The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-08-31

OF 10, but He was 90 smart that He Made
Judge BirdsalI, OF New York, Think IL was
Case OF Mistaken Identity, and the judge
Got Bail for Him, and the Bail was For.
feitsd-Another Highly Interesting Chapter
in the History Of the Man OF Many siatri.
moniai Enterprises-How He Tried TO Lay
the Foundation OF an Alibi 70 Clear Him OF
His Rishmond scraps-Jndge Birdsaii Put
the Pinkertons on Him at Lynn.
In the following from the New York
Heroid OF yesterday the story OF how the
arrest OF Marvin came about Is told, along
with great deal Of other information Of
interest concerning the distinguished stran-
ger now in our midst:
10 the remarkable story OF Marvin, the
bgamlst and forger, the criminal who en-
| Joys the distinction OF being "the smartest
scoundreI alive" this man endeayored to
show why II was impossible for bin 10 have
been the Thomas Kingman who committed
sn extensive forgery In Joplin, Mo-, on the
5th OF July, 1879. Msrvin's defence against
thlS charge is an diibi, which, supported by
any number OF affidayIts from witnesses Of
tupdoubled respectabiiiy, apparently proves
beyond any doubt that at the time
this crime was committed Marvin lay
vt the point OF death In a farmhouse
| In the wilds OF Kansas. His defence, 1t can
now be shown, IN one OF the most ela0-
orate, ingenious, and complete foreeries In
the way of an 0Rbi defence that was ever
manufactured, and one OF those who are
ready TO furnish evidence OF this fact Is ex-
| II n - afk oil
known lawyer, who became one of tDe
strongest guarantees OF the respectabiity OF
Marvin by furnishing an Indemnity bond
OF $4,000 for Msrvln's appearance when
be was arrested for the Joplin sffAir. Judge
Birdssll Is one OF Mr.. Jay Gould's legal sd-
vlssrs, and not man to be easily bumbUg-
Rsd, bui be now frankly admits that he was
completely deceived for years by this man
Marvin, . most plausible knave, who was
known TO the lswyer by one of his aliases
Gensral b. A. Morton. i. was through
Judge Birdsall that Marvin was captured.
although up to q few weeks ago he was en-
tiFely convinced Of MsrVin's innocence,
and never suspected him 10 be the husband
| OF thirteen WIyeh, as Is now known, two
more having been heard from since his ar
rest.
A Herald reporter called upon Judge
BirdsaIl Yesterday to learn what his exDe-
rlenesS have been with this monumental
sharper.
"GBERRAL B. A. MOTION"
eyes" said the lawyer, " he was known
TO me under the name OF General b. A.
Morton. | have been acquainted with him
for several years, having been introduced
10 bin i've or six years ago by prominent
gentlemen OF The highest reSpectability,
wnoss name 1t IS not necessary 10 mention.
[ always regarded Marvin as q man OF
great intelligence and ability, but / am
very sorry now that / ever knew the
man." remarked the Judge, with a
sigh, and looking as II he meant II.
"Hs talked with me on several occa-
sions about railroad engineering and bridge
building and the power OF wind forces, AZ
lributIng the disaster at Ashtsbula and the
Tay bridge almost entirely TO the forces OF
the wind acting on the structures. He gave
me copy OF q letter written 10 him by Mr..
Amasa Stone, president OF the Lake Shore
railroad, and his answer 10 II, giving bis
reasons for the AshtAbula disaster. | take
great deal OF interest in these matters,
having considerable TO do with railroad law,
sod was very much impressed with his cru
diiion upon that branch Of engineering. |
considered Morton as man OF remarkable
Intelligence, and from his associations from
the time first knew him down TO late
dale believed him TO be gentleman OF
irreproachsbIe character"
what DO you think OF him now 2"
ssked The reporter.
81 think be Is the most plausible scoun-
drel ever knew" was the reply. al have
no doubt he is guilty OF all the crimes
/ -I,.. "a - i'm II I'M mn M
posed upon, but must admit that this man
deceived me more than thought any man
ever could hsye done. To sum up his
character, think him to be a eonsummate
and complete rascal"
"Do you now think he Is guilty OF the
forgery on Moffitt & Sergeant, in Joplin,
Mo-, for which you furnished the indem-
Dity bond when he was arrested?"
"I have no doubt OF it. | have read that
remarkable effort OF his to show that it is a
ease Of mistaken identity. 1t is the same
story which imposed upon me. 1t Is eX-
eeedingly plausible, but entirely untrue"
81 How did you come to 20 bail for him ?"
"Well. on the oh Of July, 1871 know
the date, because have kept diary for the
last twenty.eiRht years-I saw General Nor
ton being carried from ibe New Haven rail-
road depot In this city into a train. He
seemed 10 be sick or injured, aud when !
spoke 10 him he told me that be bad been
Injured BY being thrown from the stage in
Kansas. He also showed me letter from
the stage company Offering to pay his doc
tors bills. saw him once or twice after
that during the summer. He seemed TO re-
cover from his injuries very fast, but l at.
tributed il to bis strong constitution.
then lost sight OF him for three or four
months.
HUNBUGGIHG LAWYER.
ain the spring OF 1880 / was Informed
by friend OF his that the General bad been
arrested in St. Louis for forgery commit
ted in Joplin, No, on the 5th OF July, 1879
| reeoiected at once that had met him on
the 9th Of that month with bis legs par
alyzed from his injuries. as they were put.
ting him on the train, and L unhesitatingly
said that believed II 10 be a case OF mis-
taken identity. / soon learned that the
General had been held in 10000 bail, that
he was in Jail and unable to procure II
among strangers. ] offered 10 get bond
Of indemnity on which the General could
be baied out. Norton wrote me that Amasn
Stone would join with me In the bond.
l corresponded with Mr.. Stone 10 Cleve-
land, and be at first consented, but l was
a,tergard told that after investigating the
case be declined 10 JOIN in the bond.
"Meanwhile Morton remained 10 jail al
Carthsge, Ja-per county, Mo-, and was taken
very mi, az was told-not nkely 10 recover.
] received several letters from his wife and
her adopted daughter, Miss Florence Bra
shear, describing bis deplorable condition
that his counsel at Carthage bad proved
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