The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-06
WIFE TOOK EVIL PATH
While Husband Was Away, Mrs.
Martin Deserts Her Children
to Lead a Sinful Life.

Mrs. Fred H. Martin was arrested
last night on a serious charge but was
released later on bond furnished by
friends She gave the name Of Jane
smith when arrested and viii be heard
before Judge Diehl this afternoon pro-
vided she does not decide to forfeit the
bond.
The arrest of the woman is the result
OF two months Of labor on the part Of
the police department and numbers Of
private detectives, who have been en-
ployed by her husband to procure evil
dence Of her guilt that would lead to
her arrest. Efforts have been made
constantly by police officers during that
time TO apprehend the woman. but she
has invariably eluded them
seventeen years agO the woman was
married to Fred Il. Martin in Kansas.
Four children were born, the eldest now
being Is years of age. They came to
salt Lake two years ago and occupied
a neat little cottage in the eastern part
of the city. They lived happily and
were eontented until Martin, who is a
carpenter, lost his position and was
unable to secure employment here He
finally secured a place with a mining
company in Wyoming and left this
city in March. 1901 Believing implicit
~ in the fidelity of his wife and sure
of the affection of his children, he
labored night and day. sending regu-
larly each month his wages for the
maintenance of his family Imagining
nothing of wrong or of deception, he
returned to visit his family.
Mr. Martin reached Salt Lake in
February of this year and went at
once to his home. Strangers responded
30 his knock. and the woman who ap-
peared at the door declared that
months ago Mrs. Martin had given up
the place and that her location was
unknown. Still dreaming nothing Of
the perfidy of the woman. the man
began a search for his family He
finally sought the aid Of the police
department and also employed several
private detectives They worked un-
ceasingly on the case until it was dis
covered, it is claimed. that the woman
deserted her children and had fallen
into the depths of the lowest depravity.
During midwinter. say the officers.
she left her children to the hands Of
charity. They begged through the city
until discovered by the Humane So
ciety. Jennie, the oldest Of the four,
vainly tried to find employment to sup
port her little brothers and sisters. One
of the children, an S-year-old boy.
while tramping through the winter,
was partially frozen and was sent to
the hospital where an operation was
performed and the amputation Of his
leg may result. The other children
eked out an existence from the kind
ness Of strangers until relieved Of their
desperate condition.
The furniture of the home, declare
the officers, was sold and paWned by
the woman, who was unable 10 crafty
her whims by the allowance of her
husband. Meanwhile. Jennie, the old
est child, had been placed in a private
home by a number Of women and the
other three sent to the Orphans home.
Mrs. Martin has used every means.
the officers and Martin assert, to take
the oldest girl from the home and lead
her into the life of degradation where
she has fallen. She had partly sue
ceeded, the officers say, but was frus-
trated in her attempt and had the girl
with her for short periods at a time.
Divorce proceedings have been COM
menced by Martin, who wants a sep
aration and the custody Of his children.
The woman partly admitted the
charges while at police headquarters
last night, but said that portions of
iCT husbands statements were false