Ron Allen Photograph Collection, PHC.256
Abstract
Photographs depicting the scene and aftermath of the December 1951 murder of North
Carolina Senator Ulysses S. Page by James Walter Sawyer. The photographs were commissioned
by the State Bureau of Investigation and taken by Ridenhour Studio of Fayetteville
and used in the county court case against Sawyer.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Ron Allen Photograph Collection
- Call Number
- PHC.256
- Creator
-
Allen, Ron
- Date
- 1952-1952
- Repository
-
State Archives of North Carolina
Collection Overview
Photographs depicting the December 1951 Bladen County scene and aftermath of the murder
of NC Senator Ulysses S. Page by James Walter Sawyer. The photos are by Ridenhour
Studio, Fayetteville, NC, and were used in the county court case against Sawyer. Images
include the interior and exterior of the store where Page was killed, Sheriff John
B. Allen, Sr., who investigated the case, Deputy Sheriff Clarence King, SBI agents
James A. Bradshaw and Clyde Fentress, the confessed murderer James Walter Sawyer,
his wife Ethel Mae Sawyer and their five children, Bladen County jailer Henry Brisson,
various pieces of evidence, staged poses of Sawyer with a gun, photos of the homes
of Sawyer and Page and Page's grave and the bullet riddled body of Page. The photos
had been in the possession of Bladen County Sheriff John B. Allen, Sr., and were donated
to the State Archives by his grandson Ron Allen. Collection also contains several
newspaper articles recounting the crime and subsequent trial.
Arrangement Note
Biographical/Historical
Ulysses S. Page (23 May 1894-30 December 1951) was a North Carolina Senator that gained
the nickname "Bladen Bombshell" during his first term in the North Carolina General
Assembly. Page was known for his quick temper and outspoken nature. Page's Lake, a
resort in Bladen County was run by Page from 1922 until his death in 1951.
Page's murderer, James Walter Sawyer (21 March 1917-July 1988), was a tenant farmer
for Page who lived in poverty with his wife, Ethel Mae Sawyer (14 August 1920-13 February
1993) and their five children. After a disagreement with Page about a month prior
to the murder, Sawyer left to work on another farm while Page consulted a lawyer about
the possibility of criminal indictment against Sawyer for alleged misdeeds during
his employment with Page. On the night of December 27th 1951, Sawyer aimed to settle
his differences with Page by traveling to the general store on Page's resort property
and murdering him with a rifle. Sawyer was subsequently arrested and charged with
his murder.
Contents of the Collection
Collection Contents
Interior of store at Page's Lake where Ulysses S. Page was murdered. Sherriff John
B. Allen is seen looking at the body of Mr. Page. 8"x10" silver gelatin photograph.
18 January 1952
PhC.256.01
Sherriff John B. Allen and murderer James Walter Sawyer are seen with the warrant
for Sawyer's arrest. 8"x10" silver gelatin photograph. c. 1952
PhC.256.02
Home of James Walter Sawyer. 8"x10" silver gelatin photograph. 18 January 1952
PhC.256.03
Home of James Walter Sawyer. 8"x10" silver gelatin photograph. 18 January 1952
PhC.256.04
Aerial view of Page's Lake resort. Bath house, lake and beach can be seen with murder
scene marked with 'X' on photograph. 8"x10" silver gelatin photograph. 18 January
1952
PhC.256.05
Page family tomb. Located on resort property in Bladen County. 8"x10" silver gelatin
photograph. 18 January 1952
PhC.256.06
Right to left, Deputy Sheriff Clarence King, James Walter Sawyer, Agent James A. Bradshaw
(SBI), Clyde Fentress (SBI) and Bladen County Sheriff, John B. Allen. 8"x10" silver
gelatin photograph. 18 January 1952
PhC.256.07
Right to left, Deputy Sheriff Clarence King, James Walter Sawyer, Agent James A. Bradshaw
(SBI), Clyde Fentress (SBI) and Bladen County Sheriff, John B. Allen. 8"x10" silver
gelatin photograph. 18 January 1952
PhC.256.08
Page family home. Located on resort property in Bladen County. 8"x10" silver gelatin
photograph. 18 January 1952
PhC.256.09
Page family home. Located on resort property in Bladen County. 8"x10" silver gelatin
photograph. 18 January 1952
PhC.256.10
Left to right, Jailer Henry Brisson, James Walter Sawyer and Sheriff John B. Allen.
