The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-02-01
IN INCIDENT
N SOCIETY
Strange Case of Mrs. Martin
in Boston.
FATHER DISOWNS BABE
Intelligent Woman Struggles
Alone Only to Fall.


activity that we cannot tell where ths
working of the intellect leave off and
where begin the decisions of bysteria
a woman with past that is grim, tragic
and tumultuous-now a lonely girl on
Prince Edward Island now Washington
newspaper correspondent, now associat-
ing with the ra-altruistic sects of Lon
don, now teaching English to the chill
dren of French princes-these are but a
few of the signposts to a study of the
character of Mrs. John Mcleod Martin,
who is now trying TO prove to Commits
sioner Lederle of the Board of Health
that her husband is wrong when he as
serts that her alleged child is spur
ious,". to prove that a certain little pink
checked baby. the only tangible bit of
evidence in a mass of contradiction, is
their own.
This case, which began with the appli-
cation of DR.. Mcleod Martin, of Boston,
for a permit to have stricken from the
Health Board records the certificate of
birth of his wife's alleged child, is one of
tn emost remarkable in the history of the
Board of Health. Far more unusual than
the mere facts in the case is the charac-
ter of the persons concerned. AS for
these facts they are, in brief las follows:
DR. Martin and his wife, after three years
of unhappy married life, separated in
Boston last spring by mutual consent
and agreed to live apart for five years.
Mrs. Martin came to New York and here.
on June q, she swears. her child was
born. Her husband did not learn of the
alleged birth until some days later. When
he last saw her in May, he testifies,>
there was no indication that she was to
have a child. A physician of considerable
standing has testified that he examined
Mrs. Martin between the 9Th and 18th
of June, and that she then had no in
dication whatever of pregnancy. Against
this so Mrs. Martins counsel has as
sured Dr. Lederle, he will bring the tes-
timony of the midwife and another wo
man who were present at the child's
alleged birth, and of the doctor who
arrived within half an hour. Against
this, too, has already been set Mrs. Mar
tins own extraordinary story, told, now
in tears and hysterical sobs, now in the
calm. cold, but chosen diction Of one
who has given more than ordinary care
and natural gifts to the study of words.
The woman is thus put by the irony
of fate or by her own unfathomable &C
tions in a position apparently so little
to be expected was born in Prince Ed
ward Island some forty odd years ago.
Age has hardened rather than withered
the strong and aggressive outlines of her
features. In repose her face has the
dull, dead lines of care and despair, but
when it lights up with a sudden flash
at some shap turn of phrase or some
vivid recollection, it reveals the magne-
tism that it once had and still in a de-
gree possesses She was married and
had a child, a son now grown. and then
she became widow. During this period,
as she tells it, Il did what came to my
hand to do. i was Washington corre-
spondent for a Canadian paper. l taught
and lectured. / had much to do with var
ious experiments in improving the Cana
dian schools, partly as lecturer. partly
in committee with the Premier himself.
In 1883 she met DIR. Martin. The strange
but youthful manner of their courtship
is told in the fact that they were not
married until 1899 and until after Mar
tin had gone to England with these
parting words:
You are going where the voices are
softer than ours The women you will
meet will have softer speech and softer
ways than mine You may consider your
self perfectly free"
Il considered said Mrs. Martin, lift
ing her shoulders with a certain tired
motion peculiar to her, that 1 was en-
gagged
Presently she Joined him in England
and they were married. he had his medi-
cal education yet to complete. Neither
had money. Mrs. Martin obtained en-
ployment, and, as her story goes. at
each weeks end she gave him the pounds
Of her salary and she kept only the pence.
Russell Square, ''Hemstead Heath
Trafalgar Square" ''Lincoln's Inn
Fields" and other names to conjure with
recur frequently in this part of her story
Finally the-doctor got an appointment
as ships doctor on a P. & o. boat Mrs.
Martin remained in London and worked.
She fell in with all sorts and conditions
Of strange people who saw strange Vi
sions. Now she taught in the schools
hat were established for the lower mid.
Gle classes now she worked in running
4 soup kitchen. Once she fell in with
Mrs. Blank. IAN altru.stic person." eN-
planned Mrs. Martin. Il learned after
ward that she was prominent among the
London Nihilists'' Little was heard
rom DR.. Martin. Letters came scarcely
II all But only a little. and Il had TO
get more work 1t was somewhere across
he city. 1 do not remember where. I
know it took two bis rides to get there
IF about fifty minutes each From Lon
lon Mrs. Martin went TO Paris as a teach /
n for the BerlItz School Of Languages.
I did quite well The Countess Mar
I'M particularly helped re. II was
through her that 1 became teacher of
he children of Prince Barrapsrte-"
Dr. Martin finally returned 70 London
md the pair came back 10 this country
ana settled down in Boston. The Doctors
practice came slowly. Mrs. Martin was
allowed. she said. almost no money. Il
had 10 ask for Il Eve. six times l !
nave never heard the doctor swear at /
anything except when he swcre at me-
Then came the Doctors sister 20 live in /
he same house. Things Only grew worse |
Were there almost daily Qusrrelse
asked Mrs Martins lawyer. at this point. /
Without the almost replied Mrs /
Martin. and then. lifting her shoulders |
Is before Quite daily
There was -rOrs talk Of employment !
md Mrs. Martin finally secured Il CT z /
publishing house The doctor
lne day came 20 her wssh az agreement !
iraxn up BY his lawyer II provided fo- |
/ separation. the wife 10 give up al |!
,laiI-as OF dowry- Mrs Martin took Il. /
cad IL. mastered the legal terms. and !
irew up an agreement of her own. rnodi- |
king her ftlSha nd 9 demands That Is her