The Washington herald., 1907-05-12
PROBE MARVIN CASE
COrOner's Jury Still Work
ing on Boys Death.
FRANK BUTLER STAR WITNESS
Leather Expert Doubts That shoes
Were Under Water Over One Week.
Sealed Bottle Figures In Hearins.
Inquest Adjourned to Monday
MorninE-Chemists' Testimony.

Dover, May 11.-At a late hour tonight
all the witnesses not yet heard in the
eOroner's inquest as to whether Horace
Marvin was kidnapped. murdered. or sim
ply lost and frozen on March 4, were
discharged over 10 Monday morning at
10 o'clock, at which time the jury ad-
journed without making any arrests or
taking any vote.
Frank II. Butler. the farm hand, now
second mate of a river steamboat, who
last saw Horace Marvin at Bay Meadows,
was on tho witness stand until nearly
dark this evening. Butler this time had
to talk. and while his replies were brief
and pointed, he did not resort to the old
methods Of saying That's all I'll say, :"
as when he was first arrested by detect
ives, who then entertained the theory that
he accidentally killed the Marvin child
on the day of his disappearance.
Butler ReIterHtes Statement.
Butler reiterated his former statements
concerning the last movements and loca-
tion Of little Horace, as he played on the
Bay Meadows straw stack, and to his
(Butler's) movements that day, and what
llE NHu E1&4 MilllE Ailhfi al AAEAs ~ AtNf&A n
DR.. Marvin explaining to little Horace
and other children that in the eastern
direction was the big bay. fun Of big
fishes and with boats. and in this direc-
ton the boy must have started.
The testimony Of little Rose Stcndish
and John Marvin was not taken by the
jury, who, after looking them over, con
cluded their evidence would not be needed.
There were bat two pronounced de-
velopments in all of to-day's. evidence.
These tended 20 upset the medical testi-
mOny that the little fellow wandered TO
where his body was found. and that he
died OF exposure. one witness. john
Paris. jr. the shoe and leather expert.
swore that the shoes could not have been
under water more than a week. Juror
Fiuke and others desired TO pin him down
TO swearing that they had positively not
been soaking there for two months. bu,
he refeused to so testify, and declared
that certain chemical preparations would
have enabled them TO Withstand the long
soaking and still show good condition
Sealed Bottle Mystery.
The sealed bottle mystery appeared as
the big clew Of the day. The names found
in it were those of James Sylvester, John
/ Burns. James Smith. and Robert Pass
waters. The bottle remained in possession
of Juror r. 0. p. Wilson. by whom it was
found Howard Marvin, who dressed the
little fellow the morning OF his disap-
peafance, was obliged 20 outline every
detail, and Mrs. Standish and Mrs Mar
win were compelled TO describe the dress,
each being examined separately.
Or. Marvin was asked on the stand If
he had not received a letter two weeks
before the boys body was found. de-
manding immediate ransom or he would
be killed. He replied that he had re-
eeiyed such a letter but had paid little
attention TO such stuff"
Bacteriologist Robins report showed the
stomach in a normal condition and that
il contained quantities OF egg. oatmeal.
glutenous matter, and pieces OF bread;
and that he possibly lived six hours, but
not more than twelve after eating OF this
meal The witness said he had seen sew
eral dead bodies and believed little
Horace's had been under the water for
six TO eight weeks. This was corrObor-
ated by other physicians. Or. Marvin said
his boy had been seized with vomiting
the previous night and had emptied his
stomach