The Washington herald., 1907-05-05
MARVIN BOY FOUND
DEAD NEAR HOME
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE


carelessness-and that the person respon-
sible hid the body until within the last
few hours and then placed it where it
would be found
The other theory, and the one more
generally credited, is that the lad was
kidnapped, either through malice or for
ransom, and that then the perpetrators
OF the crime. fearing arrest or despairing
Of securing reward, killed the child and
took the body where 1t was found to-day.
Il is impossible to say tonight, even on
the word Of those who saw the chiId's
body. how long he had been dead. The
remains were in so good a state Of
preservation as TO almost have precluded
the possibility OF the boy having been
killed on March I, the day Of his disap-
pearance On the other hand, they ap
peared IN too advanced q state Of deCOm-
position for the murder to have taken
place as recently as two days ago.
PIensantOn Finds Body.
Ollie Pleasanton. living on the farm ad-
jacent 10 that of DR.. Marvin. and the
man who reported having seen ana talked
with two mysterious duck hunters on the
day Of the boys disappearance, was the
man who found the childs body to-day.
He came across il while duck hunting
himself, and immediately reported his
find at the Marvin home. and then, to-
gether with DR.. Marvin and the latter's
sen, Harvey, hastened 10 the spot and
assisted in carrying the remains TO the
house.
The duck hunters whom Pleasanton said
he had eonversed with regarding DR.,
Marvin and his children. have never been
traced. and there has never been any
thing developed 10 substantiate the story
which detectives worked on for many
days
Butler 10 he QuiEzed.
Frank Butler. the farm hand who was
arrested. but subsequently released. after
charges had been brought against him OF
having run over the Marvin boy with d
wagon and accidentally killed him. will
probably be called upon to testify to-mor-
row before the cOroner's inquest. Butler
has remained In the vicinity OF Dover
ever since his release, and expressed
willingness to go before any tribunal that
might desire TO quiz him.
Detective F. T. DimaiO. who is engaged
on the case. admitted tonight that he
and his subOTdinates are following two
lines of clews. and that arrests are TO be
expected at any hour.
Dr. Marvin Considered Rich.
DR.. Marvin came TO Dover In the early
spring and bought the small estate at
Kits Hammock. He made plans 20 re-
model the house and fit it out elaborately.
This seemed 10 verify a report which had
been spread throughout the countryside
that he was very wealthy
The previous owner was moving the
last Of his goods on the day the Marvins
took possession. The doctors family con
sisted of himself. his two sons. Rose
Standish, q cousin Of Horace, and a
brother of the doctor
In the afternoon Of March 4, John Mar
win and Rose Standish left Horace play
ing by large hay rick. A wagon cara.
rying some Of the goods of the former
owner passed. Frank Butler, who was
afterward arrested in the case, and
companion, say they noticed the young
ster az play. Half an hour later the boy
was gone
No Trace Ever Found.
A we'll organized search was conducted,
but no real trace of him was ever found
until to-day. I'he belief grew that he
had been kidnapped. and DR. Marvin
offered a reward. Later the legislature
appropriated $1,000 for prosecuting the
search The woods. marshes. and fields
were searched and within week the
waters of Delaware Bay were dragged.
When no trace of the child was developed
the kidnapping theory was strengthened
Jack Hart, fisherman, was arrested
soon after the disappearance, the suppo-
sition being that Horace had wandered to
the shore and been picked up by a boat
Hart was soon released. however
The entire country became interested in
the hunt, and soon reports were sent in
that Horace had been seen in IA score or
more Of cities. All reports proved un-
true Scores Of letters Offering TO return
the boy for a reward were sent to Dr.
Marvin, but nothing developed from them
Black Hand letters began arriving, threat
enlng death TO the boy unless the attempt
to run down the ''kidnappers'' was drop
ped.