The Washington times., 1901-12-06
EXONERATED BY
MISS TAYLOR.
Holds Herbert Marx Blame
less for Shooting.
His WHEREABOUTS NOW UNKNOWN.
Report Which Led to the Attack
Said to Have Been Started by a
Negro -Stih's Life Hangs By a
Thread at Emergency Hospital

Latest reports from the scene OF the
shooting ARRAY of Tuesday night at Oak
Grove. Westmoreland County. Va, in
which two young men were killed and
two others wounded. state that excite
ment in the neIghborhood of the tragedy
is running very high. The principal de-
veIopments Of yesterday we're:
Miss TayIor's Statement.
Miss Rose Taylor. the young woman tc
whom it was alleged an insult had beer
offered by Herbert Marx, made a state
ment completely generating him. 1t was
learned that the statements made to her
cousin, William Taylor, who was instant
ly k led by Marx, were circulated by a
negro
Marx insisted that he had made no such
statement, and declared that he did not
know who the young men were when he
shot them. They we're masked, and he
thought they were robbers. Douglas and
Thompkins, who accompanied the other
young men TO Marks house, and who fed
after the shooting, have returned to their
homes.
Disappearance of Marx.
Marx, who did the shooting, has disap-
peared, leaving no trace of his where
abouts. II was rumored that he had come
TO Washington. but efforts to locate him
here were unsuccessful.
He is reported to have left Fredericks-
burg at 10 o'clock yesterday morning, ac-
companied by his brother Ernest and his
brother-in-law. A. E. Blackmar. of New
York City.
Reports From Scene of Shooting.
A despatch from Warsaw. Va, says
that John Bird, the negro referred to,
declared that on the night of the tragedy
he saw Marx put his arm about Miss
Rose Taylor and kiss her. as the couple
were returning home from church near
Oak Grove. Bird also says that Marx
pressed his attentions forcibly upon Miss
Taylor. This report caused the attack
upon the Marx residence.
From Warsaw it is also reported that
r. H. Douglas, .one of the party who
attacked the home OF Marx, claims that
several shots were fred from as many
different directions on himself and his
companions as they advanced toward the
house, thus indicating the presence Of
residence at the time OF the tragedy.
stin's Recovery Unlikely.
On cot at the Emergency Hospital in
this city James Q. Stiff, third victim OF
the pistol fired by Herbert Marx. lies at
death's door. 1t is remarkable under such
circumstances that Stiff should be able to
express sympathy for his wounded friends.
This is what he said late Wednesday
night al the hospital:
y fear much for poor Heflin; his wound
is worse than mine. Let the physicians
first attend him. I can wait. 1t was
tragedy unavoidable, as it was unexpect-
ed. Say nothing OF the girl she knew
nothing at all about it.
Thus Stiff does not know that Hefiin is
dead. The fact has been kept from him
because Of his condition. which arOuses
the gravest fears in the minds Of his
physicians and friends.
AS yet it has been impossible to per-
form an operation upon the patient.
Shortly after his arrival at the hospital
the x-Tsys were turned upon him and
photograph, not entirely satisfactory, was
secured of the bullet lodged in the mus
cles OF the back. very near the spinal col
urln. Whether the spinal cord was Itself
injured and to what extent has yet to be
determined.
Present Status of the Case.
The coroner's jury having exonerated
Herbert Marx from blame for the killing
OF Taylor it is claimed that he is now
free TO 90 where he pleases. 1t Is even
said that Herbert Marx Will not be held
responsible for the death of William
Heain. son OF william L. Hefin. Sheriff
nF 11rhfg
CURED Wednesday night at the Emergency
Hospital in this city.
Heflin died after the inquest over the
body OF young Taylor had been held in
Mestmoreiand County, Va. Inasmuch as
his death resulted from shots fired at the
same time as those which killed Taylor,
it is said no action Will be taken against
him. Beyond this, it is also said that
Marx fred strictly in self-defence. This
seems 10 be admitted even by the father
Of vcung Helin who said, prior TO his
departure from this city:
Views Of Mr.. Hemin.
Il am sorry my son engaged in any
such business as that which led to the
tragedy. He should not have attacked
Marx, especially under the circumstances
alleged. and in the house OF the young
man. That he did So assisted by several
others, VIII, I think, probably end the
matter so far as Marx is concerned. /
understand that the Coroner Of West
Iuoreland County has set Marx free. after
an inquest held over the body OF Taylor.
who WAS shot at the same time as my
son"
MARKS Sister Talks.
The news that Marx had been exoner-
ated by a coroner's jury gave the young
lawyers friends in New York much sat
isfactiou. His sister Bertha said yes
teFday:
I knew Rose Taylor we'll She is the
young girl that my brother Herbert was
said to have insulted. The thing is i'm
possible He has known her ever since
she was q baby. Her father has been one
OF our friends and neighbors ever since
my father bought the estate in West
norele10 county years ago. Ny brother
l. - soul of honor. Roses cousin Will
e.,a Of the men S1o was killed. was a hot
headed person, and 1t was just like him
10 do such a thing on the strength of
gossip, In spite OF the fact that he was
Herbert's friend. We are very sorry for
v hat has happened, but we know that
Herbert was justified. ana Will stand by
him
A. E. Blaekmar, the brother-in-la law
who went TO Oak Grove, is member OF
the law firm Of Baldwin & Blackmar. Of
81 Nassau Street. where young Marx was
employed as a law clcrh up TO last June,
when he was Obliged TO give up office
work on account OF his health and went
70 the family place in Virginia.
Mrs. John II. oberIy Dying.
Mrs John II. oberly is lying at the