The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-10-06
SAFE FOR A SEASON.
HaIVin in the Virginia Pcnitontlary.
There tO Stay for at Least
Fen Years.

Marvin alias Merton Pleads Chilly 10 the
Forgery and Bigamy Iadictments-Whcn
Asked if He Has Anything 20 Say Why Sen-
tence Should Not BE Pronounced lie Makes
Long, Rambling, and Yiudlctiye Speech,
20 which His Counsel Takes Exception-A
Package of Burglars Saws Sent Him, but
lie Never Got Thcm-IIow Marvin Tried to
Get Witness and Failed-The History OF a
Great CriminaI-A Card from Judge Ould-
Marvin Now In the Penitentiary, with Lei
sure to Repent His misdeeds-Unpu5lished
Letters. -i
In the Hastings Court yesterday morn
ing Judge Christian said, in the case Of
Thomas A. Marvin alias Budlong A. Nor
ton, indicted for forgery:
Mr.. Witt, are you ready?
Mr.. Witt: Yes, sir.
Mr.. PAGE, what do you sayy Are you
ready?
Mr.. Page: Ready.
The Clerk 10 prisoneD: Stand up.
The prisoner, who had been seated at
the bar beside his counsel, 5. VI. Page,
ESQ. arose calmly, folded his arms, and
looked steadily at the clerk, while the lat
ter read the long indictment, in which the
wording OF the check or draft was several
times repeated. At the conclusion Mr..
Jinkins was about 10 ask the usual queS-
ton" How say you, are you guilty or not
guilty Of the felony whereof you stand III
dicted ?"-whcn Marvin interrupted TO
ask:
GLOW many drafts have you charged me
with forgingy'
Mr.. Jinkins answered: u have charged
vou with forging one"
Marvin stopped and for a moment Wits
percd with his counsel, then he straight
cncd himself up and responded:
"By advice Of my counsel l plead
guilty."
WHAT \ CHANGE.
There was a suppressed murmur OF sur
prise throughout the courtroom. No
wonder. No longer ago than Tuesday
Marvin, hearing that q member OF the bar
had said at the Police Court that the pri-
,oner would plead guilty, called that gentle
man 10 him in the Hustings Court and re-
preached him for insinuating any such
Thing. That same day defence demanded
that Miss Turpin, 70 whom prisoner was
married i'm this city on July 10th, should
be- summoned. ard it was given out, or at
least reported, that still denying his idcn-
tty he would call upon her as his best
witness.
The plea Of guilty, therefore, was sur
prise TO the crowd. 4 few who noticed
that Yesterday Just before proceedings were
commenced Commonwealth's Attorney
VIII. Mr.. PAGE, counsel for defence, and
the prisoner, had a brief interview, and
that Marvin returned into court with ms
high color higher than ever, suspected That
something OF the sort was out.
A JURY EMPANELLED.
After the plea of guilty Jury consist
mg Of the following gentlemen was quickly
cmpanclled and put in the box: MessrS. A.
T. Abcrnethy. Joseph Anthony, William j.
Anderson, George Il. Bagby, William II,
Atkinson, Stmhope Boiling, Charles p
Brown, George l.. Cary, A. ii. Cauthorn,
y. p. Coier, G.. II. Clarke, and Allan h.
Donnan.
The Jury was sworn simply 10 ascertain
tbc torn OF confinement, and at not les
than two nor more than ten years In Tho
pcnitcntiary.
FIVE YEARS.
Dir. witt said that in consideration o.
the prisoner pleading guilty he would ash
that the term be liked at five years.
Mr.. PAGE: We consent to a verdict fol
five years.
Thcreupon the jury rendered yerdic
TO that effect. and It was read and recorded
with the usual ceremony.
When the question was asked by The
jude. "Iiavc you anything to say why
sentence should not now be pronounced,
e., llr. Page asked the Court for stay o
sentence for few days in order that th'
prisoner might prepare statement.
Judoc Christian said that he knew OF NJ
reason why the prisoner might not Just a
well prepare such a statement after sen
fence.
Sir. PAGE: But lie desires to make It il
rrUanSc TO that question.
The Judge: Wei, then, he must make
now. a, all other prisoners do. refuse t
grant delay.
The Judges question was repeated t
Marvin, and ne merely answered, 81 hay
nothing
Judge Christian then sentenced him t.
confinement in the penitentiary for fiN'
wears. there to De treated in the manne
prescribed by law.
THE BIGANY CASE.
The Judge asked: "llr. Wit, are yol
ready now to 20 on with the hiSam,
case?"
'.Ycs, sir" was the answer.
"And you, Mr.. Page, are you ready
ono. sir. your Honor, we are not ready
but wen submit
Mr.. Page consented for the same jury L
act.
The clerk took up the Indictment anC
BEGAN to read il, when Marvin, with
touch Of impatience, said, - will waiy
tbe reading OF the indictment and plcaC
guilty." but all the same, Mr.. Jmkins
being instructed by the Court TO proceed
rs usual, went on and deliberately rea(
the indictment through without missing
syllable.
When II came 10 How say you. are yol
guilty or not euilty:" &c, Marvin sale
"GuilN" in a tiTed-out sort Of way anC
took his seat.
FIVE YEARS MORE.
Mr.. Witt asked the jury, in consideration
OF the prisoner pleading guilty, to give hin
five years three is the minimum and eigh
the maximum, and it was done, defence
asserting.
When the Judge asked prisoner ii he haI
ANYTHING to aywhy sentence shouldnot b'
pronounced, Mr.. Page made the same re
quest for delay in order that prisoner nigh
1rcDare a statement. But the Judge sale
ih3t the request was unusual, and he woulC
nat grant it.
A Speech from Marvin.
And then Marvin proceeded to speal
for himself. In the beginning there wa
the hesitancy in his speech which has beer
not ed ever since he has been here, bu
q, he proceeded and warmed up with hi
,..r.n.s he spoke ilnently and gcsticulatet