Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1950-11-24
chlc0go Numbers
King Blostsd by
Gonglund Bullets

last week Of another OF ChicEo'S
numerous ganglNnd blastinEa,
would.bc aRaasHins blistered
his Cadillac with shotgun pellets
and pummcIled Martin four times
wounding him In tho arm. shout.
der and neck.
Now resting at Lorctto hoSpi-
tai, Martin said he knows no reA.
son why anyone would want "a
shoot him, This IL the same state,
ment Martin has given the press
other times when he was victim
OF what many say are "0Angland
attacks"
SO far police have announced
no clues To the shooting There H.
however, much speculation az IA
who "HponBorcd" the bullets,
Most OF the rumors center
around the idea that Martin ID
the victim Of hoodlum attack
because Of hts alleged invasion Of
the south side out of his west side
for policy plums, Others say u IN
the action Of white so-callcd
syndicate" gangatera wanting a
bigger cut In on the lucrative Ne
gro numbers racket.
Martin. himself. has said over
and over again that he has mo-
thing to do with the racketA these
days. lie claims only HIS position
as a west Hide 2sth ward political
power with the Democratic party.
which runs the city.
Carver Of COntrasta
His career in Chicago In marked
by a number Of contrasts IN far
M the law and legal operations
are concerned.
On one hand his II considered a
political and civic leader. On the
other. he IL regarded a. q top
rnckeLeer.
The night he was shot. ne had
Just finished playing bridge At 81
n point at the PoTtsrs and Wait
crs club. bO43 California Ave. on
ChIcago's southwest side. with
David Carey. %. son Of the late
Bishop Archibald J. Carey Br. Of
the AME Church and brother Of
AID. Archibald J. Carey Jr., high
ly regarded minister and civic
leader.
In this same game were John
West, owner Of the club and
Clarence Simpson. q dining car
walter.
Martin, who lives In haywood.
n suburb Of Chicago. was on his
way home when his path was
intercepted by bullets. lie lost
control Of his car, after being
shot. and Il was wrecked.
Active In EIka
Getting back TO Martins past
career he IL 81 years old. On the
civic side he probably IL best
known an one Of Chicago's Elk
leaders. For many years he was
national grand treasurer Of this
order.
A. exalted ruler. he built up the
Fort Dearborn lodge 10 become
the largest In the United States.
Only q few months ago he and
Mrs. Martin were host and hnA-
tess u one Of the most lavish
dinners ever seen In this city at
the Congress hotel In the Loop.
Invited guests were national Of
fcrrS 81 the Eiks and numerous
other city leaders.
WeataIds Power for DcmOs.
In politics he rose 10 the top n
protsge Of the late Pat Nash.
who. with this late Mayor Edward
J. Kelly built up the famed
Krlly-EaSh machine. one u the
most efficient organizations ever
operating In any city. Martin was
rated ono Of the west sides best
vote RettsrS
In business, Martin also reach
ID the heights. He In connected
with the highly reputable Leon
Motifs real estate firm. which he
nov claims In his only business
interest.
His most fabulous enterprise
probably IL his famed Martins
Corner, one Of tho west sides
best known night spots he star
ted out with q pool room at 1900
Lake Street and parisyed II In
10 the famous Corner" Visitors
frun all over the world have come
% "nJoy the city'S night life here.
Connections In Doubt
Although his connections with
the policy racket have never been
determined. II has been accepted
by many that he In the numbers
car on the west side. A. far
bark AZ 1879 he was arrested a.
. policy operator. but nothing
ever came Of u.
In 1870 Everett I. Watson. re-
putsd leader Of DstrOit's policy
game. and his wife, Mrs. Irene
( Watson. were arrested in Martins
hOns on q Detroit warrant. In
i042 Big Jim was indicted along
with about 90 others by q
county grand jury on charges Of
running the numbers, but nothing
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