 |
Murder Trial L. J. Webb
MURDER OF JAY PAGE AT WINFIELD.
First time Jay Page and Leland J. Webb are linked together...
Winfield Courier, December 13, 1877.
On last Tuesday morning, Messrs. L. J. Webb, Jay Page, Bert Crapster, and others whose names we have not learned, started for a grand hunt in the Indian Territory. They will return next Saturday.
Jay Page mentioned in paper...
Winfield Courier, December 20, 1877.
Jay Page, a gentleman lately from Eldorado and Topeka, has purchased the lot between Wallis & Wallis’ grocery house and Boyer’s clothing store on Main street in this city, and will immediately go to work putting up a two-story brick business house thereon.
Winfield Courier, January 31, 1878.
J. Hoenscheidt is the architect employed by J. C. Fuller, M. L. Robinson, Jay Page, the Misses Aldrich, E. P. Hickok, C. Farringer, and others in the erection of their new residences. These residences will be built in modern style, to combine symmetry and beauty with convenience and stability, and will cost from two to seven thousand dollars each; hence the propriety of employing a first-class architect.
Winfield Courier, February 21, 1878.
The new stone building of Jay Page is rapidly nearing completion.
Winfield Courier, April 11, 1878.
The front of Jay Page’s new saloon is painted black, will be gold leafed, and will be the handsomest front in town.
Winfield Courier, April 25, 1878.
The City Council met Monday evening last and voted to grant licenses to three saloons on petitions of J. Likowski, J. Page, and James Var.
Winfield Courier, May 16, 1878.
Jay Page keeps the only ice in town and that’s used only for “medical purposes.”
MURDER OF JAY PAGE BY L. J. WEBB.
[COMMUNICATION FROM “SILAS”—WINFIELD.]
Arkansas City Traveler, June 5, 1878.
WINFIELD, KAS., June 3rd, 1878.
About a month ago the city council licensed three saloons for one year in this city. Jay Page at considerable cost had built a nice two story brick, and fitted up the lower room for a saloon, and furnished a suite of rooms above for gambling rooms. He opened four weeks ago last Saturday; and since then no two saloons in the county ever did such a rushing business. It was thronged from daylight to midnight, and frequently the gambling rooms were in full blast the entire night. It was the duty of the city council, when these facts were brought to their notice, to revoke the license; but they winked at it and allowed it to continue. Last Saturday about 4 p.m., Hon. L. J. Webb walked from the gambling room into the bar room where Page was standing, and shot him dead, and immediately gave himself into the hands of the Sheriff, James Hill. There is good evidence that Webb had been drugged and in a game of poker had been robbed of his money by Page. A coroner’s jury was empaneled and found in their verdict that Page came to his death by a pistol shot in the hands of lawyer Webb. The preliminary examination was set for trial today, before W. M. Boyer, but on account of the illness of Mr. Webb, it will be heard tomorrow, Tuesday, at 9 o’clock a.m.
There is a very strong feeling here in the matter, and there are some things in which all agree and that is that the city government should not have allowed such a hell hole to exist so long here, and that Jay Page was a notorious desperado and unsafe for any community, one who would not only gamble, but deliberately picked men’s pockets.
Page’s funeral was preached Sunday by Rev. Rushbridge, and he was buried immediately afterwards.
Hon. L. J. Webb is in jail waiting until the preliminary examination. SILAS.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 5, 1878.
SHOOTING AFFRAY AT WINFIELD.
One of the most unfortunate affairs that has occurred at Winfield for many years was the result of a quarrel between L. J. Webb, Representative of the 88th Legislative District of this county, and Page, the saloon man, who recently erected the new brick saloon on Main street at that place. It seems that the two had been gambling, and that Mr. Webb lost about $100 he had collected for his clients, and crazed with liquor, he walked into the saloon and shot Page dead, the ball passing through his heart. The affair caused terrible excitement and much regret. Mr. Webb is now in custody, and will be held to await his trial at the October term of the District Court.
Homicide.
Winfield Courier, June 6, 1878.
On last Saturday, June 1st, about four o’clock p.m., Jay Page, saloon keeper of this place, was shot and killed by L. J. Webb, attorney, and member of the House of Representatives of the State. Crowds of men immediately assembled around the scene of the transaction and great excitement prevailed. At the time of the shooting Mr. Page was standing against the counter of his saloon in conversation with Frank Manny, when Mr. Webb entered from the back room; and walking up to within about twelve feet of Mr. Page, drew a revolver from his pocket and fired—the ball entering Page’s left breast about five inches above the nipple. Page ran out the front door, blood gushing from his mouth and nostrils, crying that Webb had killed him. He ran along the sidewalk perhaps 100 feet and fell. He was taken up, bleeding from the mouth profusely. He expired immediately. No word was spoken in the saloon by either Webb or Page. After firing the shot Webb turned to the counter, where he handed his pistol to J. L. M. Hill, deputy sheriff, and went out in custody of Hill.
Coroner W. G. Graham caused to be summoned before him by J. H. Finch, deputy sheriff, a coroner’s jury, composed of W. Q. Mansfield, B. F. Baldwin, A. A. Jackson, H. Brotherton, A. E. Baird, and W. Gillelen. Frank Manny, Newton Ball, and Jesse Herndon, eye-witnesses to the transaction, were sworn and testified to the facts as above stated.
The jury returned a verdict to the effect that Jay Page came to his death by a shot from a pistol fired in the hands of L. J. Webb.
Jay Page came to this city from El Dorado in January last. He had formerly been in Topeka and cities further east. He was a young man of about thirty years of age, well formed, active, wiry, of good address and prepossessing appearance. He was a professional gambler, and is represented as having been not only skillful as a gambler but unprincipled, daring, and reckless, one of the kind who are quick and handy with the pistol and have plenty of nerve to use it.
