The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-12-10
DREADFUL TRAGEDY IN ALABAMA.

DREADFUL TRAGEDY IN ALABAMA.
We recorded few days since the murder of Mr..
Allen Page, of Conecuh Co., Alabama, by band of
highwaymen as was supposed at the time; but we
now learn they were not only neighbOrs of Mr..
Page, but men who had received from him the
most generous treatment The old man was
known to have a considerable sum of money about
him, and the only motive for the deed was thirst
for gold. The Conecuh Spartan thus details the
facts:
As Mr. Allen Page and John Wright were re-
turning in their buggy from Claiborne, where they
had been to dispose of their cotton, they upon
obstruction in the road, some three miles
from Breckenridge, and when the latter gentleman
descended to remove it, Mr.. Page was fired upon
from distance of only fifteen feet and almost in
stanty killed. Several buckshot were lodged in
his breast, over his heart, close to another
that hand could cover all the holes. He only
lived long enough to say 81 am a dead man!' Mr.
Wright at the report, attempted to spring into
the buggy, and at the same instant was fired upon
also, receiving three slight wounds-one in the
jaw, one in the body, and one upon the arm. Sub
sequently examination showed that the log, behind
which the assassin lay, received the greater part
of the second discharge, to which accident Mr.. w
is doubtless indebted for his life. He succeeded in
getting into his buggy and drove rapidly to the
nearest house, where his wounds were attended to
and some dogs procured and put the track of the
murderers.
Suspicion rested upon the TIVE brothers. Irwin
and Stephen Ward, one of whom present at
the time that Mr.. Page received the money for his
cotton. They arrested and upon being close
ly examined confessed the deed, each charging the
other with having fired the fatal shot,
1t ascertaned that the cowardly murder
ers had themselves, placed the Instructions on the
road that, during the delay of the carriage
thereby, they might more safely make sure of their
victims
THE MURDERERS HUNG UP WITHOUT TRIAL. -
The Spartan, under date of Saturday, ll.30 A. NJ,
thus records the denouement of this frightful
tragedy:
We have just learned with deep regret that the
Wards have been hung by the people of Sepulga
and adjoining neighborhOods. They made full
confession of the murder previous the execution.
Stephen Ward fired the fatal shot, while Irwin was
at the time lying concealed and asleep with pis-
toll, some hundred yards from the of the ira
gedy, and did not even awake A paper was drawn
up and signed by some eighty men, pledging
themselves to mutual protection, and assuming the
fearful responsibility of the summary execution.
Nearly three hundred people were assembled
at the spot, and tremendous excitement pre-
vailed.
1t is to be deeply regretted that cooler counsels
had not prevailed, and the law allowed to take it's
course, and we fear that many will be involved in
serious difficulty.
Navigation on the Upper Mississippi closed on
the 2Sth of November, having opened on the 18th
OF April, thus continuing for period of 223 days
The number of arrivals at ST. Paul during the
season was sos, being 260 less than last year, and
less than any previous year since 1855.