The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-10-13
TRIAL OF ED. BROWN
FOR THE MURDER OF COL.
PAGE ON JULY e4TH LAST.

PAGE ON JULY e4TA LAST
1.he Testimony Im the Case as
offered by the PrOsecutiOm-An
AdIOurument Until Monday Be
cause of an Absent witness.
The circumstances of the dreadful trag
edy at Marion on the night of the oath
Of July last, is too fresh in memory to
need recapitulation The deed was COM
tnitted in the darkness Of the night, and
the slayer escaped without having been
Identified Subsequently Edward Brown
Surrendered himself and has been held i'll
close confinement until the present term
Of the Superior court, where he was
placed on trial, charged under bill of
Indictment duly found with the murder
of Roger ]. Page.
We are indebted to gentleman OF
Marion for notes of the evidence so far
as the trial has progressed. They would
have appeared in yesterday mornings
issue but the mail from the East was de-
layed in its arrival here until near mid
night, and letters by it were not access
BILE until yesterday morning.
MARION, n. c., October Il.
The State introduced Charles Fowler.
who says, substantially Il was present
when Col. Page was killed on the rail
road track near the dep,t. He was in
company with Judge II omlwood, Frank
Neal, a drummer, and a gentleman | did
not know. Col. pagc was between the
tracks coming toward town; it was II
oclock at night; tic cast bound train
had passed was twelve feet behind
Page; a man run up from behind and
shot Page; saw the flash of the pistol at
my left, and heard the report OF the pis-
toll; the man was on the side track; did
not see the mans head, nor the pistol
had lantern in my hand; thoug hit here
was two shots When the shots fired we
ran across the track; saw Page fall when
the pistol fired; do not know what kind
OF clothes he had on, nor whether he was
a white man or negro. | know Ed
Brown; have known him ten years; saw
Brown at the depot, while we waited toi
the train, talking to the telegraph opera
tor; saw no weapons; heard nothing
said about Page; met passengers at tn,
depot did not notice Page get off; saw
the man run back towards the depot al
the firing was 100 yards from the de
pot; was too dark to see the depot; be
fore train come Brown said, THE fasl
Of your light hurts my eyes" Page was
living on his face. We turned him over
The bullet entered the back of his neck
He wus dead.
No cross examination.
Tohn Yanccy says Was at the depot
the night Col. Page was killed, anG saw
train pass; was on the west platform o
depot, facing the approach of train; was
12 o'clock at night; saw Page get of
train. did not know who was with him
except Mr.. Neal; did not see Brown al
the depot that night; was at my store al
II o'clock; got some pistol cartridges
was in bed at the time got up; he wa:
sober; no one with him; went back t.
nv room, dressed and went to depot
had no particular business there; III
looked worried asked him what wa'
the matter. Hesaid that scOundrel Pag'
had invaded the privacy Of DR.. Butts
family" and said "how can | ever lool
an honest woman in the face again DR.
Butt married Browns sister. Did no
saw where Page was; heard some rapiC
firing; there was more than one shot
went up the left track Immediately; me
no one on track; never had heard an.
threats from Brown; saw him mos
every day before the shooting.
ai o,-n,,,iYa5 h1y NJ Z Car-tPr, r,-nr
Butt lives in town; did not see him tha
day; have sold Brown cartridges at al
hours, day and night.
!. II. Hemphill says:-I amin the liver.
Business and coroner of the county; wa
nj home in bed; heard two shots fired
went down to where Page was lyin
dead; saw Brown in town that day
saw him last at sundown. He asked m
to have his horse taken out of the stable
and hitch it near Burgin's store; told m
stable boy to take out the horse; do no
remember which one; never heard an
Conversation about deceased.
Cross examined by Capt. Carter
That was usual hitching place; Brow
had asked me before to take his hors
out when he was going to leave town.
Ed. Conley says:-Was i'll Mr.. Tate
room that night in bed, got up and wer
down to the railroad; saw Brown &
dark in front ofTatc's store; had no tai
with him; don't remember ever talkin
to Page don't know ifthey were friendl'
saw Brown in Jail after the killing.
M /, q. Nichols Says:-Was at home
bed on that night; saw Brown that eve
ing on the streets: know nothing abol
the killing heard it next day; heard Il
horses running that night did not II
TO reconcile Brown and Page.
RDr. M. F. Morphew says:-Saw Brow
al my drug store on the day OF the XII
ing; had some talk about this mat e
said Page was accused Of invading Il
privacy of DR.. Butts family was great
troubled; the substance was that Pal
has used any undue influence with Butt
wife; he was sober; it was at o'clocI
do not know who introduced the subjec
/ talked with Mrs. Butt and Col Pag
Mrs. Butt asked us to go to Col. Pa
and ask for her letters; don't know
Brown knew it he was very sad and
great trouble; did not see him for t.
DAYS after; Page was a married ma
had been here six months; was editor
the lllneS-NSSlSlSl'
Not cross examined.
D,N. LanOn Says:-Was at depot
that night; had no business there; we
"a at II O'Clock; went with Zeb Vance;
did not go off on train; saw Brown
depot in front of ticket office at IL.
O'Clock; can't say how he was dresse
was standing on last platform when tra
81 moved off; heard two or three shot
went up to where Page was killed: II
a little boy who said Page was shot;
was starlight; heard no horses go O
never heard anything; had no money
INV safe to be used by the defendants.
Gross examined by Capt. Carter.
Was not unusual for the boys to go
the train at night in summer time.
DR.. B. A. Check says: Was not at
not at the time of killing; was called
Page was dead; he was shot in the ba
of the neck; probcd with finger in no
L l.