The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-20
SHOT IN THE EYE.
Mrs. Emily Martin Makes Short
Work of Husband.
Tried to Detain Her and She
Killed Him.
WAS AFRAID OF MAN.
That Is Her Explanation of the
Tragedy.
Miss Emma Gordon Witnessed
Shooting From Window.

Charles Martin, a negro, was shot
and instantly killed about s o'clock last
night by Emily Martin. his wife. The
man and woman had brief quarrel
near the German Catholic church at
Third and Van Buren, streets, which
was ended when the woman shot Mar
tin in the face with a small revolver.
The bullet entered his left eye, killing
him instantly. Martin fell face down.
ward in the snow, and the woman
walked down Van Buren, street to the
home of James Markey 129 Van Buren,
street, where she was employed as a
domestic She was arrested at the
Markey home a few minutes later by
Officer Bob Miller. She admitted kill
ing her husband and gave up the re-
Vclver, small hammerless weapon,
with which she fired the shot She
seemed to be perfectly calm and col
lected, and said she killed Martin in
self-defense.
The only witness to the shooting
was Miss Emma Gordon, daughter of
". i. Gordon Z29 Van Buren,. Miss
Gordon was at the piano near front
window of the parlOr, and saw the two
negroes standing on the sidewalk in
front of the house. Thinking that the
woman was one employed at the Cor
don home, Miss Gordon was about to
call her in to get supper when she saw
her raise a pistol and shoot the man
in the face. Miss Gordon called her
father, who was in the adjoining room
and told him that a man had been shot
in front of the house. Mr.. Gordon went
out and found the negro lying face
downward in the snow, and turned his
head, 50 that he might breathe if still
alive. Martin seemed to be dead, as
he had not moved from the spot where
he fall.
When Miss Gordon first noticed the
negroes in front of the houes, they
seemed to be talking and laughing to-
gether. The man seized the woman by
the arm and attempted to lead her
away. She pulled away from him, and
taking the pistol from her coat pocket,
discharged it in his face and walked
away.
When Dr. H. H. Keith. county cor
oner. searched Martins body, he found
a revolver and some letters The fnd-
ing of the weapon in Martins pocket
may have some weight IN the defense
of the woman, who claims she shot in
self defense.
Martin and his wife came to Topeka
from Maple Hill two months ago, and
separated, the woman going to work
for Mr. Marley. She had started di-
vorce proceedings. and her attorney,
Judge Reed, stated last night that she
had told him on several occasions that
she was afraid her husband would
kill her.
The woman gave her age as II,
when booked at the police station be-
fore being locked Up in the county
jail.
An inquest will be held at Stone
street & Hamilton's undertaking estab-
/ lishment at 4 o'clock this afternoon.
Emma Martin was interviewed in
the county jail this afternoon, and told
a straightforward story of the killing.
She said:
Since I separated from my husband
4 in January he has threatened to kill
me many times He came down to
! Mr. Markey's house. where was
/ working, several times and tried to call
me out to kill me. He made SO many
threats that about a month ago Mr..
Markey gave me the pistol and told
me to give Charley a good scare if he
/ bothered me. Last night I had been
up town on an errand for Mr.. Marley S
sister, and on the way back he fol
lowed me. I hurried up but he over
took me, and at first asked me to &c
/ down on Quincy street with him.
I was afraid, and told him I couldn't
go but I didn't say anything to make
/ him mad for fear he would kill me J
tried to go on, and he grabbed me by
/ the arm I was afraid he was going
to kill me. SO shot him"