Year: 1879

The next morning Adams was found in the direction
from which Winter Payne's call had proceeded. His
skull was crushed in. evidently by blow from some
heavy weapon. He had fallen at point where pair
of bars had been placed The bars had been let
down and when the man fell his neck them.
When these facts became known Winter Payne was
at once fixed upon the murderer. The constable
looked tor him but he could not be found II turned
out afterward that he had attempted to escape
the Shenandoah River into Clarke county. but the
waters were high and the ferry man. who had been
notified OF his flight refused to take him across.


cosFEssEs HIS CRIME


Baffled in his attempt TO escape Payne returned TO
Mr.. Cochrane's farm and made to Mr.. Cochrane
confession of his crime and the circumstances under
which 1t had been committed. According to his
confession it appeared that as he was leaving the
seized stake which had been sharpened at one end
Thus armed. soon he overlook his victim Ut
ing his skull. He also told Mr.. Cochrane that
before he struck Adams with the stake Adams had
struck him in the breast with his fst. Payne also
told his wife when he went home that he had killed
Adams but that Adams had struck him nrst. Payne
was tried before the County Court of Fauquier In
May found guilty and sentenced to be hanged on the
4th of July. On account of this being national
holiday the execution OF the sentence was post
poned to the nth of July. Payne was about thirty
eight years OF age. his victim fifty. During his
continent he very low spirited and declined
to talk much with visitors He said he expected to
everybody about it, He bore tolerably good CHAR
acter in the community. Williams and Winter Payne
ing and asked that no one be allowed to see them.


QUICK EXECUTION.


The time liked for the execution was "between the
hours OF i've and seven" and the Sheriff and his
press guard were hand by four o'clock. The
condemned men were visited by white and colored
preacher about six o'clock, but while they listened
TO the words OF godly comfort they did not express
any desire to make public profession of religion.
Williams walked up and down his, cell evil
IDENTIFY in great distress. Payne sat down with
his head leaning ON his hand They out of
the cell abouta quarter-past six and walked with
totterng steps upon the scaffold The Sherif's dep
uty asked them II they had anything to say, but
neither expressed wish to speak Tie black caps
were then drawn down. Payne began mumbling,
''The Lord have mercy on my soul, and the deputy
said, "Your trouble will soon be over" The trap
sprung with rope running under the scaffod
and into the jail, therefore the executioneer
seen. Both fell together and their bodies were mo-
tionless for half minute, when Williams chest
heayed convulsively. Williams was pronounced dead
i'll eighteen minutes, and Payne in twenty-six min
utes Holtzclaw's two brothers present and wit
messed the execution. Payne the scafold with
white handkerchief tied around his head. Will
liams wore pair of top boots. which he attempted
yesterday to swap of for pint OF whskey. Payne's
BODY was turned over 70 ms Teiatves rnere were
his body was carted out and buried III held. The
scaffold constructed with . trap spring and
figure or bird trap trigger. The deputy
sheriff gave Payne handkerchief and told him
to drop it when he gave the signal but the man. who
was trembling with fright. dropped the handkerchief
before the word was given and the rope pulled.
The trap. however. did not fall rs the prop had not
yet been taken from under 1t. The two men were
word was given by the deputy and the men fell
through simultaneously.


NOT IN THE PROGRAMME.


After the drop fell an incident occurred which
came very near changing the usual programme ut
executions. The attending physician. Dr. T. NJ JONES'
while examining the body Of Winter Payne to
tain whether there any dislocation OF the neck,
approached by young man OF Warrenton who
asked, doctor, is his neck broken?" The doctor
replied rather testify, "Oh, don't ask such
foolish question" The young man then cleared the
deck" for hostile movements and was advancing on
the physician but held back by friends.


One of the young up in the ailanthus tree when
the drop fell turned his back suddenly being sick
the sight. He nearly fell from the tree. aud upon
reaching the ground had to be taken In charge by
his friends.