Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-03-10
FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
And Six Months Extra Was W.
O. Martins Fine
IN THE ADULTERY CASE
Which Ended Yesterday Afternoon in the u-
ferior Criminal Court-Resume of
the History of the Case.

The case against w o. Martin, for
adultery, was concluded yesterday after
noon at s:45 o'clock, when the decision of
Judge Feagin was rendered. Martin was
adjudged guilty and fined $500 and six
months extra. He was tried under
warrant and his fire, reduced to the time
to be served, amounts to 800 days. One
hundred and forty days pays the $500
fine.
The arguments in the case were heard
Immediately upon the dsposing of the
regular docket. Messrs. Meade, for the
defense, and Lee Bradley, fer the prose-
cution, made earnest and able arraign~
ments of the facts in the case, and Mr..
Bradley was particularly severe in his
criticism of the defendant. who watched
every move of the attorney
When Judge Feagin announced hrs de-
cision the face of Martin was a study
His ccmposure and confidence. studied or
otherwise, completely deserted him, and
he shook in every limb, nerVously strok-
ing his hersute adornments.
Martin was sent back to prison to work
out his fine and punishment. The usual
five days time was granted for the filing
of an appeal bond. If the latter can be
procured an appeal will be taken.
The case has proven of great interest
prominence Of the parties concerned. A
resume of the facts in the case is given:
Early In February the local police au-
tholities received a card giving the de-
scription and photographs of, a man.
woman and a little child. The man was
Mrs. John +. Lenaghan and child, of
Tampa Fla The trio had left Tampa
early in October and were travelling
around as husband and family.
The case was placed in the hands of
Officers G. w Kirkley and Hester Gar
ner, who had the parties in custody with
in twelve hours. Mrs Leraghan. or Mar
tin, as she was called here, broke down
and confessed all Her husband was at
once notified, and she was placed under
police surveillance at the Metropolitan
hotel while Martin was locked up in a
cell in the city prison.
On account of her husband having left
Tampa, 1t was several days before an
answer was received. He came as soon
as possible with Judge c. G, Butt, the
notoriety ii wa decided to place Mrs.
Lenaghan in an insane hospital until she
fully recovered her reason and that Mar
tin should not be prosecuted.
1t took several days to perfect the ar
engagements of this matter during which
time, on Sunday afternoon, the child.
sweet little girl of years of age, was
spirited away from the hotel The child
was finally located and placed in the
care of relative of Mr.. e. Lesser. the
proprietor of the Metropolitan hotel. The
day the child was stolen Mr.. Lenaghan
and Judge Butt arrived in the city.
Early Monday morning Mr.. Lenaghan
was taken out to the residence where
the child was being kept and a touching
scene was enacted at the reunion. With
a glad cry of Daddy" the little girl ran
into her fathers rms Tears of Joy and
anal Nv she nx- ir, III
room.
Mrs. Lenaghan was finally taken to
Tuscaloosa by Hester Garner and placed
in the insane hospital. the little girl re-
turned to Florida with her happy ia Their,
and Martin was released from custody.
II was thought that the case was settled
then, but in few days after Martins
release, the wires told the story of his
re-arreSt in Tuscaloosa by Hester Gar
ner for attempting to have Mrs. Lena
CHAN released from the asylum. Garner
had followed Martin to Tuscaloosa and
caused his arrest. He was brought back
to Birmingham and 1t was decided to
prosecute him for adultery.
The case was continued from day to
day, but the trial was finally com
menced last week. After several days
had been taken UP by the witnesses the
producing Mr.. Lenaghan as a witness,
together with a certified copy of the mar
riage certificate of himself and Cora Gas
kins Butt, the woman in the case. This
induced long legal wrangle as to the
competency of husband testifying
against the wife's paramour. The evil
dence was finally allowed and the case
proceeded to final issue yesterday after
noon. Another point of objection by the
defense was the admission Of the testi-
mony of Hester Garner regarding a con-
versation with Mrs. Lenaghan This,
t,r 20 fin IIxra It