When Page came to this place, he set himself to building a large stone two-story building with brick open front. The building was completed about six weeks ago, and is one of the large, substantial, and showy business houses of the city. It stands on the east side of Main Street, the fourth building north of Ninth Avenue. The lower story front room, about 25 by 50 feet, was occupied by Page as a billiard saloon, in which were a pool table and a counter and bar at the back end, where liquors were sold by the glass. Back of this was another room where card tables were kept. The upper story was divided into several rooms, some of which are supposed to have been occupied for gambling purposes. There have been rumors and surmises for several days past that green ones who have thought they were smart have been enticed into these rooms, where they lost their money; and now there are many dark hints being thrown out of drugged liquor, cold decks, pistols, roping in, etc., which in the present excitement it is impossible either to verify or refute. We are told that others have attempted to shoot Page but have been prevented by friends. Page leaves a wife, who was in a delicate situation, approaching confinement, and the effect of this blow may prove especially serious to her.
L. J. Webb is a young man about thirty years old, a bright lawyer, having a large practice and many friends. He had a few years ago habits of drinking and gambling, amounting to almost uncontrollable passion. Within the last three years he has made efforts to reform, joining the church and the temperance society, and has abstained from these vices so far that he regained the confidence of the people; and was in 1876 elected to the State Legislature, and has received of our citizens other marks of esteem and confidence. Since the Jay Page saloon as been opened, it seems that by some means he has been lured from his good resolutions and habits into drinking in this saloon and into gambling again, and has been taking opium to steady his nerves. It is said that he was in one of the rooms of that building all the night previous, where Page got away with his money by unfair dealing, and silenced him by a show of two pistols; that Webb left in a half demented condition, and under the influence of whiskey, drugs, and frenzy has perpetrated the homicide as above stated.
Webb has a wife and two children, to whom this tragedy will be the most terrible catastrophe.
The funeral of Page took place from the M. E. Church Sunday, June 2nd.
Webb was held over in jail to Monday for his preliminary examination. On Monday he was very low and weak; too ill to be moved, and his examination was postponed until his condition will permit of it. Dr. Davis, who is attending him, expresses the opinion that his mind was in a shattered condition.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 12, 1878.
Homicide.
[From the Winfield Courier.]
On last Saturday, June 1st, about four o’clock p.m., Jay Page, saloon keeper of this place, was shot and killed by L. J. Webb, attorney, and member of the House of Representatives of the State. Crowds of men immediately assembled around the scene of the transaction and great excitement prevailed. At the time of the shooting Mr. Page was standing against the counter of his saloon in conversation with Frank Manny, when Webb entered from the back room and walking up to within about twelve feet of Mr. Page, drew a revolver from his pocket and fired, the ball entering Page’s left breast about five inches above the nipple.
Page ran out the front door, blood gushing from his mouth and nostrils, crying that Webb had killed him. He ran along the sidewalk perhaps 100 feet and fell. He was taken up, bleeding from the mouth profusely. He expired immediately. No word was spoken in the saloon by either Webb or Page. After firing the shot Webb turned to the counter, where he handed his pistol to J. L. M. Hill, deputy sheriff, and went out in custody of Hill.
Coroner W. G. Graham caused to be summoned before him by J. H. Finch, deputy sheriff, a coroner’s jury, composed of W. Q. Mansfield, B. F. Baldwin, A. A. Jackson, H. Brotherton, A. E. Baird, and W. Gillelen.
Frank Manny, Newton Ball, and Jesse Herndon, eye witnesses to the transaction, were sworn and testified to the facts as above stated.
The jury returned a verdict to the effect that Jay Page came to his death by a shot from a pistol fired in the hands of J. L. Webb.
Jay Page came to this city from El Dorado in January last. He had formerly been in Topeka and cities further east. He was a young man of about thirty years of age, well formed, active, wiry, of good address and prepossessing appearance. He was a professional gambler, and is represented as having been not only skillful as a gambler but unprincipled, daring and reckless, one of the kind who are quick and handy with the pistol and have plenty of nerve to use it.
When Page came to this place he set himself to building a large stone two-story building with brick open front. The building was completed about six weeks ago, and is one of the large, substantial, and showy business houses of the city. It stands on the east side of Main street, the fourth building north of Ninth Avenue. The lower story front room, about 25 by 50 feet, was occupied by Page as a billiard saloon, in which were a pool table and a counter and bar at the back end where liquors were sold by the glass. Back of this was another room where card tables were kept.
The upper story was divided into several rooms, some of which are supposed to have been occupied for gambling purposes. There have been rumors and surmises for several days past that green ones who thought they were smart have been enticed into these rooms, where they lost their money; and now there are many dark hints being thrown out of drugged liquors, cold decks, pistols, roping in, etc., which in the present excitement it is impossible either to verify or refute. We are told that others have attempted to shoot Page, but have been prevented by friends. Page leaves a wife, who is in a delicate situation, approaching confinement, and the effect of this blow may prove especially serious to her.
L. J. Webb is a young man about thirty years old, a bright lawyer, having a large practice and many friends. He had, a few years ago, habits of drinking and gambling amounting to almost an uncontrollable passion. Within the last three years he has made efforts to reform, joining the church and the temperance society, and has abstained from these vices so far that he regained the confidence of the people; was in 1876 elected to the State Legislature, and has received from our citizens other marks of esteem and confidence.
Since the Jay Page saloon has been opened, it seems that by some means he has been lured from his good resolutions and habits into drinking in this saloon and into gambling again, and has been taking opium to steady his nerves. It is said that he was in one of the rooms of that building all the night previous, where Page got away with his money by unfair dealing, and silenced him by a show of two pistols; that Webb left in a half demented condition; and under the influence of whiskey, drugs, and frenzy, has perpetrated the homicide as above stated.
Webb has a wife and two children, to whom this tragedy will be the most terrible catastrophe.
The funeral of Page took place from the M. E. church Sunday, June 2nd.
Webb was held over in jail to Monday for his preliminary examination. On Monday he was very low and weak; too ill to be moved, and his examination was postponed until his condition will permit of it. Dr. Davis, who is attending him, expresses the opinion that his mind was in a shattered condition.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 12, 1878.
L. J. WEBB had his preliminary trial before Esquire Boyer last week, and was bound over to appear at the next term of the district court, in the sum of $ . He is now in jail.
[EVIDENTLY TRAVELER DID NOT FIND OUT DOLLAR AMOUNT.]
The Page-Webb Tragedy.
Winfield Courier, June 13, 1878.
Various statements in relation to this affair have appeared in the newspapers or been told about the country which have no foundation in fact; but have grown out of the surmises of excited men. Much interest and a desire to learn the facts are manifested.
