The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-10-24
Hickory Press and Carolinian.l

81 fear this is dangerous verdict for
your county. "-Judge Philips.
Hickory Press and Carolinian]
Few trials, if any, in this section
have attracted more attention than
this. Col. Roger Page, editor of the
Tmes-Rcgisfet, after only a few
months residence in Marion, was most
'Cowardly shot in the back eff the neck
and instantly killed about midnight
on 22nd day of last July as he was
walking in company with several
others from the depot towards the hotel
A dozen or more saw the shooting,
saw the murderer run off, and the I'M
disputed statement was published
abroad that Ed. Brown, son Of Capt.
J. S. Brown, was the man. He was
not in Marion for the unusual period
of ten days or more, when he came in,
surrendered to the officers, waived ex-
animation and went to jail. Browns
family is the most wealthy and innu-
entail in the county. One of his sis
tiers is the wife of Dr. Butt in Marion
and slanderous reports were circulated
about her and Col. Page. A few days
before the homicide Brown told Mr..
Blanton that Page ought to be killed
and that DR.. Butt ought to do it..
Blanton said he was depressed. Had
some talk of the same kind about Page
the evening before Page was killed,
and he told Brown to let the law take
its course.
Page went to Round Knob that day
and returned at m idnight. The first
witness introduced was Charles Fowler
colored porter for the hotel. He
swore he was twelve feet behind Page
when he was shot. Page, Judge Hazel
wood, Frank Neil and drummer and
a gentleman he did not know were
together walking along the railroad
coming towards town, when a man
ran up from behind and shot Page :;
saw the flash of the pistol at my left,
and heard the report Of the pistol did
not see the mans head, nor pistol :;
there were two shots, saw Page fall ;
do not know who did the shooting,
what kind of clothes he had on, nor
whether he was white man or negro.
| know Ed Brown have known him
ten years; saw Brown at the depot
while we waited for the train.
John Yancy says: Was at the depot
the night Col. Page was killed did
not see Brown at the depot that night;
he was at my store at II O'Clock got
some pistol cartridges; he was sober;
no one with him went back to my
room, dressed and went to the depot
had no particular business there; he
looked worried. | asked him what
was the matter, he said "that scoun-
drel, Page, had invaded the privacy
of DR.. Butts family" and said 9" how
can | ever look an honest woman in
the face again" DR.. Butt married
Browns sister.
]. H. Hemphill says: l am in the
livery business and Coroner of the
county; was in bed; heard two shots !;
went down to where Page was lying
dead saw Brown IN town that day
about shutdown; he asked me to have
his horse taken out of stable, and hitch
ed near Burgin's store.
DR.. NJ. P. Morphew says: Saw
Brown at my drug store the day of the
killing had some talk about this mat
ter: said Page was accused of invading
the privacy of DR.. Butts family; was
greatly troubled; he was sober; do
not know who introduced the subject );
| talked with Mrs. Butt and Col. Page;
Mrs. Butt asked us to ask Col. Page
for her letters ) don't know if Brown
knew it; he was very sad and in great
trouble; did not see him in ten days
after the killing.