The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-14
POOR OLD MARVIN.
Ills DeIudsd Idea of Prospective free
dom Next Monday.

tOm Next MohuHS'
"Naryin Is asked for frequently" said
Mr.. ". W. Moses, superintendent OF the
state prison. yesterday. scarcely any Of
the visitors who come here fail to ask for
him."
,vas talking 10 n TINES reporter about II
man who created great sensation in Rich
mord about m years ago. AT that time,
y A. Marvin. alias A. II. Morton. was
Greatly advertised. lie had. 10 use one oil
sam Jones expressions. been "totlng
his skillet" around through great
many states. and had finally brought ~ 10
Richmond. where il was captured. lie had
sailed into the city with considerable CIR
cumstance. and had made an impression
ON the face Of social events by marrying
well-known and highly Respectable
Young lady. lie had evidenced his devotion
To- his bride by presenting her with SlO,-
600 check. 10 which il afterwards APP
peared he had no legal right. and the true
value of which consisted i'm the fact that
no had manufactured It's market value by
the def manipulation Of the pen. II also
appcared that the newly made husband had
nausea long enough elsewhere in his pill
armagc through life 10 enjoy the happy
sensation Of standing before the parson ana
promising 10 cnG0w some other laif one
with his earthly possessions. flndinS lhat
lynX-eyed justice was spying out these
shortcomings i'm the life Of a man that
mad already seen much adventure, and
very many sides Of the pictures OF
events. aud that the surroundings
and tastes OF the people OF Richmond would
naturally lead them 10 take steps winch
might render worthless tickets over all pub
lines of travel. Mr.. i. \. Marvin, alias
Morton. being the man above alluded 10, de-
termiacd 10 quietly, and without notice to
whom IL might concern, place rs much
SPACE between himself and Richmond as
possible.
lie was followed. the facts in the case
having become known, found IN one Of the
New England States. and brought back to
Richmond, tried IN the Hastings Court OF
tlis city, found guilty. and on the 9th day
Of October 1851, received into the pcniten-
tiarv. to serve a term FOR ten years for biga-
my and forgery. He became famous as an
astlte. cool and clever convict, and man
aged % make an impression even IN his
prison garb upon al VINO came hear him. iie
conceived a dread Of reporters and neW5pd-
pcrs. "A disease which Is by no means COM
mon among evil doors, whether they Doe ILL
side or ont If q prison cell. lie assumed
a bold demeanOr, and once had fight with
another convict and for this, lost four day
at his good record; but 10 must De said 60
his credit. that i'm this case, he acted as be-
came "a man. when grossly inSuited. lie
suffered from tine knowledge that he
was being talked about a. convict
and seemed deeply sensitive OF bis surround
ngs. His natural talents caused hm % be
looked uu0n with consideration. that was
unusual. and he found opportunity To- make
the best Use of his advantage possible. lie
even attracted sympathy, suchi the strange
um that sensational public sentiment takes
sometimes. but the fact shown Of all sen;i-
meni was that Marvin was the shreWdest
and least 90 DE pitied. perhaps Ctany Of the
thousands in the prison.
His good behavior. a. 10 is termed, has
shortened his sentence until, according 60
the statutes governing such cases. his term
will expire next Monday. when he will pass
from the care Of the state of Virginia, and
50 far as his sins against this obi Common
wealth are concerned, there will be naught
against him.
knowing this, TIE TIMES man, with %
fun knowledge that Marvin would not con-
sent tO "a conversation with him. obtained
from ihe efficient superintendent. Mr.. Moses.
YESTERDAY. the privilege of writing "a note %
Marvin. politely asking that be- De accorded
au interview in tine Office of tine supcriutcn-
dent. promising TO publish oaiy what trans
IIltIt ana llILnlU- iANi's III lNIll ~ ANi"
n0.e. which was sent by the hands Of 90 con-
Wet 10 Marvin, who was lying down IN his
room. the following note was returned.
"sIr: Your note 10 reference o. having an
interview is 90 hand, end wish to SAY that |
am particularly aNcrsr iu holding inter- /
views with ut WrfIrcr reporters. Indcpcni- /
cuf 81 this, could not have one except uu- |
der restraint. situated as / ann. 1 shall lc |
discharged ON Monday next, and VIII then Doc /
pleased to gflLt au interview. inierfu.atiyc- |
ly. WITH you. provided the interview shalt be |
puLi.shcda s lcld.-MAHyfS.'
But mans sins do find him out. and !
there's many q slip twiNt tine cup and ias
linz and sO it fail, 0ut that i'm Mauin's !
ease. q sister Of Virginia, Missouri. has % !
claim OH ihe old man for satisfaction. and /
Mr.. Moses VIII hand Marvin over o. tAc |
sheriff of iieuFico county, Mr.. y. W. South !
ward. who is also objective, and he Will !
proceed 90 fake Marvin 90 the state Of Mis- ,
souri, Monday morning. the papers i'm the !
case having already uCen made out.
Mr.. Moses said yesterday that these
papers We're rot n his possession. because
be- had refused 10 take them from Judge
samuel j.. Wit. when Judge VITA was |
was Commonwealth Attorney; because az !
the fact fhlt be- fNose-J was only elected /
superintendent for fJur year,, whereas |
Maryin's term could not Doe short az eight. |
Mr. Moses has since been Reelected. Mil- |
sin has grown old very rapidly, and this |
new development boo his list Of mislOrtuncs /
will fail heavily ON him.