The evening times., 1897-11-13
HIS SHOIGUN ULTIMATUM
Farmer Martins Fight Against
Millionaire ISelin.
DEPENDING HIS PROPERTY
His Wife aud Daughter on Guard
Close Water Company Trying
to Get Possession of the Fam
ily's BIT of Land.

New York. Nov. I3-James Martin, a
rugged odd westchesier county farmer,
has declared war against the New Rochelle
Water Company, Of which Adrian Iselin,
sr.,is owner. The casus belli is the attempt
OF the company 60 get possessian of Mar
tin's farm as an addition to it's watershed.
Farmer Martin is fifty wears old. BE has
owned FOR raany years farm of thirty
two acres a. the California road between
Union Corners and New Rochelle. Several
months ago he ha to pay off mortgage IF
$1,000 which had been acquired hy Adfian
lscHn In the interest OF the company.
TIE water company began condemnation
proceedings 70 get Possession of the re-
manning twelve acres of the Martin NOME
stead. Martin rel,elled az gainst this effort ON
the part ,d the rich corporation to take his
''eyye lamb and Immediately began pro-
ceedngs 10 shut off the condemnation.
The question OF the ownership of the land is
now pending IN the court of appeals.
Martin says the company has given notice
that a. viii foIr,lose another mortgage of
SO 600 on December 1, and thereby gain
possession OF Martins "ewe lamb without
raying q cent.
Martin sat ia his kitchen yesterday and
told oi the proceedings Of the water com
pans aud the millionaire back OF il. He
shifted big double -barreled shotgun be
tween his knees and announced that ne in
tended Ia defend his property against all
comers tmtn the courts have decided the
case. From the kitchen windows he pointed
out new bridge barricaded against travel,
whilr 20 the northe asst OF this Is the wreck
Of a wire fence.
Whcn the property was first condemned
the company bCilt a fence across the Mar
tia fam. The farmer ,ie estroyed IL and he
cCnVany rebuilt it. Martin chopped T. down
again and tire cogpany rebuilt il. -Four
times nuore was 1t built and -four times
did Marnn tear IL down. There was an
effort to rebuild il a firth time, but Martin
took out his gun and threatened to shopt
the nrsi man who drove a post for another
fence The company tried to build a new
gate. and Martin took his gun from the
peg la the Kitchen, and in no uncertain
tones commanded that the DIen leave his
property or he would fill the IN full OF lead.
The gate builders retreated in a hurry.
They Could see by the fire 10 the farmers
eye that ne meant business.
Martin visited the offices of the New
knCncilc " aier Company yesterday and
flied Col.y OF his shotgun ultimatum with
Sup:. pavls.
i inicu itr have my rights and will stay
here eutreuchod forever" he said yester-
day, because believe the compan wants
e. Cet all OWL wit ithout paving me cent.
II il troubles nae much more | II blo W those
new bridges yonder SIX y high. / allowed
them t. De built some time ago I'm order to
facilitate the company's work
Mrs. Martin said that she had offered to
pay the int crest on the mortgage to the
water company, hut IL was refused.
The con pany wants 80 foIce us out of
cur home" said she, but if there is no
law TO preveiil IL I n fight with powder and
bal at my husbands siie TO protect ,iur
little home. VI isn't mu.h but is all We
fave.f
Martin Camet TO this city yesterday after
ItorI'. la his abseE"e Ms Martin and her
pretty sixteen year-uld daughter guarded
the premises. Miss Martin. with gun at
her side, stu'd at the kitchen windo ~,
fauin which She lad a fine view of all al,-
psuaUheS. Mrs Martin was doing her
household work, but a shot gun stood in the
poroli Just oJt side the front door.