Stephen L Payne
Kentucky Post, Thursday, 25 March 1948, page 1
Police of northern Kentucky continued their investigation
Thursday in the slaying of Stephen L (Big Steve) Payne, in a futile effort to
establish a motive for the crime. Pay, 36, Negro numbers racket operator, was
killed Tuesday morning. His bullet riddled body was found on Kyles lane, Kenton
county, a few hours later.
Thursday, Kenton County Police Chief Mershon, Covington Detective Chief Al Seiter and Newport Detective Ray Hawthorne conferred at Newport police headquarters and pledged their cooperation in tracking down the killers. All agreed Payne was killed in Cincinnati or Covington, then hauled to the point on Kyles Lane where his body was found. They also reached the conclusion that Payne might have been killed by the jealous suitor of one of the women with whom he is said to have kept company.
Chief Mershon also is going to check on 15 to 20 telephone numbers he found in Payne's wallet, he said. Most of the numbers were written on slips of paper or match covers. It is possible that an investigation of them may lead to new clews (sic).
Meantime, funeral services for Payne have been arranged for 1 pm Monday at the Corinthian Baptist Church, Newport, with the Jones funeral home, Covington in charge. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.