At the preliminary examination of Webb, the courtroom was well filled, largely with men from the country, and we consider it due to our readers to give them the exact facts as far as possible, and endeavored to do so last week.
We will state that we were not much acquainted with Page and were well acquainted with Webb, feeling for him a personal friendship; but we do not intend that this fact shall color our statements.
Our statement last week that Webb had been taking opium to steady his nerves was doubtless an error. It is denied, and we find no one who knows that he ever took opium.
The statement of the correspondent of the Traveler that Page had won from Webb $100, which Webb had collected for his clients, is in error.
C. C. Black, Webb’s law partner, says that Webb could not possibly have had any money belonging to clients. The statement in some of the papers that Webb had threatened to kill or revenge upon Page seems to be without foundation. No evidence of threats or malice was offered, or was attempted to be offered, at the examination.
If there is any evidence that Page had played cold decks on Webb, drugged him, or drawn pistols on him, it was not produced at the examination. There are many other statements and rumors that cannot be taken as truth, at least not until the case is fully developed at the trial.
THE PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
took place last week, June 5th and 6th. Capt. McDermott, for the state, evidently endeavored to do his whole duty in an honorable way. Judge Coldwell, E. S. Torrance, N. C. Coldwell, and Judge Webb, the prisoner’s father, were present in the interest of Webb. The hearing was before Justice Boyer in the courthouse. Four witnesses were examined on the part of the state. The following are all the material facts testified.
JESSE HERNDON’S TESTIMONY.
I have been tending bar for Page lately. On the first day of June I was in Page’s saloon. Mr. Page was there. I saw L. J. Webb there; saw him shoot Page. Page was standing at the north end of the bar, front side, leaning against the bar talking to Frank Manny. Webb came into the room at the back door, walked to within about ten feet of Page, took his pistol out of his pocket, and pointed it towards Page. The pistol made a report and I saw the smoke. Page put up his hand to his left breast and said: “See where the son of a b___h has shot me.”
Page walked out of the front door. I did not see Webb do anything after that. He gave his pistol to Mr. Hill. I did not see Mr. Page anymore until about half an hour, when I saw him in the doctor’s office dead. What I have described transpired in Cowley County, Kansas, about 4 o’clock p.m., Saturday, June 1, 1878.
CROSS-EXAMINATION.
I have been in Page’s employ about two months. Mr. Page sold whiskey and wine and allowed gambling in his place of business. The room I have described was the retail room. The gambling was carried on in the back room on the same floor. There were other rooms for gambling upstairs, but they did not gamble there. There might have been one or two gambling games up there. The building was well constructed for gambling purposes.
I have known Webb nearly all the time I have been here; had seen him about the building before. He was there the Friday evening before; came after supper and remained all night and next day until the shooting took place. He did not leave the house to my knowledge until the shooting. Had he left I think I would have known it. He was in the back room where they were playing poker most of the time he was in the house. Page was engaged in the game. Page would frequently go from the gambling room to the bar room and help his customers to some of the good things he had there. Mr. Webb drank during the night and during the day. I think he took the last drink about thirty minutes before the shooting. During the time Webb was there he might have drunk more than thirty times. He was drinking all the time. I waited on them during the time he was there. The game broke up about daylight. Page did not play any after that. They all drank the same kind of liquor, not mixed liquor but whiskey; they call it bean whiskey. I took some peppermint to Webb once. I prepared all the liquor they drank that night except one round. Page gave them one round about midnight. I was most of the time in the gaming room. Webb was playing all the time until 4 o’clock. Page then quit the game because there was no more money in it. He had got it all. Webb continued drinking all day. I did not observe anything peculiar about Webb when he came out at the time of the shooting. Do not know whether Page had been in the gambling room that afternoon. If he was in there, I do not know it. I had passed a drink through a hole in the wall into the gambling room to Webb about twenty minutes before the shooting.
Frank Manny testified to the circumstances of the shooting substantially as did Herndon, and said he saw Webb in the gambling room about ten minutes before the shooting playing cards with two other men; said Webb when he came into the room looked as though he was mad; had his eyes wide open and looked toward Page with a hard stare. Webb leveled his pistol so long at Page before firing that witness thought it was a joke intended to scare somebody.
Newton Ball and H. A. Adams testified to the facts of the shooting substantially as Herndon had, and Dr. Mansfield testified to the surgical results. No witnesses were produced on behalf of the prisoner. His counsel evidently preferred not to disclose their line of defense.
The Justice ordered that Webb be committed to jail to await his trial at the September term of the district court. An application that he be admitted to bail was refused and the prisoner was returned to jail.
There is a wide difference of opinion in this community as to the merits or demerits of this case and some feeling is exhibited. We do not propose to state our opinions, but only to state the facts as they are developed. It is probable that much other evidence will be adduced at the trial, and until then we think all should avoid forming fixed opinions.
Winfield Courier, June 20, 1878.
Mrs. H. L. Page, of Milwaukee, mother of the late Jay Page, and Mr. H. Barber, Jr., of Chicago, a relative, arrived in Winfield last Saturday the 17th. They are here to assist in settling up the estate of Mr. Page and not to influence in any way the prosecution of Mr. Webb. We met Mr. Barber and were much pleased with his gentlemanly bearing and with the intelligence, candor, and soundness of the views he expressed.
Winfield Courier, June 27, 1878.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
With few exceptions, it is thought to be a blessing to the county that Page is gone. Such hells in our midst should be spotted. Let Cowley County be too unhealthy for them from this time hence.
Winfield Courier, June 27, 1878.
“The Evils in Our Midst.”
The Rev. J. L. Rushbridge recently delivered a very able address, in which he vividly portrayed the evils that have resulted from the sale of intoxicating drinks in Winfield, and criticized forcibly and severely the actions of citizens in relation thereto, some of which criticisms pointed unmistakably to particular individuals. . . .
