Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-10
A MURDERER HUNTED DOWN.
Capture of a Young M ssOurfan who
EIOped from Jail with the SherifI>s
Niece.

A special dispatch from St. Louis,
Mo-, says: "Sheriff Goodman, of Leba.
non. Mo-, has arrived here with news OF
the capture of William F. Martin, who is
under sentence of death for the murder
of Weiser in Laclede county, While
Martin was in Jail he gained the affec-
tions of Sheriff Wilson's niece, and
the girl unbarred his cell, fur
nished him with a rifle, and both
departed together The pair fed the
State. and their whereabouts re-
mained mystery. When Goodman was
elected Sheriff he Immediately instituted
thorough search, following the trail to
Virginia and back to Tennessee, in which
State he captured Martin and the girl.
While he was taking them from St..
Louis to Lebanon Martin escaped from
the train, and remained at large until
two days ago. The father and mother
of Martin live on farm ten miles from
Lebanon, in what is known as Goodwin
Hollow, and the Sheriff had a close
watch kept on their residence, believing
that the son would pay them visit At
length the Sheriff received information
that Martin had visited the paternal roof,
and he organize d a posse of ten men and
started for Goodwin Hollow. Martin
has hundreds of friends who would fight
for his liberty at moments notice.
The posse left Lebanon at 8 o'clock at
night, and travelled seven miles to the
appointed rendezvous, where they hitch
ed their horses in the woods, aud walked
toward the Martin farm. Arriving there,
the house was cautiously approached
and covered by shotguns from every di-
rection. Sheriff Goodman, accompanied
by Marshal Estes, demanded admittance,
which was. of course, denied, and the
inmates solemnly declared that "Billy"
was many miles away. The Sheriff,
however, knew to the contrary. for he
had seen Martin through chink in the
logs. While Goodman and Estes were
parleying at the door with the family and
demanding admittance, they heard the
sound of clapboards being removed
from the roof. Soon afterward Martins
head popped through the roof. But he
caught sight of ten guns pointed in his
direction, and he disappeared. Farley
ing at the door was again resumed. At
length Martin responded to the demands,
and declared that he would surrender at
daylight. 1t was then after twelve
o'clock, and Mr.. Goodman suspected
that with daylight would come assist
ance. A general fight could not be per-
mitted, and he informed the little party
within that if they were acting in good
faith they must surrender Immediately.
After consultation they agreed to yield,
and young Martin threw open the doors
and stepped out into the moonlight. In
a twinkling he was handcuffed and
shackled by the Sheriff. But the parents
were not so easily quieted. The mother
ran out and poured upon the officers an
unceasing torrent of abuse, and then
struck one Of the posse with rock. The
man threw his gun up and threatened to
shoot if the woman did not Immediately
return to the house. This enraged the
father, and he took down the old Win
chester rifle with which his son had
murdered Weiser and threatened death
to the entire posse. The Sheriff's re
volver flashed Unexpectedly in the old
mans face and he gave up the rifle.
The house was found stocked with arms
and ammunition, and all the arrange
ments for long siege. VIM. Martin
said that he would have surrendered i'm.
.mediatelY but for fear of being mobbed
by the Sheriff's posse, which he know
contained some men who were his NOR
tai enemies. The Sheriff reassured him
on that point. The Journey to Lebanon
was made quietly and without Interrupt
ton, and the murderer was safely lodged
in jail before daylight.