The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-29
Martins Brutal Crime.

special 10 the indianapolis Journal.
GREENCASTLE, Ind. June 2S-The
murder of George w. Martin in Louisville
Sunday morning recalls one of the most
brutal crimes that ever occurred in this
county. Martin while under the influence
of liquor shot and killed his wife near
Cloverdale and was sent to prison for life
The crime was committed in 1874, and
newspaper files of that period give this fol-
lowing history of the case:
On Sunday night, Nov 49, 1874. the Mar
tins were at the home of Riley Stanton
two ana a half miles east of CIoVerdale
Inc husband was under the influence of
liquor as usual. About o'clock he asked
his WIFE, who was sitting in a. chair with
the child folded to her breast, to leave
declined 10 do. He then offered her $500 if
she would give him a divorce and flnally
demanded that she shou+u declare that she
had not been a good and true wife to him.
She said she would not, it would not be
true and that she would die first. He 1rtw
a 32-caliber revolver, cooked and pointed 1t
towards her and repeated his demand, de-
caring that If she did rot make the state
ment he requested within given time he
after a brief pause the fatal shot was fred.
The bah entered the left side OF the young
mothers forehead. Her head dropped
back and she died instantly with the babe
clasped in her arms. Stanton, his wife
and daughter were present, but had not
interfered for the reason, as they alleged
in earnest or intended to injure his wife.
AS soon the pistol was discharged
Stanton grappled with the maniac, oy err
powered and disarmed him.
When released by Stanton, Martin ap-
preached his dead wife, called her by the
pet name by which he had always ad-
dressed her, kissed her and then left the
house. He wandered from place TO place
during the night and reached CloVerdale
before daylight He there procured more
whisky and talked wildly about the occur
renee of the night. He was placed under
arrest by constable and kept closely
guarded by posse of citizens rhroug h
ment prevailed and there was great danger
of mob violence. But for the frnlDcss CT
very few citizens, who desired mat the
law should be allowed TO take its course,
a iynching would have occurred. On the
following day the prisoner was afraigneG
before Esq NJ. c; Bridges Oh the charge
Examination and was committed to jail to
await the action of the grand jury. Judge
w. s. Eckels represented the State.
Martins counsel were c. c. Matson, II. B.
Stone was present at the magistrates
court and took charge Of tie prisoner.
Martin first pleaded not guilty, but his
attorneys were limited as to time to Sc
cure evidence on the point of hereditary
insanity and the next day they had their
client plead guilty and throw himself on
the mercy of the court. The judge SEN
fenced him to prison for life and on Dec
16, 1874, Martin entered the JetfersonVllle
prison. He was paroied in 1898 by Gov
Matthews on the condition that he would
not return to this county; would leave in
toXicating liquor alone and not violate any
of the laws of the State. So far as known
Martin kept the parole sacred. The son
who was in the mothers arms al the time
she was killed now lives in Cloverdale and
& daughter resides in Chicago. The body
will probably be buried in Kentucky, The
Louisville murder has created great inter-
est here, where the scenes and facts con-
corning the first murder are SO well re-
Nom bered