. . . Before the election we were told that Jay Page would apply for a license and that he was a gambler. Otherwise, we knew little about him. We were not in favor of giving him a license; did not believe it possible for him to procure near enough names on a petition to entitle him to one, and did not believe he would be licensed. We refused to sign his petition. We knew afterward that he had procured a license and supposed he was selling intoxicating drinks, but have never been to the saloon or building except to the city council room. We never heard it intimated that gambling was done there until after the shooting tragedy. Had we known that gambling was being carried on there, we should not have said so in the COURIER for the purpose of being informed of where they can find a gambling hell or other disreputable place in which to gratify illicit passions they will be disappointed. We can do better than to advertise such institutions gratis or for pay. The “unsuspecting” will be likely to know the place should they desire to indulge in gambling. Had we known of gambling there, it would have been our duty, instead of advertising it, to have made complaint before the proper magistrate that the parties might be arrested and punished.
We do not deem it the mission of our paper to charge officials with corruption, fraud, or anything else unless we have the proof that it is true, nor unless we can do it “with good motives for justifiable ends.” . . . . Skipped the rest. It appears that Rushbridge really attacked city officials, the Telegram, Druggists, and also the Courier.
Winfield Courier, June 27, 1878.
WINFIELD, KANSAS, June 25, 1878.
EDITOR COURIER: In reply to a communication in your columns last week, dated 17, 1878, and signed by the Committee on Saloon License, I have this to say:
On the evening of the 15th of April Jos. Likowski and Jay Page presented to the city council their petitions asking for dramshop license. On that evening the committee on saloon licenses was appointed and those two petitions referred to it for examination. On the afternoon of the next day the committee examined those two petitions, and by the courtesy of that committee and at the request of the temperance committee, it was agreed that I should be present at such examination. I was present, and expressed myself satisfied with the manner in which the examination was made; but the two petitions were on the same evening referred by the council back to the parties who presented them that they might procure additional names, and they were not again presented until the evening of the 22nd day of April.
At this meeting of the council the petition of James Fahey for dramshop license was for the first time presented, and the temperance committee presented a census of the competent petitioners residing within the corporate limits of the city, taken by three of our citizens and sworn to by them to be correct, asking the committee to examine the petitions in connection with such census, stating that the petitions to be legal should be signed by a majority of the persons named in said census and requesting that if the committee found any names on the petition who were in fact competent petitioners that they add them to the census, and thereby form a basis from which to determine whether or not the petitions contained a majority of the competent petitioners of the city.
On the same evening the two petitions before examined, and the petition of James Fahey for the first time presented, together with the census, were again referred to the committee. They took them and retired for private consultation, and in a very short time they returned to the council chamber and made their report favorable to the granting of the saloon licenses, which was accordingly done.
The petition of James Fahey was said to contain about 400 names; the census contained 769 names besides the additional names that had been procured to the petitions of Page and Likowski.
I desire to make no comments, but the above is a true statement of the facts.
Very respectfully, HENRY E. ASP.
Winfield Courier, June 27, 1878.
Real Estate Transfers.
C. L. Harter, sheriff to Jay Page, lot 9, block 128, Winfield, $475.
Susan J. Ford to Jay Page, lot 9, block 128, Winfield, $1.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 3, 1878.
The New York Sun, in commenting on the recent unpleasantness between L. J. Webb and the late Jay Page, tells it thusly: “Jay Page cheated at his faro game in Winfield, Kansas, and was instantly killed by L. J. Webb, a member of the Legislature.”
Winfield Courier, July 11, 1878.
We would call attention to the dental card of Dr. Van Doren in this issue. He is one of the best dentists in the state, and skilled in the use of the new celluloid material as well as gold and silver for plates. Give him a call.
PROFESSIONAL CARD.
DR. VAN DOREN,
SURGICAL AND MECHANICAL DENTIST.
Rooms in the Page building, upstairs.
Winfield Courier, July 11, 1878.
Notice the new card of Mrs. Van Doren, dress maker. She has been practicing the art of dress making in Lawrence for many years, where her reputation for perfect fits is well known. She has S. T. Taylor’s new system for dress fitting, which is considered complete.
MISCELLANEOUS CARDS [HER CARD FOUND IN NEXT ISSUE OF PAPER]
MRS. VAN DOREN’S
DRESS MAKING PARLORS
in the Page building, upstairs, Cutting and fitting by the system of S. T. Taylor of New York City.
Winfield Courier, July 11, 1878.
PRE-JUDGING THE CASE.
The case of L. J. Webb, committed on the charge of murder in the first degree and denied bail by Justice Boyer, has been reviewed by the supreme court on a writ of habeas corpus, which was first presented July 3rd, and decided the same day, to the effect that the testimony for the state on the preliminary examination does not make a prima facie case which justifies the denial of bail to the defendant, and that the defendant be admitted to bail in the sum of $12,000. The bail was readily obtained and the defendant was on last Saturday released from jail.
Unfortunately there is a bitterly partisan feeling in this city concerning this case. Webb has very bitter enemies as well as warm friends, and there are strenuous attempts to prejudge the case and convict him before his trial. Now this is all wrong. He is in the hands of the law and will be tried for his life by a court and jury, therefore it is desirable that the community be entirely unprejudiced if possible. If an unprejudiced, intelligent jury cannot be had in this county, it will not be right to try him here. It is of the utmost importance that the jurymen who try this case shall have no opinion as to the guilt of the prisoner until after the evidence is given to them under the forms of law. All attempts that have been, or are being, made to set men’s minds in the belief of the prisoner’s guilt or his innocence are culpable in the extreme, and we think it much more culpable to create prejudice against than for a prisoner.
It is a maxim of law that it is better that ten guilty men escape than that one innocent man should be sacrificed. We do not desire to shield the prisoner from the lawful and just punishment for his act, but we do desire that his act shall be fairly tried and judged by unprejudiced men in accordance with evidence that shall be legally placed before them by both prosecution and defense.
We have been charged with unfairness on both sides in the accounts we have given of this case in the COURIER. We do not believe we could possibly have been more fair and impartial while attempting to give all the news. We took special pains to state all the rumors on both sides as rumors, all the well known facts on both sides as facts, and the evidence given under oath as evidence. We gave all the testimony that was offered and if either party failed to offer any of its evidence, it is not our fault.
As the accounts we gave were largely made up of the evidence given before the coroner’s jury and the examining magistrate, and as that evidence was all given by witnesses examined on the part of the state and was supposed to be the case of the prosecution, they at least could ask no more, and if the defense concluded that it was better for them to withhold their evidence so as not to disclose their defense, they have no reason to complain of us if we have given only one side of the case.
