The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-27

WISE COURT HOUSE, Oct. 26.-"Doc',
Taylor meets his death on the gallows
at this place tomorrow at noon. Thus
the brutal crime of which he and the
Flemmings are guilty will be partly ex-
pstiated.
The murder of old man Mullins and
his family will be in part revenged.
Governor Mckinney has refused to in.
terfere in the case, and has made the
following endorsement upon the appli-
cation for executive clemency:
II have carefully examined all the
papers in the case and have read the
record filed and have heard all that his
counsel had to say. see no sufficient
reason why should interfere with the
verdict OF the jury and the sentence of
the court in the case"
Mountatneers gathered here last Sun
day to hear Taylor preach his own fun
eral sermon. He was to preach in the
courthouse where he was tried, CON
victed and sentenced to death, but the
sheriff refused to allow him to be
brought from jail through fear that an
attempt be made to rescue him.
Taylor will deliver the sermon to-
morrow morning at his execution, when
there will be strong guard.
Monday afternoon, when the crowd
was small, he was allowed to come on
the porch of the Jail. He was in white
from head to foot, white collar and tie,
linen shirt, white buttons and white
socks. "These," he said. ''are emblems
of the fine linen 1 an soon to put on
above"
He sang hymn alone. and prayed for
hfr ,iou ~, AZ
sacrament to himself and his wife, a
little old woman in black bonnet, blue
cotton dress, who, alone, sat at the rude
communion table. He has asked that
his body be kept above ground for three
days, as on the third day he would rise
again and 60 about preaching.
SKETCH OF THE MURDERER's LIFE.
Marshall B. Taylor was born in Scott
county, Va, about So years ago. After
having acquired primitive education
he went to Lee county, where he
studied medicine under DR.. Stallard, a
relative of his, and physician of some
note.
From there he won't to Letcher
| county, KY. where he practiced his
profession. From there he removed to
Wise county, taking up his residence
at the county seat. where he continued
the practice of medicine, and perform
ing such official duties as had been en-
trusted to him until his arrest
During his residence in Kentucky he
was arrested and placed on trial for the
murder OF Robert Moore in Wise county,
but his counsel, Col. j. b. Richmond, Of
Gate City, secured q verdict of not guilty
by proving an alibi The same attorney
declined to take his ease this last time
1t is generally believed here that he
was guilty. 1t is said that the evidence
in the alibi was very weak, but as there
was no very strong evidence against him
he was acquitted. 1t is said, and gen.
orally believed here, that Taylor was
hired to kill Moore, and that he got q
good pile Of money for it.
He was very eccentric man in some
ways, full Of spiritualistic ideas. He
would hold spiritual seances at his
home, where he claimed to perform
wonderful feats through the influence
of the spirit. He also used this to
some extent for the cure of his patients
On one occasion ne had patient who
was very low; after administering medi-
cine he retired some distance from the
house and lifting up both hands in q
duplicating position stood for three
hours. Returning to his patient he
plf ced his hand upon him, pronounced
him better, then went out and resumed
his position for two moro hours, when he
returned and pronounced the patient
safe.
1t ia not known whether the patient
recovered or not, but it seems to have
been no uncommon thing for him to
practice his hoodoo tricks upon his
patients, whs were largely very primi-
tive mountain people. on whose
df1i hn ro,,1d oil 10 L..
elevation among them.
During thu war he volunteered in the
Confederate army, but, at the first
skirmish in which his company was
engaged, he deserted, and came home.
He told his friends that war was plainly
not his profession; it was too unholy a
business for him to engage in. He kept
lodging through the mountains until
the close of the war, preaching occasion
ally in some cabin in an out of-the-way
place.
TAYLOR AS A DEPUTY MARSHAL.
During Harrison's administration he
secured an appointment rs United
States deputy marshal, but was removed
from Office some time before he was
arrested. While in Office he would ride
all over the country almost encased in
| firearms and ammunition. He wore q
leather belt Eve inches wide just under
his arms containing two rows of car.
tridges, and revolver OF large calibre
in front of each shoulder; in addition to
this he always had Winchester slung
to him, the same gun with which he
/ committed the murder for which he
died to day.
Taylor proved the truth of the old
adage, ut takes rogue to catch a
a. L