The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1894-08-03
History of the Crime.

uc NOTLu OdTOllQldn mas Jnc IOilOW-
ing history of the crime:
The crime for which Orange Page will
be executed today is the murder of Rosa
Haywood, negro woman, who lived in
the eastern suburb of this city, for $12
in money, on the night of January 16
Rosa was nearly 100 years old, and no
murder committed here in many years
was more brutal and cold blooded or
caused greater excitement among the
negroes Page is an ex convict, haying
served fived years in the penitentiary
for larceny, and was released two years
ago. After his release he became init
mate wish Mary Smith, who was niece
to Rosa Haywood and lived with her
1t was here that Orange spent most Of
his time. Mary came originally from
Granville county
On the night Of the crime he went to
the house about sun down. Early in the
night Rosa Haywood went to bed and
it was not till after midnight that the
neighbors heard any unusual noise.
From then until 3 O'Clock considerable
knocking and walking about the house
was heard, though it attracted no suspi
cion. Page had shortly after midnight
choked Rosa to death while she slept,
and in some unaCcOuntable way had
broken her neck, and the noises were
made by Page and the woman as they
packed up everything in the house pre-
paratory to leaving Everything was
taken, including $12 and some clothes
that Rosa had put away years before to
be used in burying her, and just before
daylight the murderer and his paramour
fled, going almost directly from here to
Edgecombe county, where they were cap
tured at work five weeks later. They
sold many Of the stolen goods on the
way and this aided the authorities very
materially in finding them
They were arrested by two negro de
tectives from this city, who had been
working up the case for sometime and
knew Page and the woman well. Mary
was arrested near Tarboro without any
trouble, but Page fled and was captured
only after chase Of some seven miles
He was then found between two mat
tresses on which his wife and children
were lying. He acknowledged taking the
clothes but denied stealing the money or
committing the murder. He claimed that
he simply went to Edgecombe county to
get work as was his custom every year
When he was captured and brought here
many negroes wanted to lynch him.
Page and the woman were put on
trial for their crime on March % Both
plead not guilty, but later Mary's attor-
ney withdrew that plea and entered one
of accessory before the fact. She told
| the story of the crime, and said that Page
had declared that he would kill both her
and himself if she ever betrayed him.
Pages counsel made no argument, and
a verdict of guilty of murder in the first
degree was at once brought in. Page
was condemned to be hanged June
and Mary was sentenced to life impris,
onment
But on Tuesday night, May -, little
more than two weeks before the date on
which the sentence was to be put into
execution, ten negro prisoners, led by
/ Orange Page, who was in cellIwith
/ them, succeeded in making their escape
from the county jail. They effected
their escape by breaking up an iron bed
stead which was in the cell and using
/ the pieces as levers 10 break the bars OF
/ the cage in which they were confined.
Page went 10 Johnston county and on
/ the day after his escape began work on
| q farm about 20 miles from here. Ee
! remained there three weeks and ths y
went from there TO Wilson and thence
/ TO GAINESVILLE, Martin county, where he
was recaptured by negro barber, Joe
Ray, who identified him while shaving
! him.
| The pursuit and capture of Page, wht n