We have called attention to the fact that certain rumors against Webb were untrue and that certain rumors in his favor have not been sustained by the evidence offered, and have taken great care to be as correct as possible. We admit that we have formed an opinion. We have our knowledge of Webb for the last ten years, his habits, characteristics, and acts under various circumstances, and think we have as good a right to form an opinion as most people, but we have not expressed it in our columns.
If Webb’s enemies as well as friends will let the case rest where it is until court, quit talking about it, quit trying to make political capital or any other capital out of it, peace may again reign in our midst.
Winfield Courier, July 11, 1878.
[MORE ON JAY PAGE MURDER.]
A WOULD BE NEMESIS.
A Wife Attempts to Avenge the Death of Her Husband.
Mrs. Jay Page attempted to kill L. J. Webb on last Saturday evening. Webb had just been released from jail on bail, and in company with Sheriff Harter, H. E. Asp, and R. L. Walker, was walking from the jail west toward Main Street along the sidewalk, and when passing the house of B. M. Terrell, Mrs. Page ran out of the back door with a large revolver in her hand and passing along the west side of the house toward Webb, attempted to get a range on Webb to shoot him, at the same time using violent and threatening language. Sheriff Harter and R. L. Walker were between Mrs. Page and Webb, and under their cover Webb ran and escaped. R. L. Walker made some remark and Mrs. Page turned on and threatened him.
Since the death of Jay Page, Mrs. Page has been living in the family of B. M. Terrell in the house on Ninth Avenue next east of the post office. The house is on the south side of the street, with front end so close to the sidewalk that it is but one step between the sidewalk and the front door.
B. M. TERRELL’S STATEMENT.
I was in the front door of my house when Webb and others were approaching from the jail. Mrs. Page came to the door and attempted to pass out. I pulled her back by her dress, but did not observe that she had a pistol. She then ran out at the back door and up towards Webb, saying: “You killed Jay because he said you was a stinker. You are a stinker and I will kill you.” She tried to get a chance to shoot Webb, but others were in the way and she did not shoot. I never heard Mrs. Page make any threat or express any ill will against Webb before this, except that when someone told her that Webb was to be let out of jail, she said that Webb could not walk the streets and live while she was around. She had expressed sympathy for Webb’s family. The pistol she had belonged to me. About two weeks ago I observed it was getting rusty and took it to John Easton to be cleaned up, where it remained a week. I then brought it home and put it in a case under a bed. There were three cartridges in it. Both my wife and Mrs. Page knew where it was kept. I think she was waiting and watching for Webb at the back door. She now says she intended to kill Webb and will do it yet if he runs around loose where she is.
SHERIFF HARTER’S STATEMENT.
When I went to the jail to release Webb, I passed B. M. Terrill’s house. Mrs. Page was sitting on the front door-step with her feet on the sidewalk and Terrill was sitting in a chair just behind her in the house. When I returned with Webb, Terrill was sitting on the door-step with his feet on the sidewalk and a woman was sitting behind him in the chair. I do not know if it was Mrs. Page. As we came along the sidewalk, Webb was on the left of me, the side next to Terrill’s house. Just before we reached the door, I went to Webb’s left side and walked between him and the door. I did this to prevent a collision, which I thought possible. No woman attempted to come out the front door; but as I appeared between Webb and the door, a woman rushed back through the house. I heard her retiring steps and the noise of her dress distinctly. As we passed the northwest corner of the house, I saw Mrs. Page coming from the back door. I told Webb to “git,” and kept between him and Mrs. Page. She rushed up to within six or eight feet of me with a revolver aimed at me. I threw up my arm and said, “Don’t shoot me.” She called Webb a cowardly, dirty stinker, and talked in an excited manner, but I do not think she used other profane or vulgar language. Webb soon got out of her range, and R. L. Walker, who had been close behind us, said, “Don’t.” She said, “You are as bad as he is and I will fix you too if you interfere,” or words to that effect. Walker kept his arm up and moved rapidly away until we reached the post office, when she turned and went back into the house.
[NOTE: LAST PARAGRAPH SHOWS “TERRILL” RATHER THAN TERRELL.]
MRS. PAGE’S STATEMENT.
I intended to kill Webb and would have done so if I could have shot without hitting someone else. I will do it yet if he does not keep out of my way. It was not right to have brought him past my door. I did say to him that he was a stinker, but that was the only bad word I used. I did not say those other words they accuse me of saying. I did not threaten Walker; all I said was meant for Webb.
H. E. ASP’S STATEMENT.
I was present and heard Mrs. Page say to R. L. Walker: “I know you, Dick Walker. You are as bad as any of them. I’ll give it to you next. I’ll fix you for your coffin.”
Winfield Courier, July 18, 1878.
Sparr Bros. are about to move their stock of groceries into the Page building.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 24, 1878.
BIRTH. MRS. PAGE, wife of the late Jay Page, gave birth to a daughter last Friday afternoon, at Winfield.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 24, 1878.
We have been favored with a communication tending to excite an argument on the case of Page and Webb, at Winfield. Now we do not desire to cause any more comment on this unfortunate affair, one way or the other. As it is, it will be difficult to obtain a jury in this county, because of the high feeling in the matter. In fact, we are inclined to believe that there are not a dozen men in this county who have refrained from expressing an opinion on the case, which precludes their acting as jurors, and will necessitate a change of venue. We are not overburdened with sympathy for Mr. Webb, or for Mr. Page either, but we prefer to discuss the affair after his trial.
Winfield Courier, July 25, 1878.
BIRTH. Born to Mrs. Jay Page, on the 18th inst., a daughter.
Winfield Courier, August 22, 1878.
Trial List.
The following is a list of cases that will stand for trial at the August A. D. 1878 term of the District Court of Cowley County, and have been placed on the Trial Docket in the following order.
FIRST DAY - CRIMINAL DOCKET. August 26, 1878.
State vs. Leland J. Webb. [James McDermott; E. S. Torrance, Coldwell & Coldwell.]
[DISTRICT COURT OF COWLEY COUNTY: TRIAL LIST.]
