Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-16
Poeahontas Smith Embraces
Man Who Cut Her Throat.
GIVEN TEN-YeAR SENTENCE
ssmus. Payne Must Serve Long Term
for slashins Young Negro Woman
NTH Raxor-Mrs. Josephine EverS
SIGH Fined Fifty Dollars and Costs.

AS he was being led from the Cor
roration Court room back to the cit,
jail yesterday afternoon after the
jury had sentenced him 10 ten years
IN the state penitentiary, Simue
Payne, alias Samuel Payne. young
negro, was embraced in the corri'
dor outside OF the court room by
pocahontas Smith. the young negro
woman, whose throat he cut from ear
TO ear with a razor In Rockets last
October. Payne was sentenced 10 the
pepisentiary fer this crime and
pocahontas Smith was the principal
witness against him at the trial.
Payne apparently held no resent
ment against the woman for the dam
aging testimony she had given
against him before the jury and
calmly submitted 10 the farewell en-
brace and kiss which the woman
bestowed upon him while the officers
in charge OF the prisoners and others
In the corridor looked on. As Payne
was led away the woman watched him
with tear-iilled eyes.
4, Gu. When She Yelled murder"
Although q dozen or more witnesses
we're heard. the trial OF Payne con-
sumed but a few hours. The evidence
showed that the man had met the
woman on Twenty third street near
warwick avenue and after walking
short distance with her he pulled
out razor. She threw her head
back to cry murder" and as she did
SO he slashed the sharp blade oil
steel across her throat. cutting 1t
iron ear to ear and completely sever.
Ing the esophagus and cutting several
large blood vessels.
AS the woman fell to the ground
with the blood gushing from the
wound, Payne closed the racer. placed
II In his pocket and ran. Charles
Woodsen. negro better known as
Big Casino" who saw the cutting
called Patrolman Messick. who was
nearby, and the officer captured Payne
after short chase.
Wanted to Finish Job.
When arrested Payne asked II she
was dead" and stated that II she
xasnt he would like to be taken TO
her so that he could finish the job.
DR.. Foreman, coiored, testified yes
terday that he. had taken six stitches
In the esophagus and thirty-two
stitches In her neck. The wounds
are practically nealed now.
After the evidence was in. Com
monwealth's Attorney Charles c.
berkeley. who prosecuted the case
and Attorney <. s. Robinson. counsel
for Payne. argued the case before the
Jury. The jury was out only fifteen
minutes.
Mrs. Eversich Fined $50.
After hearing the statements OF the
woman that she was drunk at the
lime of the shooting and did not
know what she was doing, the jury
In the Corporation Court early yes
terday afternoon found Mrs. Jose
phine Eversich. who twice shot hel
husband on July 25. guilty OF assault
ana battery and fined her $50 ant
costs, amounting in all TO about $50
The woman paid the fine and left the
.eourt room with her husband.
When placed on the stand. Mrs
Eversich said that she had been fee!
ing badly on the Sunday when she
did the shooting and that she tool
some whiskey She and her HUSBAND
ararrelied twice during the day aftel
she had. taken the drinks and she
shot him each time. the first tins
with a 22-calibre rife and the second
time with a 32-calibre revolver.