The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-06
PUT OFF WEDDING
Scott b. Payne of Morrison, Ill.
Disappointed.
Came to Topeka to Collect
Money From Guardian.
TO ENFORCE DEMAND.
Was Rather Strenuous, Using
a Loaded Revolver.
Must Work Out S25 Fine on
Rock Pile.
TO ENFORCE DEMAND.

Tired and despondent. Scott B
Payne. in search of his guardian A C
Kornhaus. arrived in Topeka Friday
from Morrison. Ill, and at night was
locked in the city Jail for trying to col
1ect his share Of his parents estate from
his former guardian and foster father
The story OF Payne, now 20 years old
is a succession Of hardships. distress,
and III treatment, yet Withal he stands
erect and tells his story of trouble
which almost overweighs the little bolt
of evidence against him although he
carried a gun when arrested The story
in brief follows: I was about six
years old when kOrnhauS adopted me
from the poor farm near Morrison, Ill,
where he lived at that time. How my
folks happened to be there I do not
know for they had some property. but
they died and left 800 for me and my
two sisters. From the first was
afraid Of KOrnhauS who was also
made nv guardian and yet I did all he
told me afraid to tell him / was afraid
of him or say anything to him He
made me work hard all the time When
I was thirteen years old he beat me
nearly TO death one day with a harness
tug using the cOck-eye end, and my
back was black and blue for weeks
afterward- Then I first began TO hate
my guardian and vowed I'd kill him as
a boy is apt to do in anger but Of
course did nothing though loathed
him more every day
Finally his wife took sick and after
long illness, when tried to help him
Then ne disappeared and 1 was left to
get along as best could He made no
provision for me and did not leave me
any money though he did leave my re-
lease from my adoption I worked
wherever I could get work on farms
for years around Morrison and at
Scranton and Denfson. Ia
The guardian OF my sisters secured
the money for them and one has al
ready come into possession. Ny mon
and thought that my guardian had ab-
seconded with it Then got trace of
him here at Topeka and resolved to
come and get It some way I have
been working for Libby. McNeaI and
Libby in Morrison and got weeks
lay of TO come I arrived yesterday
and made inquiry for my man. who I
found was living southwest of the city
and had bought a livery barn here I
got 4 rig to drive me out to his place
on the way We passed a man with
load OF corn which I thought was he
and at the place We learned that il
had been, so hurried back to over
take him We passed and I waited
for him while had the Iveryman
drive on ahead
when he drew up asked him If
he did not recognize me and he said
he did not. though he did as I told
en- me years ago. I told him what I
came for and he put me of by saying
that he had turned over all rights
in my money before he left Morrison.
and tried to talk of everything except
money and added that he himself at
the present had nothing and was go
ing TO have q sale soOu- During the
ride I showed him the gun and told
him that If I had seen him last night
would have shot him
AT his livery barn where We stop
ped began to write a letter to my
sweetheart and the officers came and
arrested me. I guess he had tele-
phoned them for they came and took
the gun and later took NE TO the sta
ion
"And the reason came" he added.
the tears cOursing down his face Il
wanted to get married next week and
needed that money which is the only
memory left my OF my parents. but
which has made me all this awful
misery
TIE letter Payne was writing to his
sweethea covers six pages and runs
I'D TO the very moment he was arrest
ed In it he tells OF his love and their
future to be if he can just get this
money to help get started and says