Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-08-31

NOO~eAAANA = "A F0cS -
igate the possibility of the explosive
having been struggled into the jail.
r.. L. Gender, cellmate. who was
commissioned by Payne to clear out
the large cell before the terrific
blast. testified at the coroner's in
quest that Payne told him late last
night he had everything fixed to
cheat the electric chair" and that
ne had a bottle OF nitroglycerine
secreted on his person when he vas
transferred from Stinnett TO Am
arillo Sunday.
Indicted for Murder
Officers and cell mates expressed
the belief that Payne set off the X
plosive either by connecting 1t With
a light extension within the cell OF
by means Of a short fuse and cap
attached to the bottle. The fact
that the light globe was removed
from the socket led to the theory
that the charge was set off by
contact with the wire.
Payne had been indicted vester-
day for murder. He repeated he
would plead guilty, and reiterated
his desire for a speedy trial. He
previously had chafed at the laws
delay, saying he wanted TO pay the
death penalty quickly so his rel
stives might forget. His brother,
however. had hired an attorney who
had been expected 20 enter an in
sanity defense.
Last night in his talk with Con-
der the attorney said he had found
a better method OF dying than the
electric chair and would use 1t for
his cNildren's sake.
One Man In Cell
In his 10000 word confession
Payne had told Of sending his wife
on a pleasant BY path away from
the highway OF life" which would
have led to financial disaster and
modification II she had found out
about his attentions 10 his former
stenographer, Miss Verona Thomp-
son. whose confession led to his
exposure.
Commodore Pulllam, the only man
who had not left the cell at Payne's
instructions when the explosion
occurred said Payne appeared CAIN
and cool as he raised himself
slightly above the upper berth on
which he was lying face downward
and seemed to press something. He
died instantly.
A half hour before the blast.
which was heard six blocks. Payne
finished letters 10 his mother. and
the parents OF his former wife and
concluded work on his diary. which
had occupied his time eve since he
was arrested.
Suicide Clause imperative
He called to Gender: You notice
I finish by diary In ink. This Is the
end. The ink means that the diary
IS closed" IN his last entry IN the
diary. Payne called attention to
the fact that he had waited long
enough that the suicide clause In
his insurance policy had become ir
operative.
The slayer's letters 10 his wife
rarents and to his mother were
practically the same. He asked each
for forgiveness and said he was
taking this way out" for the best
interests of his children. He said
he would eocn Jon his beloved
wife "over yonder.S 4
All that ! have done Is for Love
or my dear wife and " darling
children" he wrote.
In his diary he inserted the wish
that he could take my dear chill
dren along with me" and admor-
ished them ito show the world that
YOU can make fine men and wo-
men,"
Two young employees Of a Berger
hardware store, who sold PAYNE the
dynamite with which he killed his
wife. were questioned BY the Dis
Ayict attorney this week, but they
said they did not remember how
much explosive a man answering
Fsyneis description bought.