The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-24
4 COLD BLOOD MURDER
AZ OLD LADY AGED EIGHTY ONE
KILLED ~ HER HOUSE.
suspicion at the Examination Was Turned
Towards Her Son-in-Law--The Par
tioulars of the Crime.

ABINGDON, VA, Dec. 23.-Special.-
Between the hours OF and o'clock on
the night Of the 9th OF December, Mrs.
Hebecca Carlton, a widow aged eighty
one years, was murdered in her house,
where she had been LEFT alone by her
sOn-in-law Jack Marks. his daughter and
a hired woman. who at twilight mad lone
% d neghboring house some quarter OF
"a mile distant.
At still earlier hour the other mem
bers Of the family, Walter Marks, had
led the stock and gone, as he said TO the
house OF "a Mr.. Long I'm the neighboThOOd
Jack Marks had married daughter OF
the murdered woman and his wife had
died some years ago leaving daughter
named Lou, now some twelve years OF
age. lie with this daughter and his
brother, Walter Marks. lived in the house
OF MIS- Carlton and with her composed
the family. a man named White living
some four miles away married daugh-
Ter OF Mrs. Carlton and TO this house
Jack Marks and daughter and also the
cook. hired woman mad gone leaving the
old woman entirely alone. On the previous
afternoon they had had row with the
old woman and gone 10 MIR. Whites after
dark 10 play on the dulcimer and let the
old lady cool off, as they said.
on the afternoon OF the murder all
tho parties were at Mrs Cartons and
another row resulted. An early supper
was prepared. earlier than usual, and all
went away leaving the old lady alone
Walter TO Mr. Longs and the others again
20 Mr.. Whites.
STEPPED IN BLOOD.
The latter party returned at . o'clock
and finding the front door latched from
tho inside, Jack Marks sent his daughter
20 enter the house by the rear door. She
quickly came screaming back saying she
had stumbled over the body Of some
one cut 90 pieces as she had stepped in
blood Jack Marks said nothing, but
turned away. followed by the two wo-
men ana went again 10 Mr.. Whites and
requested Mr. and Mrs. White to bring
the lantern and 80 with him 10 Mrs.
Cartons house.
Reference to the almanac will show that
the moon had Just fullcd. Arrived at the
house Jack Marks refused 10 SO into the
house but remained outside while the
others went I'm and found the old lady
on the floor dead with a stream OF blood
running 10 the opposite side of the room
She had been shot through the mouth
tho ball passing out below and behind
the opposite ear and cutting the carotid
artery. There was also a large triangu-
Lar scalp wound which laid bare the
skull
UNDER ARREST
In due course OF eNentc Walter Marks
and Jack Marks were arrested and lodged
in iail charged with the murder Ncster-
day and to-day they haG an examining
trial before Magistrate Roberts and
Mayor Hires. OF Abingdon. and have been
recommltted 90 await the action Of the
grand jury IN their case
Ne case for years Ia this county has so
stirred public opinion. The Marks broth
ers are by no means obscure men They
are men OF almost faultless physical de-
velopufnt more than six feet high. splen-
didly proportional and wel-informed. a
few years ago they were employed as
bar tenders In two OF the leading sa-
looms Of Bristol and are rather extensive
~ known The evidence developed on
the examining trial Is regarded as quite
damaging 10 them and public opinion
seems unanimous against them. The
following leading points are taken from
the testimony OF the witnesses.
Mrs Carlton had some land. on which
Is the home In which she was murdered
Her son-in-aw. Jack Marks. his dansh-
ter and his younger brother Walter
Marks lived In the house with her. Mrs
Carlton was known 10 have some money
which she kept locked In drawer In her
room. Although she had children living
she had made a will. giving her entire
estate 10 Jack Marks young daughter.
Lou. Her object seems 10 have been TO