Evening star., 1953-01-10
Woman Is Held
As Son Slayer
In Alexandra
Charge of Murder
Filed; Other Poyne
Deaths Studied


An Alexandria widow was
charged today with numbering
her 7-year-old son with an over
dose of barbiturates.
Mrs. Gladys Payne, Al, of 3912
Elbert avenue, a nurse whose
husband and another young son
died within the last two years,
was accused of giving the drug
to Wallace Reid Payne last No
vember.
Police said they had learned
Mrs. Payne had applied for in
surance settlements totalling
$4,000 on three policies on the
boys life, but had not as yet
collected. She had benefited by
insurance as the result of three
fires in her home however, police
said.
Drug Revealed by State.
Mrs. Payne was held for ques-
tioning last Thursday after a
State medical report revealed the
youngster had swallowed large
amounts of the drug.
Police said today they had
been investigating the singularly
tragic experiences in Mrs.
Payne's life at the time Wallace
died.
Her 11-month son Marshall
died in January, 1851. The for
NAL report called it strangula-
ton on a marble. Just a year
before her husband. Pope r.
Payne, an electrician at the Po-
tomac Yards for 27 years, also
died.
The history of Wallace's
death began August 13. when
Mrs. Payne reported the boy
fell down flight of stairs at
their former residence, 308 East
Duncan avenue, Alexandria, and
hit his head on a radiator.
Dizzy Spells in Hospital.
He was in the hospital for
about 10 days, during which
time doctors noticed spells OF
dizziness, weakness of legs. dou-
BILE vision and a low-grade fever.
He was discharged from the
hospital August % but returned
four days later for exploratory
brain surgery. ? y
Doctors who performed the
operation said they found no
evidence of blood clot nor Of
neurological damage. Police
said the record shows that the
boy did exhibit some symptoms
which baff1ed doctors. Police
said the hospital record also
indicates that the boy told one
of. his nurses that his mother
had given him some pills for a
stomach ache.
Wallace finally was released
from the hospital on November
IL. He died three days later at
the George Mason Hotel in Alex
andria, where he and his mother
were staying at the time.
During his hospital stay doc
tors became suspicious of certain
symptoms, police said. When an
analysis was made after his
death barbiturates were found,
police added.
Doctors said that the victim
had been prescribed no barbitu-
rates for one month before his
death.
When Mrs. Payne's other son.
Marshall, died in January, 1851.
Mrs. Payne blamed the death on
police and fire departments. She
complained that police had taken
the wrong address when she
called for help and the rescue
squad was Slow in responding to
the call.
No Autopsy in Case.
She said the rescue squad
/ forced the marble deeper into
the boys throat by giving him
oxygen. There was no autopsy.
Mrs. Payne's husband died un-
expectedly in April, 1850. Death
was attributed to a cerebral
hemmorhage. There was no
autopsy.
Alexandria Detective Sergt.
Francis johnson and Detective
Charles l.. Baber started investi-
eating the Payne family tragedies
after a series Of fires at the
Payne apartment. Police said
Mrs. Payne collected $4,000 in
surance as a result Of the three
fires.