The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-01-25
.|N|DDLEBURG Is.
TORN BY FEAR !.
ANDPR|DE
Denials Of Terrorization by
Rum Feudists Are Adverse
to Facts.


to Facts.
Continued from First Page.)
presidency of the Loudoun En-
forcement League, a league or
ganized to dry up and clean up
the county.
Life Saved BY Book.
1t was a starless night when the
minister was shot at from ambush
year ago, and he would have
met death at the hands of the
assassins, but that the bullet was
stopped in its course by the thick.
ness Of a Methodist Episcopal hand.
book in the reverend gentleman's
vest pocket.
1t was about IL at night when
an oil-soaked barrel beneath the
rectory was set on fire in an ef-
fort to destroy the house, inmates
and the church adjoining.
It was two hours after midnight,
two weeks ago, that the garage,
containing the minister's automo.
bile, was entirely consumed by fire.
Women Get Busy.
The stewards and trustees Of the
church sat back in alarmed and
profound silence, but the Mrs.
Marthas Of the church got busy
and as result, as someone has
aptly remarked, "Mr. Marsh's
house is all Lit up like cathe-
dral. These outside lights are
turned on at dusk and kept going
until day has fully broken.
Mr.. Marsh refuses to discuss the
situation from any angle. The
townspeople, torn between pride Of
hamlet and fear Of the night.riders,
declare that q mountain is being
made OF molehill; that the lawless
element does not rule or terrOrize
Middleburg; that the published re.
ports of conditions in Middleburg
and vicinity are all moon mad
ness. 'Moonshine" madness is
nearer the truth.
Denials DisprOved.
1.-THE town is perfectly quiet; no
one is afraid" is what the investi-
gator is told. But the following,
freely admitted, and known fact
contradicts the everything-Quiet,
everything-sitting-pr pretty position of
the MiddlebuVgers.
There are two small inns in the
village each capable Of comfortably
accommodating a dozen guests. In
the hunting season, during beagle
hound shows, and at holiday PEE
RODS, 1t has been the custom Of the
Methodist parsonage to take care
Of the overflow from these inns.
Since the ineendiary fires, the
shootings, the episode of the poi
soned candy, the threatening mail
messages received by rector, stew.
ards, trustees, and church mem.
bers, not single guest has con.
scented to spend a night at the
home Of the besieged divine. Those
who are cogniZant of the reign of.
terror conditions in the Middleburg
section OF Loudoun are afraid to risk
a night at the parsonage and the
inn keepers refuse to send guests
there.
Like Old Circuit Rider.
Mr.. Marsh. thirty-six years old,
the son of a Methodist preacher
who has a charge at Nokesville, in
an adjoining county, the eldest of
a family of thirteen children, was
ordained ten years ago. While still
a circuit-rider in Arlington and Fair
fax counties, he married Miss Lucy
Tanquery, of Winchester. They
have no children and the family at
the ,rectory consist of Mr.. and Mrs.
Marsh, and the latter's mother.
There is a brave simplicity and
stoutness of heart in this couple
only to be compared to the circuit
rider and his wife of one, two.
generations back. The Marshes are
undergoing much of the anxiety
and trials of which Cora Harris has
written in 1.-THE Circuit Rider"
Maintain Night Watch.
Mrs. Marsh has never been known
to complain but neighbors and par
ishoners tell of how the night hours
at the rectory are spent. Mr.. Marsh
remains awake and on guard until
midnight. Then he retires and his
devoted wife takes up the watch
until four in the morning when she
is relieved by her mother who
watches over the loved ones until
daylight comes.
Weapons are at hand, Wearing
apparel and treasured possessions
are ready for instant flight nj, the
first cracking sound of fire, the
smell of smoke, the whistle of
bullet or the report OF firearms.
That such conditions exist in this
fruitful valley and but two score
miles from the home OF the Pres1-
dent and Congress is almost I'M
possible to believe.
RumOrs AfIOat.
From mouth to mouth. from
house to house, from hamlet to
hamlet, for months. have been
banded about the reports that
Mr.. Marsh sent himself poisoned
candy; that he shot at his own
automobile; that he attempted to
fire the rectory; that he has sent
himself and others threatening let.
tiers; that he burned down the rec.
tory garage containing his own
automobile; and, last but not least,
the bullets, one Of which would
hava caused instant death but for
small handbook, were, in reality,
shots fired at him by indignant
husbands.
All of this is on q par with the
story started by bootleggers and
their sympathizers, associates and
customers, that D. j. Lambert, jr.,
deputy sheriff, employed by the
Enforcement League, who was shot
and killed while raiding q still,
last October at Belmont, met death
from leaden bullets with which