Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-26
DECEIVES WIFE
AND RUNS AWAY
ELOPES WITH TRUSTING
YOUNG GIRL
MAN WHO CONFESSED HIS BAD
RECORD RUINS HOMES
Motorman with Several Names Draws
Pay, Kisses Family Goodbye
and Leads Sweetheart to
False Marriage

After kissing his wife and three
children good bye and leaving his home
ostensibly to go to work, Martin Nc
Mullen, a motorman living at 44S South
Savannah street, eloped with Hazel
George, II years old, of 1925 West
TWenty-third street, The couple went
to Long Beach, where mock mar
riage was performed, returned to Los
Angeles and informed the girls moth
er that they We're married, then dis
appeared.
The deserted wife made inquiry when
her husband failed to return home and
learned that Markham, who also Is
known as H. A. Markham, alias Harry
H. McMullen, visited the street car
company offices and drew $50 salary
after stating that his wife had died in
Ell Paso, and that it was necessary for
him to have the money and leave or
absence.
Mrs. McMullen then went to the
bank where her husband kept his
money and learned that Markham or
McMullen had drawn his balance of
500. She reported the matter to the
police and sWore to a complaint charg-
ing Markham or McMullen with
abandonment, a felony.
Detectives Hosck and Zeigler were
detailed on the case and learned that
Markham had been quite friendly with
the George girl. Following this clew
they visited the home of the girls par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. r. d. George, and
learned that Hazel and Markham had
gone to Long Beach Friday and went
through an alleged marriage ceremony.
The girl is alleged to have told her
mother they had the marriage cere-
mony performed and were going away
rI,- he
last time they are reported seen in Los
Angeles.
According to the story of the de-
serted wife to the police she met
Markham in Ell Paso. At that time
she was a widow with three children.
After short courtship she consented
to marry him, and before the wedding
occurred he told her that his real name
was Markham; that he formerly lived
at Memphis Tenn, where he was di-
Vorced from a former wife.
Markham also told her that he was
compelled to leave Memphis because he
had almost chopped a mans head off
and would have to stay away until the
affair was forgotten. He told her he
would marry her under his right name
when the trouble was settled.
The couple came to Los Angeles some
time ago, where Markham, who is a
mechanical engineer, obtained employ
ment as a motOrman for the Pacific
Electric company.
In the course of his work, Markham
met Pretty Hazel George. He became
a frequent visitor at the home of the
girl and her parents, who did not sus-
pect that Markham was a married
man, Sffered no objection to his atten-
tions to their daughter.
Believe Marriage a "Fake"
The detectives found no marriage IL
cense had been issued to Markham and
are positive that he had accomplices
who impersonated a minister or a JUS
tice of the peace and went through a
fake ceremony.
The wife of Markham is almost pros
trated with grief and the parents of
the girl are doing everything in their
power to find their daughter and the
man who wrecked the happiness of two
homes.
The detectives are working on a clew
to the effect that Markham and the
girl are on their way north and printed
circulars with the pictures of the
couple are being sent broadcast
Markham is 81 years old, feet s
inches in height and weighs about 1873
pounds. He is smooth shaven, has
brown hair and long teeth with gold
in the upper ones. When last seen he
was wearing a light brown suit, PAN
anna hat and black shoes.
McMullens father is superintendent
of the Memphis Coffin factory at Mem
phis Tennessee.