TTV MORNING- OREGOXIAX. WEDNESDAY, MAT 6, 1908.
HUSBAND ACCUSED
by
Dramatically Confronted With
Bloody Deed in Front of
Wolff -Pawnshop.
WIFE TELLS HER STORY
Injuries and Change of Clothing
Made by Martin on JTlght of the
Crime Arouse Suspicions
of His Wife.
Pausing at the scene of the atro
cious murder of Nathan. Wolff while on
their way to high mass at the cathe
dral Sunday morning. Mrs. Edward K.
Martin accused her husband of the
crime. Circumstances having: aroused
her suspicions, the unhappy woman
chose a course that would lead them
directly past the Wolff pawnshop on
the way to mass. There was a crowd
about the entrance at the time, and
they had to veer Into the street In
order to pass. When directly In front
of the store Mrs. Martin stopped. Mar
tin did likewise. Placing;' herself
squarely In front of the man, so she
could watch the play of his expression,
Mrs. Martin said:
"Are you sure that It was not you
killed this man"'
'God, no!" exclaimed Martin. "And
If I thought for a minute that you
thought so. I would Jump in the river."
Martin showed no feeling; when the
subject was thus brought up to him,
although earlier In the morning he
had denounced the murder as a horrible
thing, saying the man who could com
mit such a crime must be a brute of tie
lowest type. With hi wife, he con
tinued leisurely on to mass, and re
mained devoutly through the service,
returning home with her at the conclu
sion. Loath to Believe Guilt.
Mrs. Martin's experiences of the past
few days have been trying ones. Used
to the weaknesses of a once dependable
husband. she was at first loatbto be
lieve, even in the face of accusing cir
cumstances, that her husband could dn
uch a thing. He had never been wil
fully brutal to her. and she knew of
nothing In his past that would make
her believe him capable of doing such
a thing.
According to the story which she told
the detectives at her home yesterday
morning, while they were searching
high and low for the suspected man,
her first suspicion occurred when she
read of the dastardly crime in The Ore
gonlan Saturday morning. She recalled
with a start, as she read of the blood
stains and the evidence of a struggle,
that her husband reached home at mid
night the night of the tragedy, with
his face and head cut and scratched,
and that he wore a different suit from
the one in which he left home Friday
morning.
Martin was seemingly cool and col
lected when he did get home at mid
night. When Mrs. Martin asked him
what had happened to him, he told in
a 'quiet way of having been attacked
by highwaymen and beaten over the
head with a revolver. Familiar as she
was with his numeirous escapades, she
refused to believe amy such story, and
demanded to know the cause of his
injuries.
"Well, the fact is, I was in a little
game of poker with tie boys, and some
talk came up, and I was hit over the
head with a chair," he told her. and be
lieving that not at all Improbable, she
dismissed the subject.
Saturday she said nothing of the
tragedy, although she was harboring
suspicions, not being able to forget the
condition In which Martin returned
home the night before. Sunday morn
ing her suspicions became more pro
nounced. The paper of that day sug
gested that the work was believed to
be that of one man, and probably of a
cocaine, opium or morphine fiend. Mrs.
Martin knew hr husband was addicted
to the use of both cocaine and mor
phine. Scene on Way to Mass.
She harbored -her trying suspicions
until Sunday, whien she determined to
know the worst. Her suspicions were
somewhat allayed by Martin's conduct
In reading calmly of the murder and
commenting on the fiendish brutality of
the crime. But when they started for
mass she suggested passing the scene
of the murder, Martin consented to go
in front of the place, she accused him.
Again he allayed her suspicions by pro
testing that he was incapable of such a
crime.
While praying that he was Innocent,
Mrs. Martin said the suspicion returned
to her after mass and late in the day
she remembered of his having returned
to his home after the tragedy with a
complete change of clothing. She de
manded an explanation of this, and a
stormy scene followed, for he told a weak
story of having left his other clothing
at a saloon because of the blood from the
fight over cards, whereby he accounted
for the cuts on his face and head.
"I feel you did this awful thing." she
told him. "For God's sake, leave me,"
she added, when her suspicions became
more pronounoed. "Don't bring any
more disgrace upon me than you have.
Leave m. I tell you."
'Just to prove to you that I am telling
the truth. I will go down to the saloon
and get those clothes, and then I know
you will believe me," he told her, and left
the house. He did not return. Mrs. Mar
tin has not seen him since.
After her husband's arrest Mrs. Martin
was taken to the police station on re
quest of District Attorney Manning, but
she begged that Martin be kept away
from her and that she be excused from
even looking at him until she has re
covered from the terrible shock of the
day's developments.
Believes HusbancTTs Guilty.
"Do you think ft was your husband
that did this thing?" Mr. Manning asked
her.
"fm afraid It was." she replied In a
barely audible voice.
On account of the deep distress that
was apparent In her manner, she was ex
cused from the ordeal of close examina
tion for the time being, it being apparent
that she had no idea of protecting her
husband In the investigation as to his
Innocence or guilt.
