Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1911-06-23

Quarrel Over Woman Wanting to Give Her Son a
Lunch Responsible for the Deed
COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS WRITTEN Confession
Preliminary Hearing VIII b Given the Wife Murderer
Next Wednesday Afternoon

A most atrocious murder was com:
mltted Sunday evening shortly after
seven o'clock when Theodore Martin.
living one and one half miles north OF
Gravelville, shot and killed his wife.
The shooting resulted from quarrel
over lunch which Mrs Martin wished
to give her son, who was making her
visit. There were three shots fired,
one taking effect, it is supposed, as the
woman was standing near the door,
the bullet, which was a 30-30 steel
jacketed shot from "a Winchete1 rife,
pierced the body from side to side in
the region of the abdomen, going
through the open door and through
the cupboard, one other while she
was falling piercing the right side Of
the head near the ear, and tearing
away the left ear, and third when
she bad fallen which entered the left
shoulder, and tore across the chest.
It is said that the prisoner stated that
he snot his wife once, and then shot
twice more to put her out of misery,
but did not know whether he hit her
two or three times.
Immediately after the tragedy, Mar
tin haled Christ Johnson, a neighbor,
and an uncle of Mrs. Martin g children,
and after telling him of the deed, de-
cided that he had better come in with
Mr.. johnson and give himself up. ne
stating that his ungovernable temper
was responsible for the murder, and
that he was sorry for what had hap
pened.
As soon as he was brought in he was
searched. there being 81, 067.85 on his
person. It is said that he admitted
everything to Sheriff Armstrong and
County Attorney Cameron, who togeth-
or with Undertaken Harting went i'm
med1atley to the scene of the crime
and brought in the remains Of the un.
fortunate woman Martin at first OBJ
jected to paying the ,funeFa4~ expenses
saying that he had worked hard for
what he had.
Monday morning the prisoner made
a complete written and signed confes.
sion to County Attorney Cameron and
in it claims no justification for the deed
Theodore Martin is the eldest son of
Martin Christianson of this city and is
A years of age and has been a resi-
dent OF Morrison county for forty
years. He is a man of small stature,
and very stoop shouldered, and has an
expressionless face. He is not spoken
highly of by bis neighbors, his fault
being his high temper and penurious-
ness. He married the murdered wo.
man about seven years ago, who was
a widow Of SEVERN johnson, she hav-
ing four children, whose ages are now
James, II; Madrid, Is; Edward, 12;
and Ruth 10. Nothing but the high
est OF praise is heard of Mrs. johnson
from her acquaintances. She was q
small woman, q hard worker and of
excellent reputation.
Tie couple had Quarreled a great
deal, mostly over the children. 1t is
also said that much trouble was caused
over the fact that Mrs. Martin refused
to turn over the farm to her husband,
she having become owner after the
death of her first husband. Mrs. Mar
tin was 43 years OF age.
The matter as related by Christ John
son. which is practically corroborated
by James and brother, Edward, is as
follows:
On the evening in question he with
his family were coming from Little
Falls, when he met Madrid, the Is
year-old daughter, about Is rods from
the house. who said II believe that pa
shot ma The girl was taken in to
the rig and they proceeded up the
road. When opposite the Martin house
Martin called three times Gone over,
want to see you in a rather angry
tone, Mr.. johnson being little leary,
not acting Immediately. He finally
went toward the house, when the fol-
lowing conversation took place:
Martin-l killed my wife.
Johnson-Did you?
Martini shot her.
Johnson-That is too bad, YOU
should not have done that.
Martin-YOu know I have such q hot
temper, so couldn't control myself.
Come IN and see her,
johnson went as far as the door and
saw her lying on the floor, and saw
blood coming from wounds in her head
and body. The other children had
run to different parts OF the farm when
the quarrel was in progress.
Mr.. johnson then went to his own
home, Martin following at a slight
distance, the folks barring the doors.
| 90 WY "oA0 'oAy "uCu lI12EL6ueu.
Martin had seated himsele short dis
tance from the house and was crying
when johnson went out and questioned
him. =.
CORRESPONDENCE are You going to do
Theodore? Would you come down to
the sheriff and give yourself up? If so,
will take you down. h.,
Martin-Don' make much difference
whether the sheriff comes or you take
me down? ,~z 81
Johnson-lf you will go down, I will
get the horse and rig
They then returned to the Martin
place where Martin caught the horse,
.s,~.. . ~-.s. :@. = -. :. ss.