William Payne
Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 September 1902
NEWPORT
Deputy Sheriff Charles Davis last night landed in jail, William
Payne, the colored man employed by Ed Taliaferro, the Highland florist. Payne
has fits of insanity and Thursday night Taliaferro had a fearful struggle wih
the fellow while the later was suffering from acute dementia.
Taliaferro went into the stable and found Payne beating the horses. He remonstrated with him and he turned on his employer and threw him down. A struggle ensued but Taliaferro finally gained the supremacy. Later Payne attempted to break the doors of the house down while Taliaferro was in Newport and threatened to burn the barn down.
When Taliaferro came home Payne was caught and tied, being kept under surveillance all night for fear he would carry out his threats. He will at once be tried for lunacy.