New-York tribune., 1890-05-05
PRICE THREE CENTS.
INSPECTOR BYRNES ANGRY.
HE FLATLY CONTRADICTS MRS. j. BID
DULPH MARTIN.

THE FORMER MRS Woodruff, HE SAYS, MAY
SUE HIM, BUT HE WILL NOT RETRACT
| WHAT APPEARED OVER HIS NAME IN
LoND3N NEwsPAPER-HIs LIVE
LY VERSION OF THE INTER-
VIEW IN HIS OFFICE
WHAT MRS. MARTIN
SAYS NOW
Inspector Byrnes indignant yesterday over
the published reports of the interview between
him and Mrs. John Biddulph Martin, as told by
Mrs. Martin. What reused his ire particularly
was the statement that he made an abiect apology
to Mrs. Martin for the real or fanced wrong that
he had done her Mrs Martin complained about
an article which appeared in London paper to
which the Inspectors name signed, and in
her story Of the interview she said that Inspector
Bynes denied all knowledge of the published
story and said that it did not come from him in
any way.
The Inspector said yesterday that Mr.. Martin
and his wife, who was formerly Mrs. Victoria
Woodruff and Dennis w. O'Ialoran called at
his office Saturday by appointment. Mrs.
Martin was agiated. and spoke for about fifteen
minutes about the persecution Of herself and her
sister in private and public by their enemies,
The Inspector cut her address short by asking
what the business that brought her and her
husband TO his office. She took from a bag a
package of letters which she asked the Inspector
10 read lie declined TO do so. and told her that
he had seen in the newspapers a statement that
Mrs. Martin from England for
the purpose of sting him for dam
ages for story which had been published
in London over his signature. Mrs. Martin de-
MED that she had ever given any one authority to
publish such statement and asked him If he
would not refute the story in way. The
Inspector told them that lie could not take back
anything that lie had ever said about her lie
was responsible for the story which had APP
peared over his name, and was ready 10 meet Mrs.
Martin at any time in court - test the truth
of 1t. lie did not apologize to Mrs Martin and
shake hands and make up" lie told her that
if she was Of the opinion that he had wronged
damages. lie was public officer and
that he might nfG say Mr. Martin sad @ thas Mrs
Martin did not desire 10 bring suit; all that she
wanted was that the Inspector deny the truth
of the story, which had emanated from him, and
The Inspector replied that he could
not vindicate her character and the
10 sue him. Mrs. Martin said that she was sorry
TO have any trouble with the Inspector, and he
replied in simila vein, but said that he would
stand by what he had said. Seeing that they
could not make any impression on the Inspector.
Mrs. Martin who seemed to be greatly excited,
told her husband that they would better 90 home
and they went.
The Inspector said that he was careful not 70
he alone with Mrs. Martin during the interview
and had two detectives stationed where they could
is necessary, 10 testify to the truth Of the In
spectors version of the affair The Inspector
said in conclusion: If | have committed any
wrong acts against them, am ready 10 meet them
in court. was the author of the article COM
planned Of and do not propose 10 make apology
Tribune reporter %S. SSaed upon MIS- hdaIlph
evening in reference 10 Inspector Byrnes's denial
that he apoogized for the publication OF the
article and his statement that he did write and
sign it and was Willing TO substantate every
word Of il in the courts if Mrs. Martin thought
III to sue him for libel
ginning Of the interview with the reporter. but
she became much excited and almost hystencal
before It's close Mr.. Biddulph Martin and Mr..
Dennis OIlalloran were in the room at the time
and corroborated her version OF the Byrnes inter-
view
She said Il much regret that some of the
newspapers have used the word apology in their
Nports of this affair. There was no need for an
apology, because Inspector Byrnes said IN the
presence Of my husband and Mr.. OfIalloran that
he had not written the article complained or,
that he did not know his name was attached TO
II, and, in fact that he did not see the article
until il was handed TO him in print He said
that he regretted that it had been published and
volunteered the statement that other articles had
appeared of which he was supposed To be the
author. but for which he was not responsible.
for what he has not done. and the word
apology never used throughout our interview.
" hen We eft Inspector Bryness or
lice we drove straight home. We never
went 10 any newspaper Office TO make state.
mcnt saying that The Inspector had made COM
plete backdOwn. desired 10 have no publicity
at ALL and am not IN the Least responsible for
the wording of the reports in this mornings
papers. | never eAoectcd to see anything IN the
new spa pcIs at all Inspector Brynes met US In b
very cordial friendly way. and almost the last
thing he said. " II any reporters come TO me
and inquire about this matter. shall refer them
10 Mr.. OIalOran.
lie said he had no charge to make against me
personally or officially | perfectly understood
his position and was satisfied with his eXplana-
ton never told any reporter or other person
that he had made a rctracti0n or apology, but
think the statement which is now going TO be
published is brual-it is persecution; think it
IS all a consequence of the sensational way one OF
the papers headed It's report of the interview
know is useless 10 enter the courts for justice,
INT will submit my to the press of the coun-
try | have committed no crime and do not
y, ish to antagonl2c anybody.
Mr. O'Ilalloran said that his attention had been
first drawn TO the scandaloIs article slgned Thomas
vrrcs last January, when Mrs. Martin tclegraphed
him from London He had interview with
Inspector Byrnes, when he denied the authorship
Of the letter, and said ne had not seen it until
Mr. O'faloran brought it under his notice. Mr..
y 'IIallOran showed the reporter letter in "Ihe
Brooklyn Eagle dated January 10, making this
statement, which he said Inspector Byrnes had
rot repudiacd.
Mrs Martin was exhausted after telling her
story and she said she hoped the American people
would not let il go down 10 history that they
lad bounded woman 10 commit suicide. for,
he said this is what this continual Infamous
pursuing of me is driving me TO.
Mr.. Martin sat throughout the interview quietiy
eading n scrapbool and he nodded approval
when his wife said dramatically, The only crime
am guilty of is returning 10 America after
hirteen years with noble-hearted Englishman
or my husband
A CLlI4 AGAINST T.. e. RICE