Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-09-03
AGED MAN HELD
FOR FOUR MURDERS
Connecticut Farmer Killed Laborers
For Demanding Wages.
OFFICERS HUNTING FOR BODIES

Colchester. Conn, Aug. 81. - That
Gershon B. Marx, 80 years DID, now
held in the Norwich county Jail. Is the
perpetrator of series of cold-blooded
murders probably without precedent in
the history of Connecticut. is the be-
lief OF the state officials who began a
systematic search for bodies on the
Marx farm. Four murders and an at
tempt to poison another man can. 1t is
believed by these officials. be traced
to Marx.
The bodies of two of Marks victims.
Joe Pavol and Joe Palm. have been
found. Marx is awaiting trial. charged
with the murder of Pavol. his wife
being held as a witness for the state.
The two bodies for which the search
was begun are those of an 1S-year-old
boy and a Hebrew peddler.
The boy, who was known as Harry,
arrived in New York from Russia
about three years ago and he came
here soon after to work for Marx He
worked on the farm for about six
months and then suddenly disappear
ed. Marx was asked to explain the
lads absence. and said he had gone to
Hartford to find employment. Beyond
this he would not talk about the boy.
The Hebrew peddler went to the
Marx home one evening two years ago
and he has not been seen alive since
so far as known. These two men. in
the opinion of States Attorney Lucas
and Sheriff Jackson met their death
in the same manner as the two farm
hands. and to obtain positive proof
supporting their opinion efforts will be
made to unearth the bodies.
A Polander, known as Joe" made
a statement to Sheriff Jackson in which
he accused Marx of attempting to end
his life with poisoned whisky. Joe took
the whisky. but was afraid to drink ii
and put it away. When the body of
Pavol was found Joe mentioned the
matter to a constable and gave him
the whisky, and the constable turned
it over to the jailor of the county Jail.
who promised to have it analysed.
The motive for the crimes can only
be traced to an insane desire on the
pan of Marx to escape paying money
to persons to whom he was indebted.
The two men whose bodies have been
found were six months behind in their
wages. as was the young boy, Harry.
of whom no trace has as yet been
found.
The manner in which these men met
their death appears to be plain. Marx
always slept with his hired man, his
wife and four children sleeping in an
adjoining room. 1t is said that he
drugged his victims when they pressed
him too hard for their wages. and then
crushed their heads with an axe or
some blunt instrument, after which
the bodies were dismembered and bur-
led Each of the bodies already found
bears a CHASTITY hole in the forehead.
There seems to be no doubt that the
Marx had two farms. one of 165 acres
and another of l05 acres. On the first
farm was found the body of Pavol. and
on the second one the body of Palm.
Some little excitement was caused
over the farm when the laborers. armed
with shovels. unearthed several bones
They will he examined by a physician
to find out whether or not they are
parts of a human body. 1t was said Dy
neighbors that Marx buried several
horses on his farm. and these bones
may be part of an animal. but the au-
thorities decided to be certain about
the matter and carried the bones away
with them.