Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-07-26
A SHATTERED IDOL
The True Character Of Perfect Mrs. John B,
Martin.
HER UNSAYORY RECORD EXPOSED
A Committee of Church Members Investigate
the Scandal.
DREADFUL BLOW 7 OTHE PERFECT

CINCINNATI, OHIO, July 2k-The En-
guirsr this morning says: THE band oil
fanatics on Walnut Hills who are kneeling
before Mrs. John Il. Martin rs Jesus Christ
will find their sanctiiicd and holy idol
shattered. 1t has been strongly suspected
that the woman was fur from being the
saint she pretended to be. Several com
mupirations rejecting on Mrs. Martins
past character have been sent to the En-
guirrr, but there are always people who
seek to undermine the reputation o those
who set themselves up rs models OF good
ness and purity, and for this reason the
reports were not credited. Yesterday, IN
Eaton. Ohio, a reporter made n discovery
almost beyond belief, were it not SubStau-
tiatcd BY indiSputahle evidence. Mrs,
Martin was. before her marriage, guilty oil
criminal connection with VIM. Nj. Brooke,
4 BROTHER OF TIE PIoCs FRAUD
who is noisy and conspicuous among the
deludeded people j~ourncying toward the
lunatic asylum in consequence oil thclr
fatal devotion to u woman who parted
with her virtue and honor thirteen years
AGO. 4 few of the members of the group
of PerfrctionistS are without doubt good
women, who would not cOntaminate them
selves or bring disgrace upon their nus
hands are and children by association with
=, diSuraced woman. The claims of Mrs.
Martinand her. brOthcr-in-law tOpoSseSS all
the Righteousness found in this world
shocked the entire community. Her SIcri-
legiouS i%mpudence in posing rs God per
sonifed was charitably looked upon Us the
wild varary of a diSOrdcred mind. But
there is method in her madness, for she
exarts s. a week from each of her wOr-
sinners, which brings her in the comfort
,bIe sum of from $50 To $50 per week.
Tins she mites spiritual welfare with tenn
nor,I benefits and auctions of her diNiNe
mower To the few who will buy. Mrs.
Martin has repeatedly declared since the
exposure of her fanatical scheme that
her character for the last fourteen
wears she has lived in Cincinnati is
SpotleSS, but she did not reveal her
AMoURs AND LAISoNs
preyious to that time. The Supplee family
moved To Eaton about twenty years ago.
John C.. Brooke had maEried Lowe sup
plec, the Holy Ghost in the Walnut HlllS
concern i'm Philadelphia, and subsequently
took the whole family to his home in Eaton.
Hannah Supplee, the pretended Christ, was
recognized as Il wild girl. She received
considerable attention and among her AL
mircrs was n youngman who was said to bt
from Mississippi. He was little fellow Of
mod address, but nothing was known rs Il
his character. One day Miss Hannah an0
the Southerner departed together for Phlla'
| deIphia. oStensibly to TtSit some OF the
| girI's relatives. The couple were gont
| three weeks, and it was noticed when they
| returned that Hannah wore n fine water
and chain and an elegant dress which sh'
didn't have when she went away. Nobod!
said anything, but
TIE INFERENCE WAS TOO STRONG
70 be disregarded, and Miss Suppleei
standing in the community went down be
low mar. The Brooke family was no bette
than it ought to be, although the grand
father, Rev. James B. Finley, was aiamou
| Methodist minister in early days. W. III
Brooke, a younger brother, was a notorlou
Ebertine. and all the careful mothers KEEP
their daughters out of his way. John Z
Brooke and the Supplies were all MethO
lists and formed q little Slnctlhcatlol
s~oriety in Eaton for their mutual benefit
some rough stories are told about Iertec
Iobn C. hut, while many of them ar
donbtless true, the details have escaped 10
memory of the old citizens. The disgrace
ful episode in which Mrs. Hannah Martin
then Miss Supplee, Wa involved, Occurre'
in December, 1ST2. She went to ST. Loui
on the same train and
IN THE SAME SLEEPING CAR BERTH.
with her brother-in-law, William III
Brooke. The facts in the case leaked on
through J. p. Charles. we'll known eltizel
of Eaton, who was superintendent OF tn
sleeping car company. Mr.. Charles wrot
the circumstances to Judge Gilmore, Wh'
in turn noiSed the matter abroad. IL cam
IN the ears of the Methodist Church, anu
rs William NJ. Brooke was q meh0er Il
GOOD standing, it was decided 10 make u
investigation of the various charges !
committee consisting of Judge Jac0
Chambers. Josiah Campbell and j, \
TaLe was appointed to 90 to Cincinnati
and eyamine into the affair. The inyestl
mtion WIS held ON the 10Th day OF May
lIs73. The statement oil MI
MeKenney. the sleeping car conductor
was eorroborated by every othe
witness The testimony was eduee .
writing, and is now in the nanos "i VI