The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-24
Wife Slayer; In CouatyJaiL, Bares Story
OfEDents Leading Up to Murder of Wife,
He Wantedto Settle own andHaueH Home
'Martindale PhIegmaticalIy
ReCounts Events Leading to
Staying of WifeTelIs
of Deed Itself.
TELLS TALE, SHOT BY SHOT
Friends Intend to Get Attor-
ney for Him, Although He
Says He Does Not
\ Need One.
fBY ERNEST Q. TAYLoR.)

Icy ERNEST q. TAYLOH.)
~ he paxed out upon the world
from steel-barred corridor Of the
county Iail Friday afternoon, "A. n.
MartIndaie, who fired four shots .
Ato his wIfe's body less than TWEEN.
yrfour hours before, declared to
}yailer Charles Whiteomb, Book
Keeper AZ 3. Miller and 2 News re-
The statement was made with little
show Of emotion. but the young mar
looked frankly into the faces of those
before him and there was a note .oi
enfDhasis In his tone. ~
He said he met and went with his
wife just three months before the sol
emn words were said that united then
in the bonds OF matrimony. His de-
sire as he outlined It, was TO settle
down and have a home. He was young
and the w9rld lay before hin N,
Their married life was next traced
down to the killing itself. Martindaie
charged that soon after they went 70
Macon, Ga. last winter to live his wife
returned to Chattanooga and when he
came hack he found that Noah" Dod-
son. news butch. had been attentive
to her, He explained that he told her
he was going to leave for good and
returned to Macon. While he was there
a telegram came to him signed Doc
the effect that Mrs. Niartindale had
been seriously injured In an auto acci-
dent and wanted him to come at once.
He did not do SO.
The young man claimed several let
and that In these she signified her in
tention OF doing the right thing. joining
the church and living true to him.
x " Charges Infldelity.
I'VE were never separated until six
weeks ago." he declared. That was
..,l,. frh hAr nd ~
gether. y She said she was going to
Memphis because he was q news butch
between here and that city. asked
her to wait until got a divorce and
would leave town. According 70
Martindale's statement his fight with
Dodson was on Friday, the thirteenth
day OF the month.
In regard to the trouble in. the Bris-
-Heibeck store Wednesday after
noon, he said he asked her II she was
buying collars for the other man and
she told him she was. He stated
that she asked a clerk for a box 70,
mail the collars in,
Msrfindaie admitted that he Slapped
her twlcg, put denied ltnocking her
down. claiming she stumbled over 2
He calmly told of going to her office
In the James building. When she
looked up and saw him tho asked her
to come in, he said, and she told him
she would not do H.. He then asked
rant and she told him to go on and
quit bothering her.
II shot her once as she started 70
run, once as she went down the nall,
and | was close to her when. l hred
the last two shots. She begged. Don't
let him shoot me-.
my friends know tried to treat her
right. was trying to live right my
self and felt that she should 10 .he
Msrtindale made more than one
startling accusation against his dead
He said that he was planning to sue
for divorce and believed he couid
have gotten n 1re; o. mother.
His father died two years ago, he
statod. and his mother. who lives IN
lsheyille, N. c., has never gotten over
II, Asked II any message had been sent
to homefoiks. he said he started Inurs-
day night to sit down and write ms
mother all about 1t, as he had told ner
before that he was having some troupie
with his wife. He felt that she Wouiu
be greatly worried and grieveo 70 kiow
that her boy was in Jail on such
charge. ~ 4ty%Ase sl.sf4N
Martindale Is the eldest OF four broth
ers. He has three sisters, one OF whom
is married. According TO his statement.
he has been away from home much Of
the time since he was boy. He is only
"a years old.
Wants Early Trial.
He was interested to know that the
grand Jury had been called to meet In
social session to take up his case and
seemed to be relieved TO know he would
be given an early trial.
The wife slayer Is rather tall, far
and. light-haired. He has
blue eyes and a pleasing face.
AS nc told his story to the jail OIL
Gals and newspaper man prisoners IN
the long row of cells were eager listen
ers.
While realizing the awfulness of the
crime. Martinduie wanted the people to
know what he termed the facts lead
ing up TO the tragedy.
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