Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1910-02-04
WIFE DESERTER
IS IN JAIL
Clyde Otto Lee, Formerly of Pull.
man, Arrested for Deserving
Wife and Baby.

Clyde O. Lee. we'll known in
Pullman. where he formerly work
ed in Blackman Brothers store
and later in the Palace hotel, is
in the county Jail at ColfaX, await
my trial ON a charge Of wife de
aertion. Lee was arrested at Ia
coma, where he was located by
Sheriff Carter and brought back
to Whitman county to answer the
charge which may result in him
being sent to the penitentiary.
The story Of Lees downfall is
an interesting one and shows how
easily a man is led astray by a
designing woman. Lee was mar
ried and had a wife and baby
when he was working at the Pal
ace hotel, first as waiter and later
as night clerk. The baby was born
while he was employed at the no
tel and he seemed as proud Of his
young offspring as most young
fathers are Of their first born.
Then came the tempter and all
was changed.
The woman in the case" was
known as Mrs. Martin. She came
to Pullman with a man by the
name Of Martin, whose wife she
claimed to be. She went to work
at the Artesian hotel as waitress
and her husband was employed in
q local barber shop. Mrs Martin
seemed ladylike and was "A splen-
did worker. Martin worked for a
while and made good until he
got on a drunk and was severely
whipped in a local saloon, after
which he left Pullman and went
to Spokane. Mrs. Martin followed
him a short time later. They next
went to Lewiston, where Martin
again GOT into trouble, and taking
all Of the money his wife had. left
for Spokane. Mrs. Martin, left
without any funds, telephoned to
the proprietor of the Palace no.
tel and asked for work. which
was given her. She paWned her
watch to get money to pay car
fare to Pullman and sent her first
week s wages back to Lewiston to
redeem her watch.
She was put to work in the dim
ing room of the Palace hotel. She
was a splendid waitress, always
appeared ladylike and quiet, was
always neatly dressed and made a
good impression with the other
help and patrons Of the house.
But it was soon seen that Lee was
paying her marked attention and
she seemed perfectly willing to
accept his advances. The proprie-
tor talked with Lee. telling him
of his obligations to his wife and
young baby, and Lee promised to
behave and to "cut out" all at
tentions to the waitress. A few
evenings later the proprietor
caught Lee and Mrs. Martin mis-
behaving and both were dis
charged Lee left town and Mrs.
Martin went to Moscow. 1t is re
ported that they met there and
went 0 Spokane, and soon after
they disappeared. Mrs. Lee was
left without funds and has made
her home with relatives and has
herself and child since
that time. 1t is understood she
has never seen her husband since
he left Pullman nearly three years
ago.
About Is or Is months ago a de
tective came to Pullman looking
for information as to Lee S where
abous. lie had a photograph Of
Lee and Mrs. Martin. He said they
were believed to be guilty of
" fleeing" an old man out Of 81
600 or $4,000, near Walla Walla.
The detective stopped at the Ar
tesian hotel for week or more,
but failed to find any trail that
would lead to the location of Lee
and Mrs. Martin at that time. A
warrant for Lees Arrest was placed
in the hands of Sheriff Ratliff,
but the latter failed to get Lee.
Sheriff Carter took up the trail
and has been working patiently to
find his man and at last sue
ceeded.
1t is said that Lee and Mrs. Mar
tin had been together at Tacoma
Lee was well dressed, having a
$40 tailor made suit. and seemed