Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-11-16
DAVIS ACCUSES
LAMBERT RAYNE
Says Husband Shot His wife
During Quarrel. Admits He
Loved The Woman.

Last Friday morning it was announced
that Mrs. Gertrude Rayne had been
murdered at her home in Powellville.
According to the accounts given it is
alleged that Mrs. Rayne, after quar-
rel with her husband, Mr.. Lemuel Rayne,
went to the home of neighbor. Mr..
Lynn Davis. and spent the night, re.
turning TO her home about five O'Clock
in the morning. MIR. Rayne having spent
the night in his store.
Mr.. Will Jones, on going to work. saw
flames bursting from the house and
rushed in, first discovered the murder.
Mr.. Rayne had seen smoke coming from
his house and called Mr.. Davis and
rushed up to the house supposing it
afire. They assisted drawing the body
out. II is said that Mrs. Rayne was
still alive when they got her out. 1t is
presumed that her murderer after COM
hitting the crime attempted to hide it
by setting the house on fire.
The authorities have arrested Benja-
min I. Davis, of Powellville. on the
suspicion of knowing something of the
murder. 1t is stated that boy saw
Mr.. Davis leaving the neighborhood and
go in the woods. Mr.. Davis was appre-
hended by Sheriff Smith on his way
home from Willards where he had driven
earlier in the day. The coroner's Jury
which sat in the case brought in an open
verdict.
Confronted Monday by the circum-
stantial evidence which has been gath
cred against him. 50-year-old Benjamin
Davis, accused of numbering Mrs. Ger
trude Rayne, emphatically denied that
he is guilty. Not only did he do that,
but he also accused Lambert Rayne, the
husband of the woman, with having
shot at her last Monday morning and
also asserted: II heard Rayne threaten
ing his wife some time ago"
Talk about me killing Gertie why.
we loved each other too much for that. :"
Davis stated. Yet, the neighbors of
the woman declare that because Mrs.
Rayne had shown affection for Davis
and that of late she had tired of him, CO.
ing as far as repulsing him. there was
motive for the prisoner killing her.
II have known Gertie since she was
babe" he explained. land for the
last five or six years we were intimate.
She married Lam. Rayne. bu; even
after that she did not lose any of her
old love for me or for her"
For long time | went to see her
every day. Last Monday went out
there and saw the house was topsy
turvy. There was gunshot hole
through the door and furniture strewn
over the floor. Gertie was not home,
but found her at neighbours house
later She told me that she and her
husband had quarreled. She said the
quarrel was about my coming to the
house. | told her it was funny that
Lam. should say anything then and did
not object years before. She told me
that he had beaten her and that he had
shot at her. was not surprised, be-
cause had heard him threaten her.
After this quarrel Rayne stayed in
Powellville. | was with Gertie on
Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Wednesday night | also saw her and
she was i'll. She said she was afraid
to stay at the house unless ! was with
her. | remained awhile and then we
went to the home of my daughter in
Powellville. Thursday morning | saw
her again. She and spent some time
together. We never had a cross word,
and when left kissed her. That was
the last time laid eyes on her.
Davis was told that he had been
seen near the Rayne home on Friday
morning about the time Mrs. Rayne's
body was discovered and the house afire.
He admitted that he was ''about a quar-
ter of mile away" when ne met young
| Wilmer Davis, q neighbor. "But was
returning from rabbit hunting" he ex-
planned. when the boy saw me. had
my shotgun with me. but did not shoot
any rabbits. did not know that Gertie
was dead until arrested"
When told that Mrs. Rayne had said
to several neighbors that Davis had
threatened to kill her, the prisoner
replied:
III do not believe she said that. They
are putting up job on me-
That Mrs. Rayne and her husband had
quarrel last Monday week was stated
by the woman herself to Justice of the
Peace wilkins at Powellville. II de-
veloped that on that day she had secured
warrant for her husbands arrest on
the charge of disorderly conduct. At
the time she swore out the warrant.
which was not served, she said that he
did flight with her" But she did not
say he fired shot at her or that he
broke up the furniture" as Davis
says she told him.
Rayne admits that hcsquarreled with
his wife on that day on account of Davis.
but he denied that he fired shot or
struck her." He is brokenhearted. The
youthful husband is perhaps the most
sadhearted person in this county. He
still blames Davis for his wife's death
and is assisting the authorities in gath
ering evidence. Wicomico News.