The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-07-01
mkRTEL CONDEMNED TO DIE.
Slayer Of Elsie Drayten Sentenced to
Electric Chair.

FOliOWed New YORK date line
and the following abridged item:
Edwin 4. Martel was yesto r,lay
sentenced by Judge hinkle to die in
the electric chair during the week OF
March 30. for the murder of his
sweetheart. Elsie Draytol, an artist.
"Martel was engaged 20 be- mar
ri"d 10 Miss Drayton ON the even
ing Of Dec. 81, he called on ner. al
lcgcdly to say goodby before start
inE for Brazil on the Leonard ex-
petition. Mrs. Wigs, janitresS Of
the StuGio building in which Miss
Draytou lived. heard the sounds OF
violent eHar-riing aB 5he passed
along the hall outside Of the vic.
tins apartment.
"She heard Miss Dray'on call out
I'm terror Don't You're killing me"
and altti,5r beard her cry defiant
L.. shoot &C. 60 ahead and shoot
me" iali an hour iate.. Mrs. Wigs,
in her own room, heard piercing
scream, followed almost al once by
n pistol shot.
Rushing out into the street to
summon holp. she returned present
IL with Patrolman O'Brier. just as
Mar;,l, pistol ia haE1, was making
bis escape VI sight Of the Police
man, Mgrtcl rem back into the room.
O'Bricn followed him and, after a
fierce urusglc. succeeded in over
coming the murderer.
"Martel's defense, oddly enough,
was an alibi. II h. established that
the shooting occurred precisely on
the stroke OF midnight. Martel ad-
mitted visiting Miss Draytor on that
evening, but declared he left her
apartment at 1l:40 and did not re-
turn 10 II until 1910. He said he
spent the intervening time at Dor
ley's restaurant with John Leonard
and that he was taking his leave OF
Leonard as the clock struck twelve.
"Mr. Leonard sailed for Brazil at
two in the morning. before Martel
recovered consciousness after his
tussle with the policeman. All eff
forts, by the prisoners attorneys, to
locate Mr.. Leonard have failed. as
he "a IN the 'hinterland,' beyond the
reach of telegraph.
eli "a needless to say, no crodence
vas placed In MartePs remarkable
hlfbi: since all evidence points to
the fact that he did not leave Miss
Drayton's apartment from the mo-
uu.nt ne first entered II. until he at
tempted 10 escape after tho murder
vaa committed. The revolver with
which the victim was killed, bore
MarteIs name carved on the butt.
sGreat credit In due to District At
torney C. NJ. Halloran for his bril-
liant handling of the case. and to
his pretty secretary. Miss Margaret
Craeme, for her really noteworthy
mid in building UP the impregnable
structure OF evidence against the &C
cused."
John Leonard read tho badly
crude article with eyes abulge. He
looked again at the date, then groan-
cd aloud. An hour later he was on
his way TO the nearest town that
had a telegraph ONCE, and thence
post,haste, to the coast.
Margaret Graeme sat In the
library OF her fathers house. A book
Law on her lap. But she was not
reading. fhe-last few months had
mt premature lines into her face
and there was rev look OF melan-
choly-almost OF terror--in her eyes
And thus John Leonard, on his
way uptown from the ship, found
her. She rose TO greet him as he en-
tered the room. But he paid no
heed 10 her timidly outstretcheo
hand or TO her deprecating smile OF
welcome. His first curt words were:
IT am TOO late, NY cabiegram was
DELAYED somehow In BrSril. The
operator went on spree. | suppose.
I find n never reached the district
attorney until this morning. heard,
by wireless, yesterday, OF Edwin
Marters execution"
y DON'T" she shuddered, "Oh, let
me forget IT,"
sForget IT." he said rasplngiy,