Beckham CO. OK - William Dennis Payne murdered, 1914 Submitted by: Evelyn Long ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ *********************************************************************** David don't you have Beckham County Ok , I believe Sayre is in Beckham , I have this article it is just a cut out that Sue Weber typed up for me , I have been looking for this Payne for quite some time. Belle no name for newspaper given Friday July 24, 1914 W.D. Payne, Murdered With a bullet hole in his heart, the body of W.D. Payne was found Sunday morning about 2 am in a field near Sayre by a searching party. Daniel & Robert Campbell are now being held under arrest while officers with a warrant are looking for Tom Goldsmith. Payne was about 68 yrs old and had been missing since last Thursday. Some time ago Payne agreed to transfer his farm to the Campbell brothers, the consideration to be their taking care of Payne during the remainder of his life. A short time ago Goldsmith cause Payne to be arrested on a charge of having stolen a harness, and Payne was in Sayre Thursday afternoon for the purpose of making bond to appear in court Friday. When he failed to appear in court at the proper time a searching party was organized. Saturday afternoon officers arrested the Campbell brothers but failed to locate Goldsmith. Payne's body when found was in a badly decomposed condition, apparently having lain for several days in a field one and a half miles north of Payne's home. Later reports state that Goldsmith returned home and phoned for the officers to come and get him. After two days and nights searching, the parties followed a shepherd dog to Mr. Payne's body. The dog scented the body. The ears and a portion of the face had been eaten away and the body was badly decomposed when found. Mr. Payne, we so learn, had promised a deed to his place or made a deed to his place for the parties implicated with their promise to give him $800 and a home with them as long as he lived. However, this is a rumor. ******** (William Dennis Payne is buried in the Carter Cem, Beckham Co OK. In the plot with him is Ella Tyler 1863-1934. Wm.D.'s son, Charlie married Lou Tyler, this may be one of her relatives. Wm.D.'s wife, Olive Dunlap Payne is not buried at Carter Cem.) ********** The Sayre Standard, Thursday July 23, 1914 Murder Charge Follows Farmers Death At 10 am this morning the preliminary hearing began before County Judge Gibson and will probably continue thru tomorrow. The courtroom was filled to its utmost capacity. About a dozen witnesses will probably be examined. Judge W.E. Tomme has been engaged to assist the prosecution and the firm of Hendrix & Tracy will defend Goldsmith and Campbell's. Sayre Standard, Thursday July 30, 1914 Goldsmith Hearing Continued The preliminary hearing before Judge Gibson of the charge against T.T. Goldsmith for the murder of W.D. Payne which started last Thursday and continued thru Friday of last week was adjourned until tomorrow, Friday, at the request of the defense. Owing to the absence of several witnesses for the defense, the case has not developed into anything definite with the exception of release from jail of the Campbell brothers who were arrested in connection with the killing. Evidence sufficient to incriminate them could not be found. The examination of Goldsmith will probably be completed by Saturday. Thursday, August 6, 1914 (Court Notes) T.T. Goldsmith, charged with murder, was arraigned Wednesday but entered no plea of either guilty or innocent. The case will likely come up for trial in September. ************* 16 Sep 1920 Sayre Standard (note, this is 6 yrs later) Judge Hendrix was at Mangum last Friday appearing before Judge Brown in habeas corpus proceedings for the release of Bob Campbell charged with conspiring with T.T. Goldsmith and others in the murder of W.D. Payne. Judge Brown denied the application of the defense for Campbell's release, but permitted him to give bond in the sum of $5,000, which his attorneys announce he will be able to make within the next few days. ***********