Arkansas City Traveler, August 28, 1878.
The following is a list of cases that will stand for trial at the August A. D. 1878 term of the District Court of Cowley County, and have been placed on the Trial Docket in the following order.
1ST DAY—CRIMINAL DOCKET, AUG. 26, 1878.
State vs. Leland J. Webb.
Winfield Courier, August 29, 1878.
District Court.
Met Monday morning, August 26th, 1878.
Present: Judge W. P. Campbell, Sheriff C. L. Harter, Clerk E. S. Bedilion, Attorneys McDermott, Torrance, C. Coldwell, N. C. Coldwell, Hackney, McDonald, Pryor, Pyburn, Allen, Jennings, Buckman, Black, Webb, Alexander, Beach, Troup, Jarvis, Asp, of Winfield; and Dennison, of Osage Mission.
WEDNESDAY—THIRD DAY.
State vs. L. J. Webb; motion for change of venue. Defense given until tomorrow morning to file additional affidavits in support of the motion.
Winfield Courier, August 29, 1878.
Mrs. Jay Page left this city last Thursday to take up her residence with her late husband’s friends in Milwaukee, Wis.
Winfield Courier, September 5, 1878.
District Court.
State vs. L. J. Webb. Venue changed to Sedgwick County. Defendant bound over to appear in $12,000 and witnesses recognized to be in attendance.
Winfield Courier, September 5, 1878.
Dissolution Notice.
Notice is hereby given that the partnership formerly existing between the undersigned, under the firm name of Webb & Black, has been dissolved, the time for which said partnership was formed having expired.
Mr. Black succeeds to the business of the firm, will carry on the same, and is authorized to collect all accounts due the firm. LELAND J. WEBB, CHAS. C. BLACK.
[DISTRICT COURT PROCEEDINGS.]
Arkansas City Traveler, September 11, 1878.
The following cases were tried before Judge Campbell during the term of court, up to September 5, 1878.
State vs. L. J. Webb, charged with murder in the first degree for the shooting of Page, the saloon man. Venue was changed to Sedgwick County. Defendant bound over to appear in $12,000, and witnesses recognized to be in attendance.
Winfield Courier, September 12, 1878.
District Court.
Tuesday, September 3, 1878.
State vs. L. J. Webb. Removed to Sedgwick County. Admitted to bail in $12,000.
The Wichita Eagle, Thursday, Sept. 12, 1878.
Personal Mention.
H. G. Webb, of Labette, arrived in the city Monday evening. He, too, is a legal adviser in the Webb-Page trial.
Stevens, the traveling correspondent of the Leavenworth Times, is on hand again. He always has something good to say of Wichita in his correspondence.
Dr. Davis and Dr. Rothrick, of Winfield, are witnesses in the Webb trial.
Miss Coldwell, the accomplished daughter of Judge Coldwell, of Winfield, is in the city with her father.
Allison, he of the Cowley County Telegram, came up Monday, and can be found during court hours sitting at the reporters’ table.
E. S. Bedilion, clerk of the court of Cowley County, is in taking notes of Sedgwick’s clerk of this court.
Drs. Graham and Emmerson, of Winfield, are in the city attending the trial as witnesses.
J. L. Hill, under sheriff of Cowley is courting also.
R. L. Walker, ex-sheriff of Cowley, is also attending the Webb trial.
Mr. Baldwin, one of the leading merchants of Winfield, is in the city for a few days.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 18, 1878.
The argument on Webb’s trial began yesterday, at Wichita.
Winfield Courier, September 19, 1878. Front Page.
[From the Wichita Eagle.]
The attorneys retained for the defense in the Webb trial are Judge W. C. Webb, of Topeka, E. S. Torrance, Coldwell & Coldwell, and C. C. Black, of Winfield, H. G. Webb, of Oswego, James D. Snoddy, of Linn County, and Sluss & Hatton, of this city. The attorneys for the prosecution are James McDermott, the county attorney of Cowley County, assisted by W. E. Stanley, Sedgwick County’s attorney.
The Wichita Eagle, Thursday, Sept. 19, 1878.
The Webb Trial.
The trial of Leland J. Webb, charged with killing J. Page at Winfield on the first day of last June, has been in progress at this place for ten days. The previous high standing of the accused and the fact of his honorable connections conspired to render the case unusually interesting. The charge was given to the jury Monday night in the presence of five hundred citizens. An hour and a half were taken in delivering the instructions, which are said to be very able and comprehensive. To hear the eminent counsel the court-room again all day yesterday and last night remained crowded. The arguments were masterpieces of oratory and legal acumen. W. E. Stanley opened the prosecution, followed by Judge Coldwell. Hon. James D. Snoddy spoke three hours next day in which he made a masterly summing of the evidence. Judge Webb closed for the defense, and Hon. James McDermott for the prosecution. The jury retired at ten o’clock and at this writing, Wednesday morning, had not returned their verdict.
P. S. The jury returned a verdict this 3 p.m., of “not guilty.”
Winfield Courier, September 19, 1878.
Trial of L. J. Webb at Wichita.
The case was called on Monday morning, September 9th, on the opening of the court. Defendant made application for a continuance because of the absence of Dr. Mendenhall, a material witness for the defense. The court held the showing sufficient, unless the State would admit the affidavit of defendant as the testimony of witness. The State consented and the case was set for trial next morning.
All day Tuesday was spent in getting a jury. The special venire was soon exhausted and balance was made up of tradesmen. It is considered a good jury, and both State and defendant are satisfied. Most of them are from the country.
Wednesday, Jas. McDermott opened the case on the part of the State. Frank Manny, Jesse Herndon, Adams, and others were examined as witnesses. There were no new features developed on the part of the State. The testimony was substantially as on the preliminary examination. The killing was proved and some evidence tending to show expressions of previous malice was introduced.
Col. James D. Snoddy, of counsel for the defense, cross-examined Frank Manny, and when he concluded, the witness left the stand in a rather shattered condition.
