vote for the convention. Concluding. Mr..
ElIyson says: Il cannot too strongly en-
phasiZe the Importance of an active and
earnest effort to bring our voters to the
polls on that day and Of the duty of every
democrat to vote for the constitutional con-
vention.
The spinks Case.
The statement that Attorney Francis L.
Smith had heep emDloyed nv the hoard of
police commissioners to assist Corporation
Attorney Boothe to defend the commission
ers in the mandamus proceedings instituted
in the corporation court against the board
by former Policeman Frank c. Spinks jr..
Is denied by the best authority. 1t Is sug.
gested that the employment OF additional
counsel may be attributed to those members
of the board who voted to dismiss Ofncer
Spinks from the police force, the board, IN
its entirety it is asserted, having taken no
such action. The day for a hearing of the
application for writ of mandamus has not
yet been announced.
General Matters.
Mayor Simpson In the police court this
morning. fined William S. Caro- s. for
drunkenness and indecent conduct caro-,
who is a sailor from the schooner Hattie
II. Barbour of Pensacola, Fla, was arrested
by Lieut. Smith. The prisoner at hrsl
! reached for a large knife which he had IN
his belt. but the lieutenant promptly struck
him with his stick
tered mon the discharge of his duties. has
arranged to be in his office In the city nan
| from 10 to IL o'clock in the morning and
| from to o'clock in the afternoon.
Ex-Judge and Mrs Thomas ]. Mackey
have returned to this city after spending a
| short time in Rosslyn. Va They have taken
rooms at No. Ills King street.