In the early morning hours of October 25, 1914, in Newport, Arkansas, Night Officer James S. Payne, a 46-year-old man, was on duty. Having received a tip about a potential burglary at the Hafner Grocery Company on Lower Front Street, he went to investigate around 2:30 a.m. Upon his arrival, he encountered two individuals, Howard Davis and John Woodard, whom he suspected were about to commit the crime.
As Officer Payne moved to place them under arrest, the situation escalated tragically.
Davis quickly drew a. 38 caliber handgun and fired at Officer Payne, striking him twice. Despite being gravely wounded, Officer Payne managed to return fire, discharging his weapon five times and hitting Davis in the leg. Both Davis and Woodard then fled the scene, leaving the officer for dead. It wasn't until approximately 5:00 a.m., two and a half hours later, that Officer Payne's body was discovered.
The authorities acted swiftly, organizing a search for the two suspects. They located Howard Davis at a nearby residence where he had sought refuge. He was suffering from the gunshot wound inflicted by Officer Payne and was found in possession of the firearm used in the shooting. Davis was taken into custody and placed in the county jail. His accomplice, John Woodard, was also apprehended a short time later. To prevent potential mob violence, authorities made the decision to transport Woodard to Little Rock for his safety.
News of Officer Payne's murder and the capture of his suspected killer spread rapidly through the community, igniting a wave of outrage. By noon that same day, a mob of around 200 people had gathered at the county jail. Overpowering the deputy on duty and seizing his keys, the mob forcibly removed Howard Davis from his cell. Despite the sheriff's attempts to intervene, the enraged crowd lynched Davis by hanging him from a tree near the jail. The mob also sought to lynch Woodard but was ultimately persuaded to stand down, as they believed Davis was the one who had fired the fatal shots. Officer Payne was survived by his wife and eight children.
