Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-12-12

Warsaw. Va, Dec. 4.-The usually
quiet town of Oak Grove, Westmore-
land county, Was thrown into excite-
ment late last night by the killing of
enc prominent young man ana the
dangerous wounding of two others. The
story of the tragedy, as near as can be
ascertsined, is as follows:
On Thanksgiving night the people of
Oak Grove Assem- bled in the town ball
TO witness an entertainment. At this
entertainment Her bert Marx, a wealthy
young lawyer, who owns large farm
near Oak Grove and who lives there
alone during the winter, is alleged to
have made improper remarks to girl
about II years d. The remarks, 1t is
alleged, were overheard by someone and
repeated in the town stores.
W. p. Taylor, Jr.. cousin of the
girl. organized q party of young men to
tar and feather Marx. On the follow
ing Monday night MIR. Taylor. accom-.
panied by j. Q. Stiff, George ".
Thompson, W. ii. lIsAin and X. II.
Douglas, visited Mr.. Marks lone cot.
taee, but he was absent.
/ They were not to be deferred by
1 failure to fed him at home, and again
last night. all armed and carrying with
them can of tar, they returned to
! Mr.. Marks place. This time he was
at home and the party found MIN at his
desk writing.
4 The frs, iutimation Mr.. Marx had
Of approaching danger was the smash
I ing 10 OF window OF the room in
which he was sitting, followed by the
appearance of the muzzle of a gun in
the hands of a masked man with the
6arnand n Ahrnm ttn HE h1nlo Ia
sprang up from his desk, got pistol
from the head of his bed and slipped
into an adjoining room, VIII ch was
dark. No sooner had he gotten into
this rom than the window there was
also smashed. Before Mr.. Marx could
escape by the back door man was
seen crawling 10 the window.
Mr.. Marx turned, fred and the bullet
lodged 10 the neck OF j. Q. Stiff, wLc
fell back. Then Mr.. Marx escaped by
the back door and rushed around tt
the front of his house He fred al
young Helm, who was standing there,
inflicting wound in the stomach.
Next Mr.. Marx ran about 200 yards ant
saw someone walking around in hi;
pear orchard, He lay down In tb,
grass. The man in the orchard wal
young Taylor, and carried Winchestel
rifle. Taylor turned his right side ant
Marx raised and fired. The bullet pene
trated Taylors heart and he fell with 1
groan.
The other two young men ran away
After waiting for few minutes, seein,
no one else around and hearing nothini
more, Mr.. Marxlwent to the5resideno
of B. Fl. Griffith, half mile distant
and informed him Of what had occurred
With MIR. Griffith he returned to hi
house and assisted in gathering In tn
dead and wounded, who were carrie,
into his own house, Mr.. Marx hHt
fred only three shots, each bulle
taxing effect.
Messrs. Stiff and Heflin we're takel
to Writ wharf, put aboard steame
there and carried to Washington 70
treatment.
W. I. Guthridge, justice of th
peace and acting coroner, with L
Wash nRton, J. S. Hackett, j.. H
! Qusenberry, W. L. Reed, I. @. Hunger
! ford and W. z THOMPSON, investigate
the case this afternoon, Mr.. Marx bein
present They brought in verdic
generating him.
Mr.. Marx denies absolutely havin
made the remarks to the young lady q
which he was accused. The family &
!. the young lady knsw nothing OF th
{ affair and are Frustrated at it's tragi
E ending. Mr.. Marx is making arrange
4 ments to leave for his home 10 Ne
York