The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-24
TALKS OF HIS BROTHER
F. L.Martin Tells of His Relatives In
sane Acts,

sane Acts.
F. L. Martin, of Salina, brother of A.
F. Martin, who was brought to the To-
peka insane asylum Saturday from Abb
lene. gives the State Journal the details
of his brothers halluciations. although
F. l.. Martin believes his brothers de-
rangement is only temporary and that.
with proper treatment, he will soon be
cured
THE first 1 knew of any trouble" said
Mr. Martin, '.was when received a tel
ephone message from my brother some
time ago, saying that my mother was
coming from Abilene to Salina to visit
me and that she was mentally unbal-
anced and for me to meet her with
hack. did so, of course. When. my
mother came she was crying. She said
Albert was unbalanced, and 1 didn't
know which to believe. She told me
some of the things he had done, how he
got up in the Methodist church at ADJ
lene on January-S and eXhorted some
converts, giving them a splendid talk,
but winding it up with making some
very bad accusations against the pastor
of the church and some of the members.
He came home that night very much
excited.
I went down to Abilene to see him,
but he talked with me as rational as
could be. But after a day or two he
began to confide in me, saying that he
was the personal Representative of Jesus
Christ on earth and that he had receiv-
ed all sorts of divine revelations. also
found out that he had been making ac-
cusationS against a number of people.
Then he went to a meeting of the
River Brethren and told the elder that
he had a message from the Lord TO de-
liver, and he insisted ON giving it, al
though they tried to talk him out of it.
Then at a Sunday school where Albert
was assistant superintendent he made
trouble one day by protesting against
certain young lady teaching class. She
was one of the most eStimable young
ladies of Abilene. The superintendent
tried to quiet him and talk him out CT
his notions, but he would be quiet, and
he abused the young lady fearfully, al
though bhey were the best of friends. He
wound up by making wholesale charges
against both the young lady and the
superintendent.
sThen he hired the Seelye opera house
to give a lecture, and spent large
amount of money in advertising it. l
went down to Abilene again and talked
the matter over with his friends. They
thought he was mentally unbalanced,
and some of them had known it for
some time. 1 talked it over with Mr..
Seelye and he refunded all that Albert
had advanced him for the use of the
opera house except enough to cover the
expense he had already been to. Then
I tried to talk Albert out of the lecture,
but he tudned against me. He said he
would call down the wrath of the Lord
upon my head and made threats against
everybody VINO 1nI0TIeT0Q WITH MIN. L
consulted with his friends again and
concluded it would be best to let him
go ahead with his lecture. In the mean
time / had put the money Mr. Seelye
had refunded to his credit in the bank,
and some book agents had got hold of
Albert and got all the money he had,
so we had to pay for the opera house
ourselves. He gave the lecture and
aside from the charges he made against
people, it was excellent. He had never
spoken in public that way before, and
it was really wonderful. Another thing:
He sat down one morning and in thirty
minutes wrote off a long poem which
was good, and it is a wonder to me
where he got the language he used. J,
I'VE finally concluded that the best
thing we could do would be to have
him declared insane and taken away
for treatment. His charge that he was
railroaded through the probate court is
entirely unjust. He was given every
chance possible, but the testimony was
all one way, as everybOdyS knows who
heard it. Judge F'lack treated him with
every consideration and had the testi-
mony taken down in shorthand so that
a record of it could be made.
aside from his religious ideas and
the way that he disposes of his money,
I think my brother is all right. He is
as we'll able to look after his farm as
ever / would not be afraid to fruits
him to transact any business for me
so long as he does not get started on
religion. He decided his farm to my sis
ter without her knowledge or consent
and she refused to have the deeds re-
corded for some time. He claimed he
had a reveal ton that he should give one
woman a dress suit, and he gave it to
her. He had another revelation to give
somebody else fifty dollars, and he did
it. These things just show what he was
doing with his money. 1 expect to look
after his property as carefully as pos
sible and will consult with him about it
if he will let me, SO that it will be in as
good shape as possible when he is