The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-12
HAS PERCY MARTIN
BEEN IN PRISON ?.
Tennessee Authorities Write That
Train-Robbcr Was in Their
Custody Three Years.
TELLS OF HIS FAMILY
Says He Will Take His Medicine
Like a Man and Will Be a
Good Citizen.
TELLS OF HIS FAMILY

fs,pecIaI to Tic Times. pi.pat.ii !,


Especial to The Times. Di.patsf)
BOYDTON, VA, January 1.-THE most
sensational incident yet occurring since
the arrest of Percy Martin in connection
with the train robbery leaked out here
late this afternoon. A letter came to-day
addressed to Sheriff Bcales from the au-
thorit!es OF Tennessee, enclosing pic
ture of Martin, which Is said to be n
good likeness of the prisoner. This letter
stated that Percy Martin had served a
term Of three years In tho penitentiary
Of Tennessee. Your correspondent tried
In vain to get a look at the letter.
This new phase of the case Will lessen
the sympathy felt here for the prisoner,
who has been looked upon as misguided
youth. who, In an evil hour. had been
tempted and fallen.
Promises to Be Good.
Martin WINS visited by Your corre-
spondent this morning in the Jail. He
occupied last night tho same cell which
Powley was taken from yesterday. He
had requested the sheriff not to allow
any ono to como in unless 1t was some
one who had something for him, but as
soon ms tho sheriff informed him that
was newspaper man, he said It was
all right, and 1 was admitted. The pris-
oner was dressed nicely, wearing blue
bore the name OF the Union News in
raised letters. He looked quite hand
some and was very gentlemanly in his
bearing. He has become composed, and
alked calmly and without the slightest
signs OF emotion. He said no was mar
ried about sixteen months ago to Miss
z. ]. Chambers. OF Huntingdon: that
he was the son OF 3. ]. Martin. of At
lanta. Ga, an ex-Confederate soldier.
His mother WAS Miss Boone. He was
educated Mt the common schools of At
lanta, and went out as a rewsboy at the
nge OF thirteen. and had travelled on
nearly all the roads Of the South.
For the last three years he has re-
sided in Huntington, W. Va. He has
brother living in Atlanta In the furniture
business, with whom his parents live
Another brother. who is assistant divi-
sion superintendent of the metropolitan
Life Insurance Company, and lives In
st. Louis. Two more brothers are farm
ers living in Southwest Georgia. He
said he had no children and that he was
the youngest or ten children. He had
been drinking heavily before the crime
was committed on the Seaboard. and
Just before the daring act began he
drank half pint OF whiskey and was
crazed from this, coupled with financial
and other troubles.
He said he would have some OF the
best citizens OF West Virginia here who
would testify ut his trial as TO his char
acter and habits Of life heretofore.
WHILE ,he, said, II expect to be pun
ished, am going TO appeal Cor mercy"
He expressed much gratitude for tho
kindness shown him by the police and
Detective Baldwin. but said he was
especially grateful to tho people here
for kindnesses.
II expect to be punished" he added,
"and / will take 1t like n man, and
when my term OF service IS over 1 VIII
be good American citizen and believe
In Cod
He has not heard from his wife since
he left her, nor any of his family. The
greatest source of sorrow to him was
the thought of the wrong he had done
his wife, and the trouble 1t will cause
her.
He said he had been misrepresented
by the newspaper correspondent in as
sooiating Powley with him in the rob-
berry. He had never connected him In
any way whatever with the crime.