The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-24
CAPT. MARTIN RESIGNS
HE WILL RESIDE IN BROOKLYN,
 } N. Y.
Left Montgomery festeroay Morn ing-Potice Chief Gerald Dis cusses His High Character.
 Applicants for the Place.

Police Captain John. W. Martin, who returned to Montgomery last Sunday from Brooklyn, has tendered his resig- nation to Police Chief Gerald. Cap tain Martin left yesterday morning for Brooklyn. where he will in future re- side.
 It was said yesterday that Police Sergeants w. H. Taylor and John Thomas and Police Officer Patrick Sweeney are applicants for the posi- tion of Police Captain. made vacant by the resignation of Captain Martin.
 Captain Martin recognized the grav- lty of the charges made against him and the great difficulty of disproving them to the satisfaction of the entire community. and rendered me his res- ignation, dated May Sth, the day of his first departure from the city," said Chief Gerald in an interview with a representative of The Advertiser yes- terday. .e"I refused, to accept the resig- nation and wired him to that effect and to come back and defend himself against the reports in circulation. He came in response to my telegrams, and after consulting with able counsel as to what to do in the case. he was in- formed that he had no legal redress whatever, and was advised not to resort to personal violence.
 Captain Martin, in the discharge of his official duty, has unfortunately had to take human life on two occasions. He said to me, T ara an old man now l feel that God has forgiven me for the killing of the two men in the past, and rather than embarrass you and the de- partment. which have served so long, l will resign; under no circumstances will again take human life, as that itself would not be a. vindication.'
 Captain Martin was an efficient of- hcer. and, as before said. his previous conduct, habits and good character are a contradiction to the scandalous ru- mors in circlation. I do not believe them; neither do the many friends of Captain Martin. whose names are le- zion and who have Loyalty stood by him in this trying ordeal.
 "As there was no legal redress, the only recourse being a resort to personal violence, against which Captain Mar tins friends advised, think that Cap- tain Martin did right in resigning. His efficiency as an officer was impaired; i; he is a very sensitive man, and the vo- cation he was engaged in made him IdOiS tO iuSuII Uy kUW-UTeu ldW-DTedh- CTS. with whom he would be compelled to come in contact, and from the pe- culiar situation, unable to resent.
 ''. The city ifas lost the services Of 6 good and faithful officer, and I sincerely hope that something may arise that will completely vindicate him and prove the falsity. of the rumors. I shall re- port the matter to the Mayor at the next meeting of the City Council.
 "If Captain Martin Is an innocent man. this case is without a parallel. The Dreyfus case is insignificant in comparison and the character of no man or the reputation of no woman is safe. The act of a midnight assassin in taking the life of Captain Martin would have been a merciful act to him in comparison with these rumors. firmly believe in the eternal justice of Almighty God. and that the time will come when Captain Martin will be vim dicated.
 Captain Martin is a man of un- doubted personal courage, as has been shown time and again in the discharge of his official duty; fact well known to all of his brother officers. l regret more than words can express this cruel occurrence, which has deprived me of a loyal friend. who has stood by me for a quarter of century, and to whom I am largely indebted for my success and reputation as police officer.
 My ideas and expressions are based solely upon the presumption of inno- cence. I believe Captain Martin inno- cent of the rumors in circulation"