The evidence for the State was concluded Wednesday evening. During the night session, Judge Coldwell stated the case for the defense. The theory of the defense was insanity at the time of the shooting; that this insanity was caused by excessive excitement, loss of sleep, excessive drinking, and nux vomica, opium, and other poisonous drugs administered to him in his drinks. In his youth defendant had suffered a severe fracture of the skull, the walls being permanently pressed upon the brain, wounding and lacerating it; and in time of great excitement he is peculiarly liable to insanity, that the place of the killing was a dead-fall of the worst type.
One of the most important witnesses for the defense was Jesse Herndon, the principal witness for the State. As is known, he was Page’s barkeeper and knew all about how the business of the house was conducted. The defense had endeavored to draw out this testimony on cross-examination but the court would not permit it, and he was put on as a witness for the defense. He testified as to all the occurrences of the night previous to the killing and made many important additions to his testimony. He said that Page deliberately robbed Webb that night by means of cold decks and drugged whiskey; that Webb drank often that night, and Page had instructed witness to give Webb liquor from a particular bottle he called “all sorts,” which witness did; that twice during the night Page went into the bar-room and put some liquid from a small vial which he took from his pocket into a tumbler of whiskey and instructed witness to give it to Webb the next time he called for drink, which witness did; that this bottle of “all sorts” was a villainous compound of whiskey and drugs, which Page kept for the express purpose of giving to men with whom he was gaming; that shortly before the conclusion of the game, and after Webb had drunk the whiskey prepared by Page, Page went into the bar-room and stacked a deck of cards, and instructed witness the next time drinks were called for to bring this pack under the water or server, and while Webb was engaged in drinking to leave them under the server on the table, which witness did, and then Page dealt from this cold deck, giving Webb a full hand and himself a better hand, on which he won all Webb’s money, and this concluded the game. Witness testified to some expressions of anger made by Webb to Page upon the conclusion of the game, saying he was robbed, but to no expressions of malice or threats of revenge. All the parties to the game remained an hour or more after its conclusion, Webb drinking frequently; then all left except Webb, who remained alone with witness. Webb never left the saloon from that time to the time of the shooting. Witness testified as to Webb’s condition and appearance during the day; said he looked very wild and had a jerking movement about his head, neck, and shoulders, was convulsive, and breathed hard. Witness testified that after the preliminary examination he went with By Terrill and Frank Manny to the saloon to make an examination for drugs. They washed out several empty bottles and one bottle that contained something that Page had used to put in liquor; what it was he did not know. When they emptied it out and washed the bottle, he told Terrill and Manny that it was not right. He testified that certain vials and small bottles shown him looked like those which Page had used to fix up liquors with.
This witness suffered considerably in the hands of W. E. Stanley, attorney for State, on cross-examination. His attention was called to statements he had made before Justice Boyer at the preliminary examination in direct contradiction to his present statements. These contra-dictions witness explained by saying he had been advised by certain friends of Page that if he told anything he knew about these transactions in the saloon they would let Webb go and send witness up; that from those threats and the general excitement he was afraid to tell all he knew about that saloon.
Further testimony for the defense from Burt Covert, G. L. Walker, James Fahey, P. Hill, A. H. Green, R. F. Baldwin, Ed. Bedilion, and Dr. W. R. Davis corroborated Herndon in relation to the wild and insane appearance, the convulsive twitching movements of the throat, head, and shoulders of the defendant immediately before and subsequent to the shooting; also showed the finding of some small bottles and vials in the counter used by Page in his saloon; that these vials were taken from the counter sometime after the shooting and preserved with their contents and are the same that are now exhibited in court; and the testimony of Drs. Davis, Rothrock, and Furley showed that these vials contained opium, nux vomica, and India hemp, and that these compounded and administered would produce the symptoms described in the defendant and would produce insanity.
The jury than examined the indentation which is apparent on defendant’s head. From inspection it appeared that a considerable portion of the skull had been formerly removed, and that the left side of the skull is pressed in upon the brain.
The medical gentlemen testified that such is a frequent cause of insanity, and that any person thus afflicted was extremely liable to mental derangement or insanity in any unusual excitement, or the excessive use of intoxicating liquors, or of such drugs as had been found in the vials.
Thursday, Friday, and a part of Saturday were occupied with the testimony for the defense. Rebutting testimony was then offered by both State and defense but was of little importance. The testimony in many important points was conflicting.
On Saturday evening the evidence was all in and the court adjourned to Monday morning, when the court will give his charge to the jury and the arguments of counsel will be heard.
On Monday morning, the 16th, the Judge gave his charge to the jury, and was followed by W. E. Stanley in the opening argument for the State. Stanley scored the defendant and many of the witnesses for the defense fearfully and evidently with great effect. His plea was long and pronounced to have been brilliant to a high degree. He was followed by Judge Coldwell for the defense. This is the latest news we get as we go to press.
The Commonwealth, Thursday Morning, September 19, 1878. [Topeka Paper]
The news reached Topeka, yesterday afternoon that Leland J. Webb, who was on trial, for the shooting of Jay Page, had been acquitted. Judge Webb, the young man’s father, received the congratulations of all who heard of it.
The Commonwealth, Thursday morning, September 20, 1878.
Personal. Judge C. Coldwell, of Winfield, is at the Tefft House, and will remain several days.
[WEBB ACQUITTED.]
Arkansas City Traveler, September 25, 1878.
Webb Acquitted.
The Webb trial is over and Mr. Webb has returned home a free man. The evidence was all in by Saturday night last, the Court read his charge for the jury. At nine o’clock Monday evening the argument was opened for the prosecution by Mr. Stanley, of Wichita, who was followed by Judge Coldwell of this city, for the defense. The judge was followed by Col. Snoddy of La Cygne and Judge H. C. Webb, of Oswego. Jas. McDermott closed for the state, and the case was submitted to the jury on Tuesday evening at two o’clock. On Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 they returned a verdict of “not guilty,” which makes Mr. Webb a free man.
Owing to the large volume of evidence taken in the case, we are unable to give it to our readers this week, but will devote most of our space next week to giving it and the charge to the jury by the Court. We congratulate Mr. Webb and his family upon his acquittal. Telegram.
The Wichita Eagle, Thursday, Sept. 29, 1878.
The Webb Case.
The Webb case consumed so much of the time of the late session of the District Court, that, at the adjournment, Saturday morning, the docket had not been noticeably curtailed. The same unsatisfactory result of affairs resulted last spring from the small pox scare, so that now it would take three weeks of steady sitting to clear the records.
