Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-01-18

Angered because an assault and
battery case had been decided against
him, William Martin, 20 years old,
SOL OF A. L. Martin, the well known
restaurant keeper on East Martin
street, made a dastardly attempt to
kill Justice of the Peace Harry S.
Thompson in the latter's Office about
6.15 o'clock Wednesday evening. And
before he was overpowered and the
smoking pistol wrenched from his
grasp the m%addened young man made
a similar attempt at the life of Rob-
ert S. Thompson who happened to be
in his brothers Office at the time, q
shocking tragedy being only ayerted
by Martins bad aim.
About 4.30 o'clock in the afternoon
III c. Wilmington, from about Bar
dane, Jefferson county, went into
Martins restaurant for something TO
eat. paying for his order in advance,
he says. When he started TO go out,
William Martin, who helps his father
about the place, demanded payment
a second time, but which the customer
resented. Then Martin picked mp a
pop bottle and struck Wilmington on
the head with ii. The latter then
pitched into the young man and gave
him a thrashing. Smarting under
his defeat in the encounter, Martin
swore out a warrant for the arrest of
Wilmington before Justice Lloyd for
beating him out of a meal, but the
case was shortly afterwards dismiss
ed.
Wilmington then had Martin arrest
ed for assaulting him, and the case
was heard before Justice Thompson,
who found Martin guilty and imposed
a fine of SO on him, the added costs
making $14.10 in all. This was about
5.45 p. m.
The sentence of the Justice set Mar
tin furious. He cursed and swore
and said he got a dirty deal" He
fatty refused TO pay the fine and said
he would appeal the case to court,
Justice Thompson replied he could do
SO by giving a bond of $50 for his
%peara at court. After signing
the bond Martin said he wouldn't
bother with a bond but would put up
the $50 instead and, with the permits
sion of the Justice, went to his home
on West King street t. get it.
Martin returned to Justice Thomp-
sons office in about half an hour, ac-
companied by Vivian Shaffer. When
he entered, the Justice and two of his
brothers. Robert S. and Ben. J. Thomp
son were sitting there talking. Mar
tin walked up to Justice Thompson's
desk and renewed his abuse, being
in an uglier mood than he was before.
The Justice tried to reason with Mar
tin, but that seemed to make him all
the angrier. But the climax was
reached when Justice Thompson tele'
phoned for an officer to come and take
Martin away. BY this time the jus
tice had gotten around in front of his
desk with his back to the front door
and Martin standing nearly behind it
Suddenly Martin whipped out a re
volver from his overcoat pocket and
with an oath Kissed, you " 49,
- will fix YOU shot point blank
at Justice Thompson, who stood not
more than four feet away. The bullet
missed him, however, and striking 8
side glass in the front window at
glance. imbedded itself in the window
frame. AS the Justice stepped bach
and picked up a chair with which to
defend himself, Martin deliberately
shot at him the second time; bui
again the bullet went wild and pass
ed out the open door through which
Martins friend Shaffer had made I
hasty exit at the first crack of the
pistol. Mr., Ben Thompson was stand
ing right In line of both shots at hi
his brother. and narrowly missed be
ing hit.
AT this iu%ncture Mr.. Robert Thomp
son, who was standing near the stove
brayely made a rush at Martin before
he had time to fire a third shot and
graphing the murderous a~ssailant