Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-01-08
Attempt TO AssassInafe Judge
Busted by District AttOr-
Rey Martha

From the Mobile Register. Dec. SO)
Judge Richard Busted, of the Uni
ted States Dirtrict Court, was suddenly
and unexpectedly attacked and shot
yesterday by Mr.. Lucius Van Buren,
Martin, the United States Attorney
for this District. But it is the duty of
the press to 60 farther than merely
to chronicle the Circumstances OF the
bloody deed. From the earliest days
of the appointment Of Mr.. Martin to
office, the relations between the Judge
and himself have been the reverse of
cordial. And considering the relations
between the present and last Grand
Juries of the United States Court and
the District Attorney, it is not easy to
see how any Judge on that bench could
hold other relations to him. 1t is a
matter OF public notoriety that the
Grand Jury of the last term presented
Mr.. Martin in numerous cases for ex-
tortion from citizens under color of
Government libels and other suits F.;
and it is known by Judge Busteeds
friends that Mr.. Martin owed it TO him
that he was not criminslly indicted for
those outrsges and official ~offenses, in
stead of being prosecuted. The Grand
Jury now in session composed of pick
men of Mobile community it is also
known, have found ten or more new
bills against the District Attorney for
similar otfenses. These indictments
had to be disposed of at this term, and
pending a motion for an order to COM
pei the District Attorney to refund
certain portions of his extortionstc
gains, Judge Busted expressed him
self from the bench very strongly and
harshly on the conduct of Mr.. Martin,
a public officer in his court. Mr.. Mar
tin took his hat and left the Court
and next morning yesterday at 9
o'clock, meeting the Judge on the cor
ner of Royal q st. Francis streets on his
way to open his court, he opened fire
on him with his revolver, without word
or warning, and continued to FIRE at
MIN even after he fell, and until he
was stopped by the bystanders. He
plainly meant to kill him, after a
nights rehetion-to kill an unarmed
man-in brief TO assassinate him. 1t
remains to be said tina: the public in
dignation against this cowardly act
was excited to the highest pitch
Judge Busted had many friends here,
and the entire public had latey felt its
gratitude strongly stirred for him by
several acts of distinguished service on
the bench. Mr.. Martin is an Alabama
an by birth and raising, and that Is all.
He belongs to the Radical sect of poll
ticians, and although of Confederate
afinities during the war, he took the
iron-elad oath Of Office when he was
appointed United States Attorney.
This, in addition to the notorious be-
lief in the public mind that ne had,
under color and power of his Office.
preyed upon the pockets Of citizens in
shameless extortions, has made the
man unpopular and Stunned By this
community And it is due the com
munity that these facts and the status
of Martin should be known, lest we
hear the howl from Northern Jscobin
sources that a United States Judge has
been murdered by a rebel. If murder
ed at all, he has been murdered by a
style of man that the true Southern re-
bel most thoroughly despises-a native,
renegade Radical.
The wounded man was conveyed to
the office formerly occupied by DR..
Mott, on st. Francis street, and after
ward to his room in the Battle House,
and was attended by Drs. Ketchum
and Gilmore; perhaps other physici-
ans attended. 1t Yves found that the
wound in the stomach, which was at
first supposed to be fatal was not neces-
sarily so. The ball-as reported to us
was diverted from a direct course,
and passed upwards under the sternum
or breast bone. This, at least is said
to be the opinion of the surgeons, who
failed to find the deadly pellet, and
who think his chance of recovery very
good.