After the Webb case had been dismissed of the criminal cases alone were taken up.
Wm. Lillie was found guilty and sentenced to three years for three years for undoubtedly conveying to his own use $100 belonging to “Swede Mollie,” a woman of the town. He had accepted the money of her with which to purchase a lot or obtain a deed therefor, but before discharging his trust, he did go on a drunk and either lost or made way with the money. He claimed that he had been robbed. but the evidence did not corroborate the story. Lillie came to Wichita over a year ago and opened up a billiard hall in the Occidental, and had, until lately, demeaned himself quite civilly. When arrested he was working in Mr. Stackman’s tailor shop. His attorney, H. G. Ruggles, felt aggrieved at the verdict of the jury.
C. Myers was also sentenced to the penitentiary for three years. He was found guilty of horse stealing. He had borrowed the horse for two hours to go out to the Cowskin, but mistaking the road to that divided stream he headed for Arkansas City, where he sold the horse. Myers is the owner of a very seedy phiz in every lineament of which is written indelibly treachery and untruthfulness, The penitentiary is the proper place for him and all his kind.
Judge Campbell is holding court this week in Butler County.
[Note from MAW...This was one of the worst microfilmed newspapers I have seen in a long time. Almost impossible to read! Hard to believe that the Murdock who ran the Walnut Valley Times ended up with brother in Wichita and did such a horrible job with a newspaper...but they did. I did not bother to try and garner more information about Cowley County and events in that time frame. 8/4/99]
Next item came from book at Cherokee Strip Museum, Arkansas City...
[KANSAS NEWS.]
Arkansas City Traveler, October 2, 1878. Front Page.
CARD TABLES ABOLISHED.
[From the Winfield Courier.]
We are informed that at the suggestion of Acting-Mayor Wood, card tables have been abolished from the saloons of the city.
Winfield Courier, October 3, 1878.
L. J. Webb has rented the front rooms in Bahntge’s new building for his law office, and until they are completed, he is stopping temporarily in Judge Coldwell’s office.
Winfield Courier, October 10, 1878.
Council Proceedings.
City Council met in council chamber Monday evening, October 7, 1878. Present: J. B. Lynn, mayor, and Councilmen Gulley, Manning, Robinson, and Wood; N. C. Coldwell, city attorney; and J. P. Short, clerk.
A committee of three, consisting of Messrs. Wood, Robinson, and Manning, was appointed to confer with the Board of County Commissioners in relation to deeding the county jail building and the county purchasing balance of block on which the courthouse stands and improving the same.
The following bills were allowed:
Maggie E. Page, office rent: $30.00
NOTE: I SEARCHED SOME PREVIOUS ISSUES OF COURIER TO SEE IF RESULTS OF WEBB TRIAL IN WICHITA WOULD BE PRINTED...NOTHING FOUND! EVIDENTLY COURIER DECIDED TO FORGET IT WHEN WEBB WAS ACQUITTED AND RETURNED TO WINFIELD TO PRACTICE!
Winfield Courier, October 17, 1878.
We would call attention to the law card of Pyburn & Boyer in this paper. They are gentlemen of much experience in the law and can be relied upon for honor and strict attention to the interests of their clients.
AD: A. J. PYBURN. W. M. BOYER.
PYBURN & BOYER,
ATTORNEYS AT LAW, Winfield, Kansas. Office in Page building.
Winfield Courier, December 26, 1878.
City Council Proceedings.
Action was taken on the following bills, which were allowed.
Maggie E. Page, rent: $10.00
[LIST OF NEW BUILDINGS ERECTED SINCE 1/1/1878.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 2, 1879.
The following is a list of new buildings erected in the city of Winfield since January 1, 1878, with the name of owner and cost of building.
J. Page, store room, brick: $3,000.
[Do not know if Mrs. E. J. Page, of Canada, was or was not spouse of Jay Page.
Jay Page’s mother was H. L. Page of Milwaukee.]
[BEAVER SCINTILLATIONS: NAME OF CORRESPONDENT NOT GIVEN.]
Winfield Courier, July 15, 1880.
REPORTER MENTIONS BEING A STUDENT AT MANHATTAN...NOW HOME FOR THE SUMMER.
Mrs. E. J. Page, of Canada, has been with us the past three weeks, visiting relatives and friends in Winfield, Arkansas City, and the country, and looking after her large property interests in this county.
[Page Building: where murder took place.]
Winfield Courier, August 5, 1880.
Messrs. Hendricks & Wilson have rented the Page building, and will move their stock of hardware as soon as the Roland stock can be removed.
I got the microfilm for Wichita Eagle (Weekly) Aug. 22, 1878-Sept. 15, 1881. Put what little information I got in date order already. [Did not pursue paper much for further articles. Very hard to read: must have used very thin paper in those days!]
Checked a Topeka Newspaper called “The Commonwealth.” Really nothing about Webb-Page Trial. But I found some interesting items, which I put in file labeled “Descriptions Various Items” as the descriptions used in some instances were quite interesting. Did not go very far with newspaper as it basically covered European news, State Politics, and Indian scares in that time era.
MAW August 3, 1999
Latest news (9/8/99)
Am awaiting a clipping from Janel Hutchinson stating that Leland J. Webb committed suicide via cocaine circa February 3, 1893.
Trial of Leland J. Webb for Murder of Jay Page, Winfield, Kansas.
The trial was held in Wichita, Kansas, beginning Tuesday, September 10, 1878, and according to the Wichita Eagle, September 19, 1878, took about ten days. The jury returned a verdict of “not guilty” on Thursday, September 19, 1878.
The attorneys retained for the defense in the Webb trial were Judge W. C. Webb, of Topeka; E. S. Torrance, Coldwell & Coldwell, and C. C. Black, of Winfield; H. G. Webb, of Oswego, James D. Snoddy, of Linn County; and Sluss & Hatton, of Wichita.
The attorneys for the prosecution were James McDermott, county attorney of Cowley County, assisted by W. E. Stanley, Sedgwick County’s attorney.
The paper did not clarify who the presiding Judge was in this case. As a general rule, Judge W. P. Campbell presided, but I am not certain that he did in this trial.
