Evening star., 1901-12-06
THE PEOP1EDlvIDED
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Some Dissatisfied With the Release
of Herbert Marx.
WANT GRAND JURY n INVESTIGATE
Young Man Who DID Shooting on
Verge Of 'Prostration.
COLoRED MAN MUST EXPLAIN

CoLoRED MAN MUST EXPLAIN
Sentiment among the residents of Oak
Grove, Westmoreland county, Va, seems
to be divided over the outcome of the inyes-
tigation of the tragedy Tuesday night near
that place in which Herbert Marx was
participant. Many people think the cor
oner's jury did right In exonerating the
young man, while others are Of the opinion
that the case should have been referred to
the grand jury. Mr.. Marx declares there
Is no foundation for the report that he in
suited Rose Taylor, cousin Of one of his
victims. and the girl says she was not in
suited. It Is now up to John Bird, a colored
man, to explain why he reported that the
child had been insulteds
According to reports from Oak Grove.
Bird is the one who made the report to
William P. Taylor, jr:, that he had seen
Marx put his arm about the girl and kiss
her, and he added that Miss Taylor fought
him off. William P. Taylor, the girls
cousin informed several of his friends. 1t Is
stated, and at the same time made every
effort to keep the information from the
girls family.
The investigation yesterday seems to have
developed the fact that the home Of Marx
was visited Monday night during his alb
sence, and that he was made aware of the
visit. 1t Is now the opinion of some of the
residents of Oak Grove that Marx had re-
ceived Information of the nature of the call
made at his house Monday night. and that
he had friends at his house to assist him
when the tar and feather crowd called
Tuesday. This Marx denies. He says he
was alone in the house when the five young
men called to avenge the alleged insult.
r. H. Douglass, the oysterman. who was
a member of the party, and who, with
George Thompson, lived to tell the story.
says that when William Heflin was shot
preston that there were others with Marx
in the house. 1t is certain, however, that
only one bullet took effect at that time
and that one ended Heflin's life.
Agreed Upon One Point.
Whatever may be the feeling against
Marx on the part of a portion of the popu-
lation, all give him credit for remaining
with the wounded men and rendering them
assistance. That he made no effort to es-
cape, but remained on the ground to face
any investigation which might be insti-
tuted. the people regard as also to his
credit. ..sh
The local authorities have not ascertained
whether or not second inquest was held
this morning upon the arrival of Hef1ins
body in the Old Dominion. In view of the
dissatisfaction expressed by some of the
Oak Grove people 1t is believed that the
acting coroner may be induced to have an
other and more complete hearing. In any
vestigated by the grand jury Independent of
other inquiry
Mr.. Marx Is believed to- be now in New
York with his relatives. and unless some
legal action Is taken he will probably not
return to Virginia. IN the event of an in
dictment being returned 1t is probable that
he will return with his sibrother and brother
in-law for trial When he, reached Freder-
q 1hlp tn 70 tya L., So
York he was very much depressed and was
bordering on nervous prpstration. The
men he shot. he said, had been friends of
his. and he was stirprssedfto learn that they
had a grievance against him, 1yfF 49,
Men Wore. Masks.
Marx said il he had known who they
were he would not have shot them. The
men were masked, he declared, and he
thought they were oystermen from the river
who were there for the purpose Of robbing
or perhaps numbering him. Marx repeated
his denial of having made any improper
remarks to or about Rose Taylor, or that
his conduct toward her had been I'M
proper.
Ernest Marx, a brother of the young man
who did the shooting, accompanied by his
brother-in-law, both OF whom are attor-
neys, met him at Fredericksburg. He left
them and came this way, and they started
for the scene of the tragedy to make
full investigation of the affair and to pro-
tect his interests.
Sheriff William N. Heflin of King George
county, who came here with his son William
Wednesday night, accompanied the body
gcing by rail to Fredericksburg and from
there to King George Court House in a
hack. Arrangements for the funeral had
not been made yesterday, but it is likely
that the body will be buried this after
noon or tomorrow. Taylor's funeral took
place today from the Episcopal Church at
Oak Grove. The body was inferred In the
family burying ground.
The Family Surprised.
The Marx family is well known. both in
New York and Virginia Several members of
1t are lawyers. One of them, William B.
Marx, in an interview given out in New
York. is reported to have said:
1--WE were surprised when we read the
story Of the shooting published in the
morning papers, although we knew that
Herbert had been in a shooting scrape. He
wired us yesterday that he had shot
friend but assured us that everything was
all right and begged us not to worry. My
brother Ernest took this telegram over
to Baldwin & Blackmar. law firm, and he
and Mr.. Blackmar, fearing that Herbert
might be in trouble. started for Virginia
Immediately. "a
Herbert has been with Baldwin & Black
mar for six months He was graduated re-
Gently from the New York Law School and
Went DOWN INTO virginia to recurerate MS
strength. He Is a very tall fellow and
never weighed more than 1856 pounds. Hard
study had undermined his health.
My father bought the Westmoreland
county estate some eighteen years. and the
family lived on it from time to time. The
Iaylors have been our sneighbors, and we
always esteemed them highly. They are an
old Westmoreland family, dating back to
revolutionary times Their estate is situat-
ed close to the estate of George Washing
ton and the family OF the. confederate gen.
eral R. E. Lee, Up to the fine Of the civil
war the Taylors were the largest landown-
ers in that part of Yisginias and were sup
posed to be oneiqf the wealthiest families
In the whole state. They still own lot of
land, but are not relatively as wealthy as
they Used to be hesczr,aA aHVest uarelau nd