Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-01-17

battery case had been decided against
him. William Martin. % years old,
son of A. l.. Martin, the well known
restaurant keeper on East Martin
street, made 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 maddened young man made
q similar attempt at the life of Rob
ert S. Thompson who happened to be
in his brothers office at the time, a
shocking tragedy being only ayerted
by Martins bad aim.
About 430 O'Clock in the afternoon
H. 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
dBOut lilt pave htitit'Ah'h bthr AihNa4hA
a second time, but which the customer
resented Then Martin picked up a
pop bottle and struck Wilmington on
the head with it. The latter then
pitched into the young man and gave
him a thrashing. Smarting under
his defeat II the aucaVnter, Martin
swore out warrant for the arrest of
Wilmington before Justice Lloyd for
beating him out of 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 $40 on him, the added costs
making $1410 in all, This was about
545 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 aud said
he would appeal the case to court.
Justice Thompson replied he could do
so by giving a bond of $50 for his
appearance 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 to 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 We're 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 re-
volver from his overcoat pocket and
with an oath Kissed, you - ---
- will fix you" shot point blank
at Justice Thompson, who stood not
more than four feet away. The bullet
missed him, however, and striking a
side glass in the front window at a
glance, imbedded itself in the window
frame. AS the Justice stepped back
and picked up chair with which TO
defend himself. Martin deliberately
shot at him the second time; but
again the bullet went wild and pass
ed out the open door through which
Martins friend Shaffer had made a
hasty exit at the first crack of the
nistol. Mr. Ben Thompson was stand
ing right in line of both shots at his
his brother, and narrowly missed be
ing hit.
At this juneture Mr. Robert Thomp
son. who was standing near the stove
bravely made rush at Martin before
he had time to fire a third shot and
graphing the murderous assailant