San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-12-23
Hos A Cousin Here.
Kentucky Desperate Has A Cousin In
This City.
Johnny Martin Was a First Cousin
10 C. W. Martin Of This City.
Correct Account of His Death.

in little hillside graveyard west
of Moorehead, Rowan county, Ky, is
one of the queerest grayestones in all
the United States" remarked G.. II.
Munsetter, of Willard, Ky. The
stone marks the last resting place of
Johnny Martin, one of the principals
of the famous Rowan county war be-
tween the Martins and Logans on the
one side and the Tollivers on the other.
In the feud more than fifty men were
killed, and the governor of the state
at one time was compelled to nego
tate for peace with Craig Tolliver.
Martin was taken from the officers of
the law while en- route for safe keep
ing-the Tolliver gang later hanging
him near Farmers and Kidding the
body with bullets. But Martins
friends evened up scores by practical
ly wiping out both feud and the Toll
liver faction on the streets of Moore
head two years later. On Martins
gravestOne is the following inscrip-
ton: Stop, stranger; tread not upon
the grave of one who never fOrsOok n
friend nor forgave an enemy. John
ny Martin lies here columbus, (O)
Journal.
The above item, which appeared in
the Light Tuesday, clipped from an
Ohio paper, has local interest, so far
as one person in this city is concern
ed.
The man, Johnny Martin, is a cousin
of Mr.. G. w. Martin, the carpenter, of
this city, and Mr.. Martin is thorough
ly acquainted with the details of the
death and burial of his cousin as well
as the feud which caused his death.
He says the account of Mar
tins death as given above
is not exactly correct, but that the re-
mainder of the article is correct in ev-
cry detail.
John Martin" he says "was not
killed while en- route to Lexington,
but from Lexington, and in a very
cOwardly manner. Neither was he
hung. About a week before he was
cOwardly murdered he killed Craig
Tolliver in Moorehead, as the article
states. After killing TOlliver he sur
renderd to the authorities. The Jail
in MoOrehead had just been burned
and Martin was taken to Lexington
for safe keeping.
while he was in Jail there the Toll
liver faction secured fake requisition
papers and sent them to Lexington,
10 tn
for an examining trial. They then
waylaid the train at Farmers, and
when lit stopped, entered the coach,
ten of them being in party, and be-
gan Shooting at him while he was
handcuffed. They put seven bullets
into his body, and left the train, Mar
tin cursing them and calling them
towards.
HE was then taken to Moorehead,
and as his chances for recovery were
all blasted he was turned over to his
relatives. He lived three days and
died in his own home. The affair &C.
Cured in the fall of 1884.
Martin was buried In the Oakley
family cemetery where the tombstone |
is Just as described.
The Martin-Tolliyer feud was start |
ed in 1878 when the same John Mar |
tin killed PRS. Blair. a brotber-in-law |
of the TOllivers. 1t was then kept !
up until every one of the Tollivers |
were eXterminated. about twenty-five |
persons being killed before it ended
MANY years before that the Martins |
carried on a feud with |
the HollbroOks, which resulted about |
rs disastrously. In this feud the old |
nan Underwood and his six sons were
killed, beside many others who sided |
With the two factions"
John Martins father and Mr.. C. w.
Martins father were brothers and the
-wo families resided about five miles
apart in Rowen county.