Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-02-22
DRY AGENT IS SLAIN

W. F. Payne, State Prohibition In.
spector, Shot by Negro Prisoner al
Rosslyn-.Assailant Escapes-Two
Clews May Lead to Capture.
William E. Payne, thirty-nine years
old, a state prohibition Inspector,
who lived at Fort Myer Heights,
Alexandria county. was shot and kill
cd at o'clock last night by an uni
Identified colored man. The shooting
was staged in the rear of the Airing
ton Trust Company's building at
hosslyn.
Payne Immediately following the
shooting was rushed in All automobile
to the Georgetown University Hos
pita.l The race against death, how
ever, proved futile, for Payne died
before that institution was reached,
death ensuing in about twenty min
utes after the shot was fired. The
bullet entered his left eye piercing
the brain.
Payne, however, was taken into the
hospital where the attending .physic-
ians pronounced life extinct. Coro-
ner hewitt gave a certificate of death
from gun shot wound.
Only few minutes before Payne
met his end ne was with his wife
driving her to his home at For.
Myer Heights. He saw colored
man whom he supposed had whisky
in his possession. He remarked to his
wife that he was going after the
man. She left the machine, intend
inc to 90 to a nearby store and make
some purchases after which she pro-
posed going 70 her home.
Wife Finds Husband.
Mrs. Payne had gone hut a short
distance when she heard the shot,
and retracing her steps she found
her husband lying in the road WITH
a bullet wound in his head. Several
citizens in the meantime had collect
ed.
IN a short time Sheriff Howard
Fields and commemorative Attorney
Frank l.. Ball were on t:le scene and
rushed the dying man in al automo
bile to the hospital in Georgetown.
Shot After Arresting Man
pavne had placed the colored mar
under arrest and had him in his auto
mobile intending to take him to the
iail on Fort Mycr Heights when nc
Jumped out and ran. The prisoner had
pone but a short distance when ne
turned and fired on Payne.
At the time Payne was found lying
in the road the engine Of his ma
,hine was still running and TINS
the belief that he had his
prisoner in the machine.
Cap and Six Quarts Evidence
Six quarts Of whiskey and a cap
are the clews to the murderer the
county authorities have in their pos
session. The paper wrapping about the
whiskey bearing the name of Wash
inrton firm and this it is believed may
load to the arrest Of the prohibition
in spe>tor's assailant. The cap Of the
n,sn evidently was dropped in his
flight.
After conveying Payne to the hos
ptal Sheriff Fields and Common
wealth's attorney Ball spent the re-
mainder of the night in search of the
A colored suspect giving
Washington address was taken. but
tho authorities feel satisfied that he
is not the man wanted and the search
TODAY is progressing in a satlsfac-
torv manner, a number of citizens OF
Alexandria coanty are aiding the au-
thorities.
The county officers who have the
co-operation of the Washington police
in the search for the murderer
>Payne besides his wife is survived
BY young daughter.
Terror to Bootleggers
payne was a terror to the vilators
of the prohibition law. He probably
had more arrests to his credit in Vlr-
o;nia than any other Inspector en-
,,loved under the Rev. ]. Sidney
Peters. state prohibition inspector,
under whom he worked. Rev. Mr..
peters is in Alexandria county today
investigating the case.
For about two years Payne had been
enrployed as a prohibition inspector.