The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-05
MARTIN HELD IN BAIL.
Book Agent Given a Hearing Before
Magistrate Howe and offered
Plausible Defense.

r. III. Martin, the book agent arrested
by the police on Monday night, charged
with false pretenses, was held in 5000
bail yesterday afternoon by Magistrate
Howe, after a hearing during which a
very plausible defense was offered.
Martin was represented by Attorney
Lewis b. Carter.
Superintendent Day and Detective
Deter reported having arrested Martin
and testified in II general way to his
manner of doing business They Of
fered in evidence letter which they
found in Martins Office addressed to a
firm in Allentown answering an ad-
vertisement for an installment agent.
They sought to show by this letter
that Martin was getting ready to
Jump" the town when arrested.
Mrs. Vera Ross, who first reported
the matter to the police, was sworn
and testified that she had taken fifty
ten-cent books from Martins two pre-
decessors, who had represented them
selves as agents of the Morris PUBLISH
ing house. After paying out IS for
these books the agents disappeared and
she never saw a sight of the extension
table she was to receive as a premium.
She never saw Martin at all.
Mamie Hopkins, a chic looking col
ored girl, had been taking books from
Martin and was to receive chamber
set when forty books had been pur-
chased. Martin ceased to appear after
the thirty-second volume. she said.
She had originally bought the books
from another man, whom Martin re-
lieved. Fred Porter corroborated her
testimony.
Martin was sworn and testified that
he came here six weeks ago as the
representative of the Wilkes Barre
Premium and Publishing company,who
also give extension. tables with books,
but had quit their employ to take up
the business of Mr.. link, who had de-
cided to go to Binghamton. He trans
acted a legitimate business, he said,
and stated that he had given away
three premiums. Magistrate Howe
wanted to know how he could supply
links customers with premiums if the
latter had pocketed the money received
for the books issued during his stay
in the city.
Martin said that link had left him
upwards of 400 books and that he had
a large margin Of profit from CUSTOM
ers who dropped out before purchasing
the number of books required for a
premium. When asked If there is
such a firm as the Morris Publishing
house, he stammered little and ad-
mitted that there is not. When asked
about the letter applying for posi-
ton he said that a man named Bright
from Allentown was going to come here
fT tn1. hi L.
wouldn't think of leaving until Bright
came.
Mrs. Mary Holland. of Carbon street
testified that she had received a toilet
set, and when asked if she was satis-
fled with ii, said:
1T was as good as / could expect to
get after being so foolish"
Mrs. Moran, neighbor. testified to
having received set of silver knives
and forks from Martin. and Mrs. An
ME McAdams said she had received II
cake dish George Byron, manager of
ReXford's jewelry store. said that he
had one or two orders from Martin for
slVerWare.
Attorney Carter made an eloquent
plea for his client. contending that he
had been guilty of no false pretenses
and had given premiums as he had
agreed to. There was no intent to de-
fraud, he said, and intent must be
shown. Magistrate Howe declared
that Martins own admission that there
was no Morris Publishing house
showed that he had been guilty of the
offense charged. He held Martin in
5000 bail, which was furnished by Mr.
Carter.
The police claim that Martin gave
premiums to the three women who tes-
tilted yesterday simply to be prepared
for an emergency and still maintain
that he is "A fakir pure and simple.
Superintendent Day says that Martin
told him Monday night that link had
gone TO Binghamton, and that if he
didn't write quickly he (Zink) couldn't
be caught.