New-York tribune., 1901-12-09
MARX HERE, TELLS HIS STORY.
AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO GET HIN OUT THE NIGHT
BEFORE THE SHOO7ING-7HE TRAGEDY DESCRIBED


Tuesday night, at the family plantation in West
moreland County, Va, shot three men OF
party of five of his old friends who had come
with the purpose of treating him to coat of
| tar and feathers on account of false rumor
that he had insulted young woman sat last
night in the home of his brother-in-law, Abe! E.
| Blackmar No. 1274 Bergen-st.. Brooklyn. and
related his experiences. In spite of the terrible
ordeal Marx seemed last night to have excellent
control of himself, and the rumors that he was
suffering from nervous prostration are utterly
sroundless- He has been in Brooklyn since
midnight Friday, but did not reveal his pres
ence until Mr. Blackmar returned.
With Mr.. Marx when he told his story were
Mr.. Blackmar and his brother. Ernest Marx
who the first intimation of trouble went at
to Virginia. They allowed the young man
to speak for himself, but added some interesting
details which came to light after he had started
for Washington. where he had been since he left
Virginia. Mr.. Backmar and Mr. Marx got home
yesterday afternoon. They say that they ana
Herbert Marx received the fairest and most
chivalrous treatment from the Southerners. and
had nothing except praise for the attitude of the
best people in Westmoreland County.
On the day after the inquest last Wednesday.
Herbert Marx started at once for Fredericksburg
by boat. meeting his brother and brother-in-
law at the wharf in Fredericksburg on Thursday
morning. After he had thoroughly explained the
story young Marx went to Washington. where
he stayed with friends. and had a long talk with
Congressman William Jones. from the West
moreland district.
Mr. BIacknar and the brother left Frederlcks-
burg for Oak Grove by carriage They stopped
d the home of Colonel Robert j. Washington,
the prosecuting attorney for Westmoreland
County and made a thorough Investigation or
the entire occurrence They say the best senti-
Of district is that Marx acted
in a perfectly proper manner, and that the ut
most courtesy was extended to them during
their stay there.
VIRGINIA PLANTATION SOLD
The final act in closing up the tragedy was
the selling of Cedar Hill the Marx plantation
of 800 acres, whcn has been the family for
eighteen years. Harry Coates who bought the
place had. it is said been wanting to buy it
for some time During the time that Mr. Black
mar and Ernest Marx were at Oak Grove they
had had no communication with the family in
Brooklyn because there telegraph line
there and the only telephona in the store
Of Mr. Stiff. the father of of the young
who was shot It was therefore surprise to
the family when the party arrived home yester
day. The members of the Marx family were
at the Blackn1ar home last night Herbert says
that he does know what he will do now.
his health is far from satisfactory, and il is
mere than likely that he will go away for the
winter.
Leaning back in large arm chair Herbert
Marx told the story of the tragedy that will be
a bitter memory long his life lasts. There
was no tone of exutation the brave way
in which he had defended himself and scarcely
trace of nervousness in his manner. The
only time that a choking into his throat
when he was asked if he had any intima-
ton of who the members of the attacking party
were.
NO. indeed" he said with quaver in his
voice, those boys were my friends 1 knew
them all. except Douglass. Had / who
they were | would be dead to-day, for I never
would have used my gun There absolutely
nothing far 1 knew which would lead
them bear any i'll will toward There
was not of them whom ! would have
called upon on the day of the shooting.
A man employed to care for the Marx
estate. but he living at some distance from
the house in which Marx was staying alone.
This small frame two story building. with
only two large rooms on the ground floor. Com
ing in from Il small stOop one stepped into liv
ing room to the right. To the right of that was
a bedroom. Above were two other rooms Marx
was reading in the bedroom when his assailants
appeared
PREVIOUS ATTEMPT TO GET HIM OUT.
1t that the night before-Monday
night-they had evidently made an attempt to
get him out, but failed. OF this Marx said:
1T after midnight. / asleep. 1 heard
a rap my window. L got up and answered
the summons. man there. 1 could not
see his face. but he said he was a drummer rep
resenting candy store in Baltimore He want
ed know the way to Oak Grove. L told him, |
but he fingered and wanted to draw into
|
he puffed up the light he would turn away his |
face Turn around here and let see who |
you are? said He only smiled and turned his |
head. Finally closed the window and went to |
bed. 1 heard him still prowling around. and L |
got up again and told him to go away / had |
called down the dog from upstairs, and when he [
saw the dog he got out
Mr.. Backuiar said that he had learned that |
the incident of Monday night was the forerunner |
Of the serious meeting of the following |
night. Who the drummer was has not been |
learned, but it is probable that it was r. H. !
Douglass. who not known to Marx Evil
IDENTIFY ii had been his purpose to get the young
man out of the house. Tuesday was the day of
the tragedy. Herbert Marx told of 1T as follows:
Tuesday stormy day. and was in the
house all day with Herbert Raitt, a young man
who formerly cared for apr estate but now has
4 place of his He left me in the evening
and I sat down to read at table the front
window. 1t about $50 o'clock L think !
when 1 heard crash of breaking glass from the
window looking out into the rear yard behind
me- / jumped to my feet and saw a masked
nan standing outside the window. He had a
life pointed at / made a jump for the bed
which stood in the corner not far from the back
window. There 1 got my pistol
THOUGHT 1T WAS A JOKE