The Beatrice Daily Express

Democrat's First Newspaper Venture—His Ingratitude to a Former Official—The Good Men He Has Assaulted.

I have known the subject of this article for many years. I know his history. I know his family history. I have watched his business career with varied feelings, pity for his unfortunate disposition, sorrow for his lack of principle, disgust at his habits and surprise that the people of Gage county should have allowed him to libel and abuse their best men for so many years.

I have read his attacks on Robert Kyd. They sound familiar. I have read just such attacks from his pen against at least a dozen men now living in Gage county, any one of whom is more respectable, more public spirited and more esteemed than the man who attacked him. It is only the man who is unacquainted with Marvin's history, who will place any credence in his attacks upon any one. To those who know him, it is the old story. Whenever he attacks any man it is for one of three reasons: first, money, directly or indirectly to be paid; second, personal hatred; third, to cover up his own or some other man's rascality.

No higher motive ever actuates him in what he does. The public good never appeals to him, and if it is ever mentioned by him, it is only to kick dust in the eyes of the observing public. He has ever been the friend of the 'grafter,' the spokesman of the 'boodler' and the man employed to deceive the public.

I knew him before he came to Beatrice. I have heard him tell with delight how he made money out of his first newspaper venture; how he entered into a conspiracy to compel a respectable citizen of Falls City, when the paper was published, to buy the paper. In order to effect this, he began through the columns of this paper a systematic abuse of the intended victim. Week after week the paper was filled with abuse of this man, until he bought Marvin's paper at Marvin's price.

I have known him ever since he came to Beatrice. I knew him to borrow money of a county official, to provide his sick child with necessaries, and within a year I saw him fill the columns of his Gage County Democrat with the worst kind of abuse of the man who had befriended him, and that without repaying the money borrowed.

This is but a sample of what he terms being 'faithful to his friends.' More such cases could be cited. It is a common saying among his acquaintances that he is wholly unacquainted with the meaning of friendship.

His attacks upon Mr. Kyd are of the same kind he has used for so many years. Whenever any one of the three incentives prompts him to abuse someone he does it in the same old style. The very fact that his motives are corrupt and unworthy, always makes the object of his attacks some honest man, some independent man who refuses to be coerced, some man who protects the public treasury against the schemes of Mr. Marvin's friends, the 'grafters.' I remember well some of the good men he has maliciously abused. For weeks he would fill his paper with lies about some good man, and afterwards admit they were lies, but he has never been known to have the manhood to make right the wrongs he has done. Here are a few of the men he has lied about. Any old settler will remember others. The charges which he has made against them were all untrue, and known to be untrue by Marvin when he made them, but each in his turn was viciously and villainously abused, just as Mr. Kyd is now the object of his attacks.

M. A. Brown, former editor of The Express and now editor of the Kearney Hub.
A. J. Pethoud, ex-county clerk and now county surveyor.
H. W. L. Jackson, ex-mayor and now candidate for the state senate.
A. H. Babcock, district judge.
W. H. Edgar, formerly editor of The Express, now postmaster at Beatrice.
J. E. Smith, president Smith Bros. Loan & Trust Co.
C. B. Dempster, founder of Dempster Mill Mfg. Co.
J. R. Plasters, county clerk.
Hugh J. Dobbs.
J. E. Cobbey.
W. P. Norcross, ex-mayor.
Samuel Rinaker.
Charles G. Dorsey.
Dr. C. P. Fall.

The state of Nebraska has no better men than the above list, yet for money, revenge or to cover up 'the ways that are dark and tricks that are vain' of himself or some of his associates, these men were abused in a scandalous manner.

I don't forget these things, for to me, a man who lies about his neighbor is a bad citizen, and a man who takes advantage of his ownership of a newspaper to print and circulate a lie about any man, is wholly unworthy the respect of the people of any community, and can neither be believed nor trusted.

An Old Settler.