The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-06-01
Another Chapter i'm Relation to
the MisdOings of the
"Sawed-Off."
Witnesses Who Say He Deserted
Still Another Wife
at Joplin.
Two of His Children Here Who
Must Hustle for Their
Own Provisions.


portion of the city, it was said, and thith-
er BAzOo representative fastened without
delay. On approaching the house il look
ed very much Ike the place was deserted,
as all the blinds were securely closed and
that it was impossible to glance into the
room. A rap at the door, however,
disclosed that some one was within, and an
instant.later Irons daughter, a miss of 10 or
II years, and female companion appeared.
SIS ar. Irons at hOme% asked the BAZoO
man.
mo, sir, he is not; he does not live here
now," replied Miss Irons
"DO you know where he is?"
"No, sir; have not seen him since he
left, mere than a week ago."
'IHave you heard that he arrived in the
city this morning."
Il have heard nothing about him."
"DOes he not write to your
I" Not a line"
'Nor do anything toward your support?
"Not thing"
How do you. manage to get along. them"
"Oh, | do the best | can"
ado you remain here alone ~
"No my lady friend here is stopping
with me-"
care there any children beside yourself"
"Ies, little boy, who is staying with
one of the neighbors,"
"Does Mr.. Irons do anything toward the
boys support ~
"No, sir"
ado you expect your fath T to send for
your"
''No, sir, and wouldn't go to him if he
did. | shall remain in Sedalia."
"Have you taken any steps to recover the
furniture levied upon Friday ="
"NOt vet, but Im going to. The goods
belonged to me and the officer had no
right to take them to pay fathers debt. I'm
going to see about il, tco."
At this POINT the reporter babe the
young girl good day, as it was evident that
she was growing weary Of being questioned
so closely.
East Sedalians who are best acquainted
with Irons say they do rot expect him to
return to this city, and they are satisfied
that his children will be obliged to look
out for themselves. The miss interviewed
is Irons stepdaughter, being the child of
own son, by the ladv who died while the
the great southwestern strike.
If all reports are true, Irons should be
within the walls of the penitentiary on
two charges OF bigamy instead of one, as
is generally supposed A subscriber of
the Joplin Herald, in the last issue of that
paper, in writing OF the saw ed-off chair
man, says:
In 1877 Irons lived in Leadville hollow,
northwest of Joplin, ran a pump on the
Murphy land south of Turkey creek, for
party Of miners, but was generally consid-
ered jim-crOw engineer at that time. He
married widow named Hanson, with four
small children, the oldest a girl, Il years
old, and the youngest boy, IL months
old. When Martin Irons had married the
widow Hanson he persuaded her to aban-
don the children; the couple then left the
neighborhoOd, and deserted the four small
children in the month of December, 1877,
which was the coolest part of that winter.
Those little children were not left in the
house they had lived in previously, but
left to their fate, in an old log house
quarter of mile distant, where they SUBJ
sisted for q week on corn meal mixed with
water, and baked on ashes by the eleven
year-old girl. A married woman named
Fresh, who was known by all who lived in
LeadVille hollow, was the first TO discover
their Starving, destitute, shiyering condi-
ton and took them to their own hole.
Not being able TO maintain and clOthe
such an addition to her family, she OBJ
tanned homes for three of them. Martin
Irons and his wife, the m ther of the chill
dren, returned to Joplin to sign articles of
adoption, resigned, the custody of the cru /
ly deserted little ones, and an attorney,
now resident here, made out the necessary
papers. The youngest of the children is
now bright, intelligent boy of 10 years,
attends school regularly every day, has a
good home in the city Of Joplin, has kind
foster parenis, and is well cared for In
every respect.
While writing of Irons rthe BAzoO also
gives space to the following, which appear
ed in the Kansas City Ners of Friday
evening:
That there might be no more saying he
was misrepresented by reporters, the News
s@nttwritten questions to Martin Irons, ask
ing him for his reply in writing. We were
of the opinion that Irons was not a proper
representative of the knights of Labor in
the southwest. They are earnest but con-
sentative. He is Obsti ate and radical,
and is not in unison with the great body of
workmen. Although Martin Irons is re-
ported to have said that he returned the
written questions which had been fired at
him unanswered, he did not so treat the
News. In reply to its questions he wrote
the following, which we here print verbatim
ct iheTutim:
Editor Daily Ners, Kansas City:
DEAR SIR-To answer the questions that
you ask would Seriously Retard the sale of
Book which viii publish showing up
the causes the order for strike Its Continu-