The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-22
He HIRED HALLS.
Albert e. Martin Assaulted the
Churches at Abilene.
His Speeches Created a Sensa-
tiOn at That Place.
BROUGHT TO ASYLUM.
Claims It Was Because of His
Attitude.
He LIS Wealthy and Talks In
diligently.
BROUGHT TO ASYLUM.

Sheriff Baker, of Dickinson county
came down from Abilene today, bring
ing with him Albert E. Martin, pros
porous young Dickinson county farmer,
and this afternoon placed him in the
Topeka insane asylum. Martin was ae-
companied by his brother Fred Mar
tin, who is the proprietor of large
bicycle factory in Salina.
Martin has been hiring halls and Civ
ing lectures on religious subjects, in
Abilene. His standing brought him
large audiences. He hired the opera
house for his first lecture, and seven
hundred people came out to hear him.
He appears to be exceptionally bright.
and he says that he is sent to the asy-
lum as the result of conspiracy To-
a State Journal reporter he said:
I am sent to the asylum because I
talked too much. I told some things
that We're unpleasant to some of the
church members of Abilene, and as
consequence 1 have been railroaded
through to the asylum.
1T is true that / have been a close
student of the Bible. That may sound
like blowing my own horn, but 1 have
really made a close study of it, and /
have become convinced that the
churches are hypocriticaL I suppose
the churches would call me an infdel
or free-thinker. 1 believe that the
of it agrees with every other part.
else it is a mass of contradictions and
is untrue. If it is true, the churches
and church members are a mass of
hypocrites. 1 said so and that's what
got me into trouble. 1 couldn't get
church to speak in, so / hired the opera
house. and in making these charges
church m ember who had stolen a COW
out that | could get an audience of
seven hundred people to come and hear
me- and that l could hold their atten-
ton. Then they went after me and
railroaded me through. The probate
Judge helped
Il wanted to get c.. w Hurd to de-
fend me, but he was out of town, and
ADVISED me to submit my case to a
committee of three physicians instead
lieve they bought up two of the doctors
the night before the final hearing. After
the hearing started my attorney was
called away by a telegram, and the
next day / conducted my own case. The
county attorney denied to me the right
to cross-examine the witnesses. 1 am
not much of a lawyer, but / knew
enough to know that was wrong. The
charge against me was fiimsy that
L had no idea but what 1 would be
quickly acquitted"
Baker and Fred Martin said it time
to go out to the asylum. Fred Martin
eNluenIly DeneNeS t1at his brother is de-
mented on the subject of religion and
he did not wish to have him talk about
his troubles.
Don't pay any attention to him."
said the alleged crazy man, nodding at
his brother. He helped railroad me
through to the asylum am worth fif-
teen thousand dollars, and because /
have decided my property in trust to my
sister they are now helping to send me
to the asylum"
''Will you fight the case any longer
he was asked.
81 have appealed it to the district
court in Dickinson county" he said
land may stay in the asylum until that
meets don't know whether we will
do anything before that or not. 1 want
to see Mr.. G. w. Hurd first / have all
confidence in Mr.. Hurd and will place
my case inNhis hands, but did not get
a chance to see him before they
brought me away"
The trio took dinner ct the sCremerie
but there was nothing about the alleged
insane man to indicate that he was on
his way to the asylum. To people who
did not know him he appeared as sane
as either of his companions and he
went to the asylum without rernon-
strange. Sheriff Baker, who had him in
charge, said:
Martin is as bright as a dollar about
everything else, but think he is little
off on religion. He is going to the
asylum without opposition and don't
| think he is going to fight the case, al
though he talks about it some. He is
we'll thought of and is well to do He
had farm worth. / suppose, about five
thousand dollars, which he decided to
his sister,
Fred Martin, the Salina brother, is a
well known business man in that town,
and stands well among Salina people.