The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-12
A HUSBANDS CRIME.
Antoine Martens Shoots His Suspected Injnrer
and Then GillS Himself.
A THREAT THAT WAS EXECUTED.

Another OF those terrible domestic tragedies so re
quent Of late this city occurred last night IN the
Twenty nrst ward husband maddened by
jealousy shot bis wife's visitor ana then
ended his own life by bullet in the
brain The name Of the murderer and suicide was An
tome Martens and that Of his victim Thomas Rodgers
The scene OF the tragedy front OF the residence
Of the former al No 2l3 East Twenty eighth street
AT the above number Martens, whose trade was that
Of a cigar maker kept small cigar store the FIRST
floor the rear Of which parttioned of sleeping
room and kitchen. During the daytime he worked at
his trade in a neghborng cigar factory, leav-
ing his wife attend the store. Last night,
shortly before O'clock Martens was sitting in the
store his wife being behind the counter when the door
opened and the young Rodgers entered. Martin
had for time past looked upon Rodgers
with jealous eye, believing him TO
he terms of criminal intimacy with his
wife, and only few days ago he threatened TO shoot
him If he again visited her The appearance Of Rod
gers caused Martens from his chair pale with
rage leave my house, he shouted as he drew from
his pocket revolver
Rodgers, seeing the pistol, toward the door, but
not before bullet had been discharged at him In his
haste to escape he stumbled at the threshold Mar
tens at his side. Mrs. Martens mad by this
time come from behind the counter. She quickly
jumped between
HER HUSBAND AND HIS VICTIM
and before Martens could again nre she had his hands
tightly clutchcd IN her own This momentary
obstacle TO the design Of the Infatuated
man was taken advantage OF by Rodgers, who
started TO In moment Martens had freed
himself from his wife and With raised weapon was in
pursuit of the fleeing man He fired four shots in
quick succession and Rodgers dropped in the street.
hity feet from the store Martens, seeing his
victim FALL placed the pistol TO his own
through the right temple and in instant he
dead So quickly was the deed committed that the
other dying-before any other person the spot.
In few minutes, however, the street was crowded
with people
Among the FIRST to arrive Captain Murphy and
Sergeant Tuck Of the Twenty first precinct They
found Martens dead. but Rodgers still alive Leaving
the dead man they quickly carried Rodgers to the drug
at the of Twenty seventh street and
Third avenue, and at once despatched messengers for
surgical aid Ambulance surgeon Amy, oil Bellevue
Hospital, promptly answered the summons and con-
veyed the dying man to the hospital. The body of
Martens removed 70 his late residence to await
the action OF the Coroner.
Investigation into the history OF Martens family
revealed state Of matrimonial infecity From the
date OF his marriage five years ago, feeling OF dis
trust ana jealousy of his wife affected Martens
The slightest attention received by his wife
from other men was sufficient TO make him very angry.
The result prolonged quarrel between the pair
Mrs Martens, regardless OF her husbands uniortu-
nate disposition, made no endeavor 10 comply with his
wishes About year ago Martens opened the store
No 2l3 East Twenty eighth street and lad IN large
stock OF cigars giving his wife charge OF the business
while he continued at his trade outside.
q
Company No. q the location OF which is a few doors
south OF Martens He frequently purchased
cigars OF Mrs Martens He also became acquainted with
her husband A few days before New Years Day Mar
tens came home unexpectedly and found Rodgers
talking to his vile in the kitchen at the rear OF the
store Has Jealousy became aroused and words ensued
during which he ordered Rodgers from the house ON
last Sunday Rodgers paid another visit to the store
and Martens threatened TO shoot him If he came
IN again The visit last night was the only one paid
that time.
After the quarrel on Sunday Martens purchased the
he
HERALD reporter called al the residence of Mrs.
Martens last night shortly after the tragedy On the
floor was stretched at full length the suicide with
CHASTITY hole in his temple. II 5 wife, who is about
thirty years old, stood him, looking
had happened. She betrayed when questioned, not
the slightest symptom OF grief and told the story Of
her husbands jealousy with apparent indifference.
Martens was by birth Belgian, and about thirty-one
years OF age
THE WOUNDED MAN AT rHE HOSPITAL
An ambulance had been summoned at the moment OF
the tragedy aud the body of the wounded man
speedily conveyed TO Bellevue Hospital. There little
investigation discovered his injuries to consist OF
wound in The BAGS OF the neck, another IN the left
side and third IL the right arm. bullet had also
passed through the chin, striking the breast but not
entering Dr. Smith, with his assistants probed the
wounds and endeavored to locate the Of the balls
Considerable difficulty experienced, however from
the different directions they had been fred from, and
not little from the patient himself who had evidently
been undo s-the influence of liquor at the time OF the
shooting. Ind who had not been entirely sobered
by the awful sense OF his condition.
PAINFUL scEYE
The in tie ward the body OF the
wounded man was stretched was exceedingly painful
In rambling, incohcrent Way, the unhappy man
talked hopeessy OF his situation, and at times spoke
OF tie gray haired mother whose care he had known
long and whose anguish he deplored while out
side the screen, which hid from view the OF
The surgeons, aged woman weeping for the son
who perhaps, had IN many things been unworthy OF
her parental fondness.
THE DOUBTFUL ISSUES
Until near midnight the phi scian stood at the bed
side plying the probe, and when he ceased he had
tract6d the ball from the back OF the neck and
had partially followed the OF the
other bullets He then unable 10 say
anything with any degree or certainty about
the chances OF Rogers recovery but he thought
a examination to-day would be apt show what
hopes might be entertained.
Coroner Croker visited the suicides house and then
proceeded TO the hospital to take the wounded mans
statement