New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-17
'D|ARy MAY CONVICT
DORR OF MARSH MURDER
Trial of Californian for Staying
Millionaire Soap ManufaCt-
urer Opens To-day.
STATE HAS 100 WITNESSES
Prisoners Aunt Coming Into
Possession of 100000 on
Death of Marsh Believed
to Have Been Motive.

Salem Mass. Feb. ia diary. alleged
u contain record OF the death OF
George +. Marsh. written hours before
the body of the millionaire soap manu-
facturer Of West Lynn was found on the
West Lynn marshes. April u. 1912. will
figure In the trial Of William \. Dorr.
charged with murder. when the case IS
opened in the Superior Court here to-
morrow.
The state will attempt to show the
time at which Dorr mailed this diary to
an aunt California and that the first
knowledge Of the crime came To the police
two hours later other circumstances, in
Guiding a legacy Of 10000. which was to
go to this aunt In 1914 or earlier, in the
event of Marsh's death. lend peculiar
interest 10 the mysterious affair
More than one hundred witnesses have
been summoned, and the prosecution $
case is built largely on circumstantial
evidence DORIS mother. whose identity
has been carefully shielded by his coun-
sci. will te present She has been re-
ferrcd 10 as Mrs. l.. G.. Dorr' and IS
said to be advanced in years and IN
feeble health.
Marsh was seventy-siX years old and a
widower His only immediate relatives
were a brother. Caleb and SON James
NJ Marsh lie had retired from bust
ness. but continued his interest in public
affairs. and was highly regarded. He was
not known to have an enemy. When his
body bearing four bullet wounds. was
discovered. the police were a loss for a
motive for his murder.
\ reward of $3.50 was offered for the
detection Of the murderer. and wide
search was begun For several days this
was without result Then came sur
rrising message from Chief Of Police
Briare. OF Stockton Cal II read:
| Has a low built man. about thrty-iive
wears Of age been 'seen in company with
Marsh
/ This description fitted fairly well a
stranger who had attracted attention IN
! Lynn. and who was known there "a VII
! lis \. DOW. He had hired an automobile
, In Boston. and drove much in Lynn.
! About the time Of Marshs death Dow
disappeared.
live stigation OF the murdered mans az
/ fairS developed tlldt ne was the trustee
OF q FUND OF $1,000 which had been left
! 10y brother. James Marsh. for the latter
mans adopted daughter. Mss Orpha
| Marsh. whose home is in stockton Gel.
Sine was Ia receive the money at the
death Of George r. Marsh. or in 1914 if
the trustee survived.
/ Dorr is a nephew Of Miss Marsh and
. has made his home with her The state
will attempt to prove that Dorr and Dow
/ are identical. and that the defendant has
| lily LETT mis- home in stockton a short time
before Marsh was killed and was IN Lynn
masquerading when the murder was COM
mitted Later. II viii be asserted. he re-
! turned 90 California stopping on the way
! I'm New York. from which point he mailed
diary in which the death OF Marsh was
Set down.
Miss Marsh informed the authorities 81
! the return homo of her nephew and he
was arrested in Stockton Oh April IS last.
He was brought East q Few days later
and indicted Tor murder I'm the first de
gree lie pleaded not guilty. and has
| been confined since IN the county jail
! here.
Dorr has always protested his inno-
| cencc.