Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-17
MARVIN A FREE MAN.
HIS TERM IN THE VIRGINIA PeNITEN-
TlkRYkT AN END.
He Looks Aged and Feeble; But HIS
Tongue Ways Vigorously and
yenomously.

On October 8, 1881, few days after the
funeral Of President Garfield, Thomas A.
Marvin was received at the Virginia peni-
tentiary 10 serve term OF ten years for
forgery and bgamy.
MUCH MARRIED.
OF Marvin's crimes the recollection OF
our citizens need little refreshing. Nearly
every one remembers how the old man
came 20 Richmond and was married.
Then confding people csshed several
checks for the groom. and the cnecks "ere
returned unpaid Gs worthless.
All at once il was revealed that the
stranger was the possessOr OF several wives
and names.
The wheels Of the law were set in mo-
ton. and in due course Of events the trans
eressor was captured in Massachusetts
and brought back to the scene Of his latest
/ crime.
A CoYFTDISG CLIENT.
Then came the trial. old man Mar
win had absolutely no defence, and when
arraigned on the various charges replled
IN each instance: "By advice OF my coun-
sci 1 plead guilty" and when the
/ Court asked il there WIS any reason
sentence should not be passed upon him
| craftily answered in the negative, WITH an
attempt 20 create the impression that he
was greatly misused man by saying
"YOU might rs we'll take n man ont into
| the middle of the ocean, the mllistone
around his neck. and tell him TO SWIM"
IL PRISON.
Then came his days in prison. His CON
vict garb and clipped head and moustache,
as is usual. disguised hlm greatly, but IN
| spite Of Il all he maintained almost 10 the
end a certain jauntlncss Of manner sur
prising IN one Of his years.
THE IEXALE wAED.
Shortly after his Incarceration the con-
stTuctiOn of an addltlOn-thc womens
ward-was begun. Marvin, who had the
reputation of being something OF IN archi-
tect. drew up the plans and specifications
and for some time helped TO superlntend
the erection of the building.
The term for which be was sentenced
was ten years.
GOOD BEHAVIOR.
Under the law there is a deduction OF
/ four days IN each month for good be-
havi0r-equal TO a concession OF almost n
seventh of the entire time. SO instead OF
doing ten years Marvin was IN prison only
| eight years eight months and eleven days.
lie would have gotten ont four DAYS
! sooner, but lost one months allowance by
| creating a disturbance in the shoe-shop
where he was employed. an account OF
which was published in the DssOdtch OF tho
| time and which the illustriOus biGamlst
Yesterday pronounced the most scurri-
/ lious article ever published in any paper"
REQUIsITIcNs.
! When Marvin was brought back to Rich
/ mOnd reQu'sitlOns were recslyed from va
/ riou5 States. where he was wanted for Of
/ fences similar 10 those committed here.
! A short time ago when his term was
/ drawing to a close inquiries were sent TO
/ the officials Of the different States inform
/ inc them that Marvin Was about 10 be re-
! leased. None Of them replied and the old
mans way TO freedom was clear.
TAXING LEAVE.
Being informed that Marvin would be
! DISCHARGED from custody at $3.50 yesterday
morning DisOaich reporter wended his
WAY towards tho penitentiary shortly after
/ day, arriving there Il little before 3 o'clock.
SENSATION.
! Upon entering the prison-yard 1t at once
| appeared that something unusual WAS
going on.
The convicts (who were waiting for
| breakfast were in small groups and were
| all anxiously peering IN one direction at
| the same object.
4 glance served to show what was at
/ tracing their attention, for there, IN
/ small apartment IN the centre of the yard
! ODDOsite the man entrance, was Marvin,
/ plainly visible through the Sindow, in citi-
/ Zen's pants donning a Numbered shirt,
| luxury unknown 10 him for nearly nine
wears. The fact that the notorious prisoner
/ was about TO depart had spread over the
pententiarv, and all the inmates were try
| ing TO get last look at him who In short
/ time was to be unhampered by penal re-
! straint.
THE LIBERTY BELL.
| The bell struck six and the men fell into
| line, and passing slowly through the feed
/ inc departmeut each received the allow
! ance of food for his morning meal, which
was to be eaten in the cell. This consumed
nearly half an hour. and ut twenty-five
minutes after Superintendent Moses gave
/ the word: Tell Marvin to come out"
No second message was necessary. and
/ from the apartment before referred TO
| came an old gray-headed man, seemingly
| scarcely able TO walk. In his right hand
was a walking-stick upon which he leaned
/ heavily, in his lett small canvas-cO vcred
telescope" valise. lie was dressed IN a
cutaway suit OF black woollen cloth, with
| a silk tie and derby of the same color, and
/ had on pair OF new low-quarter shoes.
SAD SIGHT.
Somehow OF other a certain remote air Of
gentility enveloped the old rascal.
| To stranger II would have been hard
| TO realize that he was not some venerable,
respected grandfather out for an early
morning walk instead of q man grown
| old IN crime and going down in sorrow
with his gray hair to the grave.
Onward he came. slowly and feebly,
I going forth to--what:
SHOCK.
Arriving in the hall he saw Policeman J.
! j. Powell, who. according TO law. was to
/ conduct him 10 the station-house where he
would be discharged from custody. await
| ing him.
His heart seemed 10 fail him for a
moment. thinking that he was 10 be
| rearrested. Later on. when informed that
/ the officer was merely an escort, he seemed
much relieved.
NOT MUCH MONEY.
"Marvin," said ono of the wardens,
"vou had S6.s6 when you came here.
! Sign this receipt for II and will give tha,
amount back TO you.
| The receipt was signed in trembling
! hand. and the money paid over from roll
/ taken from the safe.
/ The prisoner was then turned over 10 the
! policeman, the bolt was shot back, and
/ Marvin was no longer a convict.
A MIsERABLR NIGHT.
J Accompanied iN lut itDDIttI ms Ilhl.
| slowly made their way by the main path
/ 10 the Belyidere-street entrance. Whhe
! doing 80 Marvin said he had passed q
miserable night between cramp-colic and
uncertainty.
The old man complained of his back.
saving he had sustained a severe fall some
/ time ago. He tottered along, and as N
act of common humanity the officer yolul-
teered to carry Maryin's grip for hin.
/ This overture was refused with the grit
characteristic of the man, but was eyenta-
ally accepted.
40 LOVE FOR PAPERS.
Moving along at a snall's pace Marvin
| inquired if he could not be allowed TO
| stop at Mr j. g. Andrews's, 107 west Man
street. and at Major Poes. Chief of Police.
! The former whom he knew as a former
member Of the Board OF Directors of the
| prison.. he said. had received some things
/ Tor him which he did not care to have
/ sent 10 the prison.
Major Poe. he went on TO say, had been
very kind to him, and when he was in
prison had often come into his cell and
passed the time of day with him."
THE REPORTER REVEALED.
At this point the rewspaper-man in
formed the ex-convict that he had come
ont for the express purpose of interview