The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-07-06
MARTIN 4 WAS A POOR SHOT.
He Shoots Five Times at John Dit.
benner Without Effect.
A Family Row Ended by Martin
Leaving the Country.

a Family Row Ended by Martin
Leaving the Country.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
went5a revolver in the hands Of John
Martin hive times in quick succession
at M9rgan last Thursday morning at
about ten o'clock. The bullets
whistled around the body of Martins
father-in-law, but without taking ef-
feet, sas intended. Martin rushed to-
the Hardware store to obtain more
cartridges, but was arrested before
the purchase was made. The story as
CLEANED by a Gazette reporter on the
spot few hours afterwards, follows:
Jake Martin, a farmer living about
two miles from Morgan, fell in love
with daughter of John Dittbenner
and finally married her. Their mar
ried life was not the pleasantest i'm
aginable and soon rumors were heard
of Martins cruel treatment of his
young wife. Finally Mrs. Martin left
and about two weeks ago returned to
her parents. Martin did not take any
decided action other than ordering
merchants in Morgan not to give his
former wife credit, till recently, Mrs
Martin commenced action for divorce
on the grounds of cruel treatment.
This seemed to arouse Martins ire
which finally eliminated in the at
tempted murder of his father-in-law
on Thursday. Mrs. Martin and her
father we're in Morgan attending to
the divorce proceedings when Martin,
intending to take advantage of their
absence, went over to the Dittbenner
house to gain possession of his two
year old child which Mrs. Martin had
taken with her on leaving her home.
Albert Dittbenner, brother of Mrs.
Martin, saw Martin coming and COM
ing out brandished a revolver with
the warning that unless Martin left at
once he would shoot. Martin drew a
revolver and dared young Dittbenner
to shoot but the young fellow turned
and went into the house to get his
gun and Martin taking advantage of
his absence ran across the field toward
town. On the way toward Morgan
Martin met the old man Dittbenner,
and the shooting ended quarrel.
Martin claimed that Dittbenner fred
the first shot but as it is known that
the old man was unarmed this is false.
Martin shot five times but none of the
shots we're effective. Martin then ran
into town while Dittbenner drove out
to his home, got his son, and then
drove to town and swore out the war
rant foa Martins arrest. Martin was
arrested and lodged in the bastile,
but during the afternoon he evaded
the vigilance of Policeman Robidou
and broke Jail but was afterward re-
captured. His hearing was set for
Friday afternoon but meanwhile a
settlement was arranged and on the
promise that Martin would turn over
his property to Mrs. Martin and leave
the country forever, the prosecution
was dropped. Martin left on the 8:45
train for Iowa. Public opinion in
Morgan is rather divided though, it is
conceded that Martin got the small
end of very small horn. Mrs. Martin
is very pretty young woman, but does
not look as if she had suffered much
from cruel treatment. Dittbenner is
an old citizen of Morgan and bears
fairly good reputation though he has
been engaged in some rather shady
deals before. Martin is good speci-
men of man who could easily be in
fuenced.
Lieut.. Herbert Beecher, U. S. n,
was home a few days during the past
week, ACCOMPANYING his mother and