Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-22
NEGRO BOOTLEGGER
Stays PROHIBITION
AGENT v. {. PAYNE
Daring Dry Inspector Shot
to Death at Village
of Rosslyn.
POSSE OF 200 CITIZENS
SEEKING FOR MURDERER
Bullet Struck Officer in Eye,
and He Died on Way
to Hospital.
FEW WITNESSES no KILLING
commissioner Peters Leave for
Scene Of Shooting, Bcmouning
Loss OF Inspector.
POSSE OF 200 CITIZENS
SEEKING FOR MURDERER
FEW WITNESSES no KILLING
Commissioner Peters Leave. for
Scene OF Shooting, BcInDuning
Loss OF Inspector.

Prohibition AGENT William T.. Payne
Vas shot and almost Instantly Killed a,
O'Clock last night at Eosslyn. Alex
"ndfia. by a negro bootleggcr The
ila!cr cscaped and up TO an early hour
this morning had not been found, al
though more than 200 armed men in
automobiles and afoot were scourin
the country about Rosslyn.
Payne had arrested the negro at the
rear of The Rosslyn Bank Building
rndirG that the man carried six quarts
OF whisky. The officer took the ncgro's
Liquor and ordered the man to get into
an automobile. The negro o5cyed and
walked 10 the 'front.' OF the car TO crank
H. Suddenly the negro leup.d from tn.
machine and ned lie had gone but Z,
lew steps when he stopped. ,drned and
hred at Payne.
BULLET HITS PAYNE.
~ ONE or EiEs
The bullet struck the prohibition
;.Scu, In the eye Persons hearing the
shoi ran 10 paynes assisianse and ID
Hospital. He died before reaching the
institution.
As far as could be learned last night.
few, II any. witnessed the shooting II
is understood that before dying, Payne
gave those with him a description Of
;he negro. II was first believed that
RossIyn negro. a pocketbook bearing
5achson's name Was found nca. the
scene OF tho murder.
Search was begun FOR Jackson. but
In the meantime. he heard that he was
Hs@fa'eqi shsriG H. "so i. rfielGs f Of
Without doubt that ' he was in 4 motion
picture theater the time OF the
shooting, and d!d no, XIII Payne. He
is stili held by the authorities pend :
ing their Investigation.
POSSE NOW SECURING
COUNTY SEEKING SLAYER
immediately nf,er the shooting
posse OF more than 200 citizens which
began sys;ematic search OF the en-
Il negro about six feet two inches tail.
very black. and wearing light ie-
dora hat and long. dark overcoat. Ine
State Prohibition Commissioner j.
Sidney Peters Was Immediately noti-
ned OF the, murder of Payne and ar
ranged 10 leave Richmond at once for
Rosslyn. e:ore leaving Commits :
sioner Peters declared that in Payne
wcli-niGh irreparable loss. lie SAID
,ha; Mr.. Payne had been in the work
more than year. and had arrested
more violators OF the law than any
other member OF the Prohibition De-
partment-
WAS MOST ACTIVE
OFFICER On FOKCE
At the opening OF the Alexandria
County Circuit Court last Monday
Payne presented lo3 cases TO the grand
Jury. and in every case that body ie-
turned true bills Payne was known
among officers and law violators as
one OF the most daring OF the prohi-
bi,ion agents. He had had trouble
with scores OF bootlegSers during the
course of the last year. having been
attacked numerous times and threat
ened with death.
'The murder last night was the cli-
max of his rather spectacular career
with the Prohibition Department, and
officers here last night stat that
Payne's death would handicap the Of
hcials in stopping the food OF liquor
entering Virginia between now and
July l, when national prohibition takes
effect
Payne was thirty-thrcc years old
He is survived by his widow and one
child who live at Rosslyn. In h,s
last annual repor, Commissioners Pc
ters particularly emphasized the dar-
ing and good work of Payne in cap
turing prohibition law violators at
Alexandria, where the officer was sta
toned. It was Paynes duty TO search
trains and automobiles entering Alex
andria en- route from Baltimore.