The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-09-11
EXILE BAN
WAS LIFTED
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily r.
After being an exile from home for
twenty-six years, j. ID. Martin. better
known as Jack Martin. the auction
GER" may again visit his old home In
Ireland. The story Of Mr.. Martins
exile is an interesting one and begins
in 1884. when he enlisted in the One
Hundred and Third Royal Dublin
Fusileers. He served as a non-com-
missioned officer and drill master.
In 1885 after the English had bonn
barded Alexandria in Egypt the regi.
ment was ordered to Egypt, and Mr.
Martin served eight months in Africa.
The regiment was then ordered back
10 England. and he with 40 men OF
a detachment OF 400 returned TO the
homeland. serving In England and
Ireland. At the time there was much
political turmoil in Ireland, and Mr..
Martin with many other Irishmen
belonged TO organizations which
were not in sympathy with the poll.
cies OF the English government.
Government Became Strict.
The government became very strict
about these organizations. and all
soldiers were forbidden membership
in them II was not long before
Mr. Martin with many other men,
bers of his regiment found that they
were suspected OF belonging to one
OF the societies, and to save them
selves from punishment they left
the army without ceremony. knowing
that il would go hard with them II
they were proved to belong to any
organization which was not in SYM
pathy with the government.
He left the army on May Is, 1887,
and several other soldiers who left
AZ the same time were captured.
lingar. which is located in the cen
trail part of Ireland. and Mr.. Martin
made his way TO England, where he
remained until May. 1883. He came
To america then. and has been in
this country ever since.
Wanted TO 90 to Canada.
4 number OF years ago when IVES
tern Canada began TO take on new
life. Mr.. Martin wanted TO go into
that country to sell some horses. lie
thought IL would be taking too long
a chance to 90 without first securing
a release from army service. He in
terested Il lawyer in Winnipeg. who
took the matter up with Lord Mimic.
then governor general Of Canada.
lie in turn communicated with the
home war office in London. and Mr..
Martin was refused permission TO
enter Canada.
At the time. of the Dublin exposi-
ton. Mr. Martin particularly wished
TO visit his old home in Ireland.
Through the congressman OF his dis
trict. 4. J. Nolstead OF Granite Falls.
the matter was taken up with Presi-
dent Roosevelt. and in turn with
Whitelaw Reid, who was the am
bassador 10 England. The request
for a three months parole was re-
fused
Interested John Redmond.
About two months before the Eu-
ropean war broke out Mr. Martin
tried again TO secure a release He
wrote TO John Redmond. a member
OF the British parliament from Ire
land. Mr.. Redmond wrote to Mr..
Martin asking for all the particulars
regarding his service. and his life
since that time. After some delay
caused by the war Mr. Martin re-
Ceived on Saturday a release from
his obligation to the British govern
ment. The release Is signed by
T. e. Beatson. brigadier general and
director OF personal service OF the
English war department.
The certificate state: The bearer
hereof. Private John Martin. a de-
serter from the Royal Dublin Fus-
sileers. Is not claimed for service in
his majesty's army. by authority OF
the army council. lie Is therefore
not liable hereafter toarrest or sus-
picion of being a deserter."
Served With Bengal Tigers.
The regiment to which Mr.. Martin
belonged was known as The Bengal
Tigers" and later served in the Afri-
can campaign in a way that made II
recognized all over the world. In
the Spanish-American war Mr.. Mar
tin was a volunteer In a Marshall,
Mimi. company which was ready to
see service. but which was not called
upon. He has been citizen OF th@
United States for many years. and
although his release from the Brit
ish war department is a great sat
islaCtion to him. II will In no way
lessen his allegiance TO the United
States government Mr.. Martin
hopes to be able TO visit Ireland
next year.