Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-01-17

forsooth:
But never, never stretch the truth.
MARY F. Burrs.
Communicated
DIR. STIFF ON THE TRAGEDY,
The following interesting letter
has been sent Us for publication BY
DR.. Frank W. Stiff, of Richmond
Va, brother of one of Marx victims
and gentleman well known to many
in this section. where his statements
will be accepted unquestioned:
EDITOR VA. CITIzEN:-I have late
iy returned from the deathbed of my
brother, the last one of the three
victims of the Westmoreland tragedy
to die. Because of the great injustice
done these young men by some Of
the press reports of the case, and the
consequent erroneous opinion which
prevails among the public at large as
to the motive which impelled them
to the act that cost them their
lives, desire to say few words in
their defence.
The people have been led to
believe from the statements of
Marx, as reported in the New York
papers and copied by the local press,
and the interview of DIR. Washington
with the girl, that he Marx had
only hugged and kissed her, which be
bad done repeatedly in the, presence
OF her family; that the rash act of
the young men was prompted only by
Jealousy, and the ''fancied insult"
was used only as an excuse to rid the
neighborhood of a dangerous rival.
Such items as the following have
been printed that this belief might
be impressed, viz:
at is stated on the best authority
that Marx did not make improper
advances" ''The girl denied to her
family physician in the most en-
phatlc manner that she had been
treated with disrespect, the report
to the contrary without the slightest
foundation;' "Fancied insuIt:" "Gro-
Gerry store gossip" "Scandalous re-
port OF irresponsible negro;" Gall
lone in fun and Rose knew it" Many
other such statements might be found
in the papers to prove that "it was
all so unnecessary"
l wish to say in the most emphatic
terms that all Of the items quoted
are false and must have been printed
for effect, either inspired by Marx or
his family for his protection and
exonoration, or for the protection of
the girls honor. l know that many
IN the neighborhood, friends of the
family, delayed long in making state
ments throwing light on what was
at hrst not clear to the public, in the
hope that the matter would "blow
over;;" but when they found that
Marx had somehow gotten the ear of
the Northern press and the Southern
papers were copying and spreading
his self-protecting mis-statements
and the cry was heard, "Is there no
one to speak for the poor fellows who
died In the discharge of one of the
noblest duties entrusted to manp''
they have spoken.
The truth should now be made
known, let it hurt whom it will, for
the sake of the memory of men who
laid down their lives in defence of
woman's honor and virtue-a death
less glorious only than that of a
Christian martyr. I spent five
days in the neighborhood, interview
ing closely many of the most promi-
nent and reliable citizens-men who
are heads of families, of the very
best character and perfectly trust
worthy in every respect. It was
noticed by several that Marx had
considerable difficulty in getting the
girl to leave the hall where the en-
tertainment was held. They went
ont, in the dark and she was heard
by Jno. @. Franklin and Jno. Bird
to say, "Let me gol I won'tl / won't
60 in there with you'll" This was said
at the door of an old shed stable on
the roadside which was vacant. John
franklin is a perfectly reliable white
man whose word / have never heard
questioned. The negro is Baptist
who 1 have no reason to
think would maliciously tell a lie.
The remark was heard by both,
neither knowing that the other heard
it.
Franklin followed them through
the village to the Episcopal church,
situated on the edge of pine wood,
seVenty-five yards distant, where he
lost them. The girl stated the next
morning after the shooting to q
married woman at whose house she
wass staying that Marx forced her
by grasping her arm till he hurt her
to go with him to some cedars near the
he sat with her on the roots,
hugged aud kissed her and took