Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-12-12
THE VIRGINIA TRAGEDY
Young Marx Tells His Story OF
the Shooting.
HAD NO IDEA WHO VICTIMS WERE
Thought At First 1t Was q Joke
When His Window Was Broken
and q Gun Pointed at Him-Hovv He
Shot Three Men-Denies Insulting
Miss TAYLOR.

S"Os AAree Men-Oeu1e0 Insulting
Miss Taylor.
In the parlor Of his brother-in- Jaws
home in Brooklyn young Herbert
Marx, who shot three men in defend
ing himself from attack on the family
plantation in Virginia few nights ago,
told the story of his trying experience.
says the New York Times.
While the young man was telling his
story his brother-in-law, Mr.. Black
mar, and his brother, Ernest Marx.
were present, and they added some de-
tails to the story from time to time.
In beginning his story Herbert said
that he had not the slightest intimation
as to who the members of the party
which attacked him were.
mo, indeed" he said, with deep emo
ton; "those boys were my friends.
knew them all except Douglass. Had
seen who they were l would he dead
today, for never would have used my
gun against them. There was abso-
lutely nothing, SO far as l knew, that
would lead them to bear me any i'll
will"
Marx was staying alone on the plan
tation at the time Of the tragedy A
man was employed to care for the
place, but he lived in house some dis
lance away. The house. on the planta-
ton is small two story frame struc-
ture, containing only two large rooms,
both of which are on the ground floor.
One room was used as a bedroom and
the other as a living room. Marx was
in the bedroom reading when the at
lacking party appeared. The men, it
seems, had visited the place or the
preceding night, Monday. Dec. .. hut
had failed to get Marx out.
ut WIS after midnight on Monday
night, md / was asleep" said Herbert.
III heard rap on my window. and
got up to answer the summons. A
man was there. but could not see his
face. He said, however, that he was
a drummer, representing a candy store
in Baltimore. He wanted to know the
way to Oak Grove. told him. but he
fingered and wanted to draw me into
conversation. He was smoking Il CT
ear, and whenever he pulled up the
light he would turn away his face.
Turn around here and let ME see
who YOU are | said to him. He mere
ly smiled and turned his head. Final
ly closed the window and went to
bed. heard him still prowiing around.
and | got up again and told him to g
away. 1 had called down the do;t
from the attic. and when he saw the
dog he left"
Mr.. Blackmar here stated that he
had learned that the incident Of Mon
day night was the forerunner of the
attack OH the following night. The
identity Of the drummer" he said.
could not he learned. but Mr.. Black
mar thought it might have been II. II.
Douglass. whom Marx did not know.
1t was his purpose, it was believed. to
get young Marx out Of the house. Con-
tinuirg his narrative, Marx said
"Tuesday was a stormy day. and
Riatt, who formerly cared for our
place. but who now has place of his
own. He left me in the evening. and
sat down to read at table near the
front window. 1t was about $50
o'clock. think. when | heard q crash
of breaking glass from the window
looking out into the rear yard. jump
ed to my feet and saw masked man
standing outside the window.
"Ee had rife pointed through the
broken window at me. | made leap
for the bed. which stood In a corner
by the rear window and got my re-
volver from under the pillow. The
first impression that had was that
some Of my friends were playing a
practical joke on me, and cried out:
"'For Gods sake, you are only fool
ing:
THE man at the window made no
reply. Then there came another crash
as the glass in the front window was
smashed. end. turning. saw another
man standing there with a handker-
chief partially covering his face and
with rife leveled at me- sprang
through the door opening into the liv-
ing room and made FOR the front door.
Opening it. looked out but it was so
dark | could see nothing. In another
instant the window which was nearest
the door was also smashed in.
Before | could decide what to do
one of the men jumped through the
window. carrying part Of the sash with
him. The man was right behind me
with his gun ready. knew that
could not act too quickly. think
put my pistol under my left arm and
fired. The man fell to the floor. Up
to this time I heard no shots. but had
become convinced that the affair was
but practical joke. thought
probably my assailants were oyster
men, whom I knew to be dangerous
cha letters. 1t was learned afterward
that the man l shot first was j. Q.
Stiff.
II ran out on to the porch and looked
around. but saw no one. I ran so as
m cot out NJ tho lipht stree m inc from