The Holton Recorder, June 26, 1913:
Two women and a man are dead, as a result of a tragedy enacted Wednesday morning at the home of Frank Payne on the reservation, thirteen miles southwest of Holton. Frank Payne stabbed his wife to death, then killed Mrs. Ora Eby, a neighbor in the same manner. A short time later, lying on a bed at his home, Payne ended his own life with a bullet in the temple. Payne committed his awful crime as a result of a fit of insane anger caused by divorce proceedings now pending in the district court. Payne, and his wife, with their two daughters, aged sixteen and fourteen, together with Mr. and Mrs. Ora Eby, were in Holton Tuesday. Their divorce case was not at issue, but they appeared before the district court, and their lawyers agreed to a division of their property. They were to get their divorce at the September term of court .... Tuesday night both families returned to the reservation, Mrs. Payne and her daughters going to the Eby home to spend the night. Payne, instead of returning to his home, stayed with a neighbor, Tom Gibson. Wednesday morning, Mrs. Payne and her daughter went over to the Payne home to do the morning work. While there, Payne and Gibson came up. Payne at once began making overtures to his wife to patch up their domestic difficulties and dismiss the divorce proceedings. His pleadings were in vain. When Mrs. Payne refused to go back to her husband, Payne flew into a passion. Fearing bodily harm the three women ran into a nearby cornfield. Payne overtook his wife and stabbed her four times in the breast, one thrust entering near the heart. Like a madman he bore down on Mrs. Eby and stabbed her thirteen times in the upper portion of her body. He then turned on his daughter, but by fleet running she managed to elude her infuriated father. Gibson, who was witness to all the killing, was pleading with Payne to desist, until the latter turned on him, and he had to run to escape a like fate. After the murder Payne went into his home. The neighbors were aroused and surrounded the house .... Frank Payne is past forty and his wife some years younger. They have lived on a rented farm on the reservation for two years. They came here from Missouri, Mrs. Payne living near Lake Contrary before her marriage. Her mother now lives near DeKalb. Her name was Margaret Callahan. In the petition for divorce she alleges cruelty and abuse against her husband .... Mrs. Eby, the other victim, is the mother of five children, ranging from infancy to twelve years old. Her husband, Ora Eby, is a brother of the late Eph Eby, of Holton. They have resided on the reservation for many years. Notes. Mrs. Ora Eby is a daughter of Mike Zirger, living near Circleville. Her sister is Mrs. Fred Sigmund, of this city. The Payne family have three daughters, aged 16, 14 and 10 years. The possession of the children will likely be determined by the district court. Will Dye knows the family of Mrs. Payne and telegraphed the mother at DeKalb. Immediately a car containing the mother, a physician and an uncle left for Holton. They arrived here at six o'clock last night .... the funeral of Mrs. Eby will be held from Circleville and the body buried in the Circleville cemetery. The body of Mrs. Payne will be shipped to DeKalb, Mo., this morning for burial. Her mother accompanied by the three daughters, will leave in the morning for DeKalb. The body of Payne will probably be buried in the cemetery here.

The Holton Recorder, July 10, 1913:
Card of Thanks ... funeral service of our wife, mother, daughter and sister .... Nancy A. Eby, Ora Eby and family, Lew Eby and family, John Darting and family, Letha Bailey and family.

The Holton Signal, July 3, 1913:
Anna Zirger was born in Jackson county, Kansas, Oct. 4, 1884. She was married to Ora J. Eby on January 9, 1900. To this union were born seven children, two preceded the mother in death. Mrs. Eby was murdered near her home on the morning of June 25, 1913 .... She leaves to mourn her untimely departure, a husband, two sons, three daughters, an aged father and mother, four brothers and four sisters. The brothers are Fred Zirger of Soldier, Michael Zirger of Gage, Oklahoma, John and Edward of Circleville. The sisters are Mrs. Rose Gilbert of Peoria, Ill., Mrs. Lena Sigmund of Holton, Mrs. Kate Hoenshell of Soldier and Miss Calla Zirger, who is at present with her parents ....