The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-12-31

While his right arm was pin
lonasi over his shoulder. and his
neck twisted by y strong arm
from tho rear. Harry Erickson.
chauffeur. fired with his left
hand the shot that killed Jack
Martin. former pugiilst and NJ
legged gang~ter. la Ericksou's
taxicab at ssth ave- n. near Roy
at. two nights ago.
This was Erickson's testimony be
fore a coroners jury assembled at
inquest proceedings in tho county
city building Wednesday.
IN. jury brought II this verdict:
we find that Jack l. Martin came
TO hls death December - by bullet
shot from a revolver In the hand OF
r. J. Erickson. said shot being fired
By Erickson for the defense OF HIM
self from an attack by Martin and
two unknown oonspsrators- We cx
onerate Erickson
The buiie, passed thru Martins
abdomen and came out his back.
After tho second shot. the hold on
Erickson's neck was relaxed. he
testified. and he stumbled 20 the
ground from HIS drivers seat. switch.
Cd the revolver into his right hand
and fired thrice more an he ran to
wards Madison St 10 phone for the
police.
Companions nj Large
Martins two companions, who
escaped while ErickHons gun WAS
Ia Ia
said at the Inquest he doubted II he
would be able 90 identify either Of
them n they were captured
Erickson said he took the three
men into his cab near midnight and
was told TO proceed To 2s,h ave. and
Valley ct. but IL was not until he
reached 2srd ave. that he grew sus.
picious OF his fares.
Il suddenly realized" he said.
that 2sth and Valley II. was a
pretty dark place. had thought
when the three men got into the
cab that one OF them was Jack
Martin. lie had been pointed out to
as the leader OF a gang that had
beaten up several taxi drivers"
lie was not greatly surprised.
then. he said. when. after crossing
Roy st. when he reached down TO
shift gears. he was seized from be
hind. an arm was passed around his
neck while a hand grasped his right
wrist. and some one OF the three
men said:
Shoot him. Shoe; him." as
something that felt like a revolver
barrel was pressed agains, his neck.
Expected TO he Shot
= II expected TO be shot any min.
ute" he testified. Il twisted around
when they told me to turn out my
lights and grasped my revolver
lying on the seat beside me. told
them I'D have TO have one hand
free TO open the door. They had
asked mo to let them out They
freed my left hand l jerked around
and shot into the cab. Then shot
again"
As he ieaped from the cab. he
said, the glass door on the opposite
side was smashed by tho men and
they jumped out as he ran. lie
summoned the police. returned TO
the tcene OF the shooting, where
Martin lay dying and turned over
his revolver to a police officer
you say you knew Martin was
gangster who had beaten up several
taxicab driversy" asked a member OF
the Jury. ibid you ever have him
arrestedg"
mo" replied Erickson. I'VE never
were able 10 get real evidence. He
always had three or four men with
him. while we only had one to tell
our side of the story"
Reads Police Notes
PIN Gertin. police stenogrnpher.
read notes he had taken while Mar
tin lay dying In the city hospital.
Martin said he was unarmcd. and had
never carried a gun In his life. He
refused TO tell the name of his two
companions. denied he had planned
TO hold up Erickson. and said the
whole matter was union trouble, ask.
ing OF his auestioners:
What the hell is thisf Arc you
giving me third degree on my
death bcd7"
What were you doing in the