Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-09
MRS. MARTINS VAGARIES
Portrayed BY Witnesses In Snead Case
At Newark, N. J.

New York, Nov. "A graphic con-
trast was drawn yesterday between
the slender, stylish young woman of
40 years ago and the shapeless mass
of black swathed in wells, which hud
died in Judge Ten Gyck's court III
Newark, n. j., listening to the pro-
ceedingS to determine whether Mrs.
Caroline 3. Martin is sane enough to
stand trial. She is charged with the
murder of her daughter, Ocey Ward
law Snead. a year ago.
The chief witness of the day was the
NounScSt sister of the woman OF trial,
Mrs. Bessie Spindle, of Christiansburg,
Va. Her story was a recital of a tur-
bulent and unhappy life which had
wrecked its own happiness. Mrs. Spin
die pears a marked resemblance to
Ocey Snead.
Aged Mrs. Martin in the morning had
interrupted the courts proceedings by
rising and calling out in contradiction
of g witness. But during Mrs. Spin
dies two hours of testimony the pris-
oner sat motionless, without unclasp-
ing her hands or moving her gaze from
her sister.
"She said she had raised the family
to the level upon which it STOOD" tes-
titled Mrs. Spindle: that she had made
terrible sacrifices for it; that she was
tire arbter Of it's destinies, and that
my very hope of heaven rested in her
"She was about &c when l first re-
member her" went on Mrs. Spindle,
who is 20 years Mrs. Martins junior.
n slender young woman with COM
polling eyes and strong, resolute
4 -, r,,l hot,
| nave ever seen. and every one spoke
of her lovely hands. She was teaching
in Fashionable boarding schools in New
York ard making ii great deal of mon
ey. She spent il lavishly, staying at
expensive hotels and wearing fine
clothes One Christmas when She heard
me say | wanted a workboX she sent
me five or eight"
In 1850. just before Caroline's mar
ri1ge, Mrs Spindle came down to
ChristianburS. She said her brother
John and her aunt, Mrs. Ocey Pollock.
participated in some terrible scenes"
iirs Pollock walked the floor all night
and Mrs. Martin sat weeping and
wrE9ine her hands. Mr.. Wardlaw's
death was FASTENED thereby. 1t was not
brought out what caused such a family
anguish.
In 1885, Mrs. Spindle sa,n, sine and her
father were in the library of their home
at OSlethorpe. Ga. when the door opened
and Mrs. Martin appeared. She wanted
WardlaWS consent to her mother visit
ing her. The mother and Mrs. Spindle
came up to the house at No. 81 East 3Sth
street, for which Mrs Martin was paying
$500 a month.
Caroline was greatly changed" Mrs.
Spindle went on, land began to neglect
herself In the schoolroom her manner
was of exalted enthusiasm, but when she
came home she would collapse. Often
she went out on snowy days without un-
dcrclothing, and it was not because she
did not have the money, because she was
supposed to be making $500 or $4,000
| year.
Her manner was extremely irritable
and very dominant. She demanded i'm
picit obedience and declared that her
| Judgment was infallihle.
! Bessie, her mother and Mrs. Martin
went South in July of that year, and Bes-
sic became Mrs. Spindle in August. On
| the wedding morning Mrs. Martin de-
manded that her sister sign a release for
| 5000 that had been lent to Mrs. Martin.
There was a violent scene in which Mrs
! Martin cried that the money belonged to
| her by Divine right of dictatorship; in
fact. everything in the family belonged
to her. Mrs Spindle unwillingly signed
| the release.
| In 1902. Mrs. Spindle said that Mrs.
| Martin suddenly appeared at her mousse
| to consult her husband and was asked
| to spend the night She stayed seven
months. Her room was distresslngly
untidy She claimed ownership of all
| Mrs Spindle's books, pictures ana
other gifts. asserting: You would not
| have had the friends to give them to
you if it had not been for me-
When Mrs. Spindle asked her to end
her visit she refused and said she was
being turned into the street, though
she had her college work and pension
of a hundred dollars month. At that
time Mrs. Spindle contemplated hav-
ing Mrs. Martin put in an asylum. but
did not carry out the idea.
| She has made frantic appeals to me
, for help in this case" said the sister.
She begged me to get witnesses for
/ ner, Dut could not get nef 10 give me
Il single name. She wanted me to ap-
peal to Mrs. Russell Sage, Helen Gould
and Mrs. Burton Harrison.
The switchboard over the settee in
the visitors room. she says. is a
sounding beard, with tube back of it
and a detective at the end. She says
it is impossible for her to get justic
here: that Mr.. Mott has received $780,
600 from the Legislature, and Mr.
Hood $4,000 from the insurance COM
panies. and her counsel have BETRAYED
her
|, The Rev. Mr.. Albert. Wardlaw, pas
tor of the Presbyterian church at
!Christiansburg. corroborated part of
Mrs. Spindle's testimony. 1t was
brought out that several members Of