Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-13
TALKS FOR HIMSELF.
Marson, Alias Weaver, Attempts an
a EXplanatiOn.

Dubuque, March 9.-W. H. Marsou,
alias Weaver, is a federal prisoner in
the, county Jail here, being brought
here from Indiana, where he was ar
rested while aiding in revival. tie is
charged with us:ag the mails to de-.
fraud and will have to answer TO the
indictment which the grand jury at
the may term will probably return
against him. Until he can furnish 3d.
500 bonds he must continue prisoner
behind the bars.
The prisoner was interviewed IN his
cell in the Jail. At the outset he said
he wanted it understood that his
name is Il. a. AIarson and shat
Weaver is the agent for another con-
Germ. Marson is sparsely butt fell
low, standing about feet S inches
in height; his complexion is dark
brown, and his eyes sharp ana flash
ing, having a bilious cast. He speaks
fuently, in fact rapidly, and ues good
English. There are two teeth missing
from the front row. The prisoner i'm
presses one as having great nervous
energy and as being ever wa.chful,
almost cat-lilse. He speaks with
the infection common to many min
listers and there is conviction III his
tones.
He admitted having served a. term in
the penitentiary at Anamosa Ga a
charge of swindling. Il was the victim
of ignorance and confidence" Marson
explained to the reporter. 'sThere was
a Philadelphia concern by which 1
was employed as manager and which
i worked under contract with. These
contracts were in writing. The plan
of the concern was much the same as
the library scheme. / had been south
and was coming north when 1 stopped
off at Davenport and concluded to do
some work there" said the prisoner.
81 had been working only a couple OF
weeks and had gone out into the coun.
try when one day a postoffice inspec-
tor arrested me. To make long story
short / was convicted because some
body had stolen my contracts with the
company and l was consequently un-
able to prove myself innocent.
II went to prison and while there
established the school which has be.
come famous. The bill now before
the Iowa legislature is the outgrowth
of the results of the school and is i'll
the greatest measure due to it. [ en-
joyed pleasant relations with all the
prison officials and when I left thn
prison was urged not to leave Iowa
and go back to New York, where my
home is. The reason for this lay in
the fact that while in prison, be-
came very much interested in the case
of a young man whom am convinced
is innocent of the crime for which
he was convicted, and Idetermincd to
try and get him out. 1t was proven
to me that by staying in Iowa could
do more to get him out than if went
away, SO / remained and settled in
Independence.
ut is a mistake to say that found
ed the Library association at Manches-
ter, for l didn't. There was friend
of mine working for the Chicago con.
Germ and took his job and worked in
his stead. 1t subsequently developed
that the Chicago concern was rotten
and doing business illegitimately
When I discovered that for the second
time had been duped went away
from independence
Il want it;understopd that have not
sought to escape arrest. On the con
trary, when / might have demanded
|requisition papers, I did not, and came
en- without them. The matter is all
very badly blundered, and it will be
cleared up soon"