8"x10" silver gelatin photograph. 18 January 1952
PhC.256.11
Left to right, Jailer Henry Brisson, James Walter Sawyer and Sheriff John B. Allen.
8"x10" silver gelatin photograph. 18 January 1952
PhC.256.12
James Walter Sawyer is seen posing in the Burgaw Jail, January 1952. 8"x10" silver
gelatin photograph.
PhC.256.13
Bladen County Sheriff John B. Allen is seen at a desk holding what appears to be evidence;
money, weapons and a shoe. 8"x10" silver gelatin photograph c. 1952.
PhC.256.14
Ethel May Sawyer is seen standing with her 5 children ranging in age from 2 to 13.
8"x10" silver gelatin photograph c. 1952
PhC.256.15
Ethel May Sawyer is seen standing with her 5 children ranging in age from 2 to 13.
8"x10" silver gelatin photograph c. 1952
PhC.256.16
Bladen County Sheriff John B. Allen is seen sitting at a desk examining the shell
casings found at scene of crime. 8"x10" silver gelatin photograph c. 1952.
PhC.256.17
The body of Ulysses S. Page is seen as-found, lying in a pool of blood at the doorway
to his shop at Page's Lake with a detective pointing at the body. 8"x10" silver gelatin
photograph. 18 January 1952
PhC.256.18
The body of Ulysses S. Page is seen as-found, lying in a pool of blood at the doorway
to his shop at Page's Lake with Sheriff John B. Allen pointing at a freezer near the
body with blood drips and smears. 8"x10" silver gelatin photograph. 18 January 1952
PhC.256.19
Bladen County Sheriff John B. Allen is seen inside the store at Page's Lake pointing
directly at the camera. 8"x10" silver gelatin photograph. 18 January 1952
PhC.256.20
Exterior of store at Page's Lake is seen with law enforcement vehicles, an ambulance
and a crowd of people near entrance. 8"x10" silver gelatin photograph. 18 January
1952
PhC.256.21
Unclothed body of Ulysses S. Page is seen from waist up lying face down. 8"x10" silver
gelatin photograph. January 1952
PhC.256.22
Unclothed body of Ulysses S. Page is seen from waist up lying face up. 8"x10" silver
gelatin photograph. January 1952
PhC.256.23
James Walter Sawyer is seen posing in the Burgaw Jail, January 1952. 8"x10" silver
gelatin photograph.
PhC.256.24
The body of Ulysses S. Page is seen as-found, lying in a pool of blood at the doorway
to his shop at Page's Lake with Sheriff John B. Allen pointing at the body with. 8"x10"
silver gelatin photograph. 18 January 1952
PhC.256.25
Formal portrait of unidentified SBI agent. 8"x10" silver gelatin photograph c. 1952.
PhC.256.26
Right to left, SBI Agent James A. Bradshaw, Unidentified, SBI Agent Clyde Fentress
and Bladen County Sheriff John B. Allen. 8"x10" silver gelatin photograph c. 1952.
PhC.256.27
James Walter Sawyer is seen drinking from a teacup in jail, January 1952. 8"x10" silver
gelatin photograph.
PhC.256.28
Formal portrait of SBI Agent James A. Bradshaw. January 1952. 8"x10" silver gelatin
photograph.
PhC.256.29
James Walter Sawyer is seen demonstrating how he committed his crime at the original
location. His is seen with a rifle approaching the door of the store. January 1952.
8"x10" silver gelatin photograph.
PhC.256.30
James Walter Sawyer is seen demonstrating how he committed his crime at the original
location. His is seen approaching the door of the store while peering through a window.
January 1952. 8"x10" silver gelatin photograph.
PhC.256.31
James Walter Sawyer is seen demonstrating how he committed his crime at the original
location. His is seen entering the store carrying a rifle. January 1952. 8"x10" silver
gelatin photograph.
PhC.256.32
Subject Headings
Page, Ulysses S.
Sawyer, James Walter
Bradshaw, James A.
Fentress, Clyde
Allen, John B.
King, Clarence
Brisson, Henry
Page's Lake
Page's Lake (Bladen County, N.C.)
Bladen County (N.C.)