Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-04-12
THE PAGE FORGERY TRIAL.

w. B. Page is still on trial in Berry
vile for forgery. On Wednesday fur
ther evidence for the Commonwealth
was heard. R. o. Allen, whose en-
dorsement was alleged to have been
forged, was recalled, and the de-
fence endeavored to make him admit
that he was inspired by feeling of re-
yenge in aiding in the prosecution oil
Page. the same effort have been also
made with regard to other alleged en-
dorsers who have testified against the
accused. F. Fl. Kreb, discount-clerk
of the Shenandoah Valley National
Bank, of Winchester, proved the dis
counting by that bank of $3.50 note,
purporting to be endorsed by William
e. Reed, and Reed, being put on the
stand. stated that he did not endorse
the note, and that Page confessed to
him that he had forged his (Reed's
name thereon. James B. Russell,
president of the Union Bank, of Win
chester, stated that his bank had dis
counted the 81 900 and the $500 notes,
Reeds endorsement on which h. J..
Barton. in his testimony on Monday,
said Page confessed he had forged.
Here the Commonwealth rested its
case.
Evidence for the defence was begun
and counsel offered to put the wife OF
the accused on the stand, but the Com
monwealth objected, and her testimony
was ruled out.
Then the most dramatic incident of
the day took place, when the defence
placed Miss Mary A. Page, eldest
daughter ofthe accused, and striking
and handsome young lady, on the
stand. Witness was in tears most OF
the time, and testified in q low, broken
voice. She told the story of her
fathers misfortunes in pathetic way,
telling how he had lost one child by q
fall. and that another had been burned
to death, and that the cyclone had de-
stroyed his crops. She said that her
father was always sufferer from the
bullet wound in the head which he had
received during the war, and since the
cyclone he had been exceedingly lrri-
table, threatening his wife and children
at times with personal violence. Wit
nest said that her father denied the ex-
istence of God, and was guilty
of the grossest blasphemy while
these paroxyms of rage were
upon him, but that he would deny
knowledge of his misconduct when the
paroxysm had passed. Miss Page then
went on to state that her mother wrote
all of her fathers notes and checks,
and that, with her fathers authority,
Mrs. Page signed his name to these in
struments, but witness stated nothing
as to endorsements on the back.
Miss Agnus Page, younger daugh-
ter, was then introduced, and corrob-
grated her sisters evidence in almost
every detail.
Phillip Johnston, an old family SER
want, then testified that he had been
Mr.. Pages body-servant during the
war, and that Mr.. Page was always
kind master until he received the
wound in the head, when he became If
ritable and cross at times.
Mr.. John Y. Page, cousin of the
prisoner, stated that the accused had
seemed to him in recent years like a
man with great burden on his mind.
A noticeable incident of the day was
the courts refusal to allow Mrs. Page
to testify.
In the evening hour a heated argu-
ment took place between Mr.. Byrd and
Mr.. Alexander, in which the former
gave the latter the lie, and was prompt
ly fined by the court.
The sheriff prevented the gentlemen
from getting together, and when court
adjourned, through the mediation OF
the ladies present, an amicable settle
lnent of their difficulties was effected.
Messrs. A. Henning and A. ]. Wedder-
burn, of Fairfax county, who lived in
the same house with Page, after he left
Berryville last May, testified as to his
peculiarities, and cratic words and &C.
tions; as did also various servants of
Page and his two sisters, Miss Edmonia
Page and Mrs. Charles S. Lee, the
statements made by all tending to
prove Pages mental arrangement.