Mrs. Martin Is hardly the woman that
would be looked for as the wife of a per
vert such as Martin. She Is a woman of
education and plainly of refined bringing
up. She is a devout Christian and during
the three brief years of their married life
she has sought constantly to help Martin
overcome his weaknesses and vices. She
is about 28 years old, decidedly comely,
a brunette, alight of build, and dresses
very plainly, but with good taste. She
did not break down and cry or become
hysterical yesterday, doubtless being In
ured to suffering, but there was a pathos
In the expresison of her face which told
of a sorrow mors profound than could
be told by hysterical tears. She was ac
MRS
MARTIN
companied to the police station by her
unmarried sister, and left with Rev.
Father McDevitt, who did what he could
to comfort her.
History of the Martins.
Martin and his wife were married at
Syracuse, N. T., in May three years ago.
Their marriage was a romantic one. Mrs.
Martin was a trained nurse In the hos
pital where Martin went with an attack
of dysentery, an ailment which he had
frequently, following his Army days in
Cuba as a Second Lieutenant of Company
A, Twenty-first United States Infantry.
After a brief courtship the nurse left the
hospital and they were married quietly.
They came to Portland from New York
In October a year ago, and have lived
mainly from remittances sent the young
man by his father, a retired real estate
broker of means.
It Is known that Mrs. Martin has tried
patiently to help her hu.iband overcome
his weaknesses for drugs, but the habit
which hold Martin In control refused to
be shaken, off. Giving up In despair, she
tried to get a divorce more than a year
ago In the East, but the affair was
smoothed over and they tried to get
along together again, Martin being very
much in love with his wife and unwilling
to give her up.
During their married life Mrs. Martin
says her husband has done many peculiar
things while under the Influence of drugs,
but never before has suspicion connected
him with a- peculiar crime. A statement
made by her in this connection which
may prove of Importance is a description
of his frequent action in arming himself
pwBMW t jiiiiuiiiwiiMiHwiimii Wuiji mm mm'm mjt'HW9fmy--Mmtmm.i.,wm-m ui.iUi
CURIOUS CROWD WHICH GATHEREU OUTSIDE: THE CITY JAIL,
with a hatchet while under the influence
of cocaine or morphine. Many times in
the night, she says, he has arisen, se
cured a hatchet, and, standing in his
night clothes at the window, waved the
weapon at imaginary enemies, saying:
"There they are they are after me they
are following me."
TTJX1 STARTED FOK REWARD
Business Men Subscribe to Bring
About Conviction.
A petition was circulated yesterday
among business. men, subscribing to a
fund for the reward of those who
should arrest and convict the murderer
or murderers of Nathan Wolff. No fur
ther subscriptions were solicited after
the arrest of Edward H. Martin,
charged with the murder. The sub
scription list follows:
Coleman's Nlghtwatch Service, by
J. B. Coleman $10.00
F. W. Mulkey 10.00
Beeman, Spauldlng, Woodward Co. 10.00
Lang & Co 10.00
New York Outfitting Co. (N. & S.
Weinsteln) 10.00
J. Holsman 10.00
I. Gevurtz & Son 10.00
Taubenhelmer & Schmeer 5.00
A. Rosensteln, Red Front Store.. 6.00
J. L. Cllne 5.00
DISCHARGED FROM THE ARMY
Martin Completed Course at West
Point in 1898.
VANCOUVER, Wash., May. 6. (Spe
cial.) Edward H. Martin, arrested at
Portland for the murder of Nathan
Wolff, was a classmate at West Point of
Manus McClosky, captain of artillery at
the Barracks here. Captain McClosky
says that Martin was bright in hia
studies and was graduated with merit In
1898. He was court-martialed and dis
charged from the Army a year later at
Sandy Hook for conduct unbecoming a
gentleman and an officer. It was thought
at the time that money matters had
something to do with the young man's
disgrace. He was known to be adrug
fiend then. Hts parents were living in
New York and were well-to-do people.
TAX ALL CLASSES ALIKE
Mr. Campbell Points Out the In
iquity of Exemptions.
PORiTIAND, May 5. (To the Kdltor.)
H. D. WaKiion jilmiu the Injustice of the
proposed tax Teform as applied to th sup
posititious farmers "A and B," who would
pay equal taxes on very unequal amount of
property, but Justifies this condition by
claiming that th slnr'e tax. when enacted,
would bring; great benefits to the community
at large.
If the single tar Is to produce such great
results, why is it not proposed at once, in
stead of this unjust and confessedly inequit
able measure now before us for discussion?
t'n less. Indeed, It be upon the theory of
cutting oft an lnchi at a rime from the
dog's tall in order to save the poor animal
from the pain of a complete amputation of
the wholo member at one operation.
Hi. Wagnon has nothing to say as to the
Injustice ot taxing one klnfl of property,
which' requires little or no protection from
the state. In order to protect another kind
of property which would pay no tax, but
which must be protected and is protected
by the state at enormoua expense for
Sheriffs, police officers, jails, courts and all
the costly appliances employed for the
prevention and punishment of crime.
The principles of a "square deal," of
" Justice to all," require that we deal wtth
all people alike, and with the owner of
personal property the same as with the
owner of real estate.
If a farmer or manufacturer should not
be penalized for his Improvements and ma
chinery whloh are really his equipment for
mejeing money at his business, neither
should a railroad be penalized for its Im
provements In the shape of roadbed and
rolling stock, which are Its equipments for
making money. Neither should we virtually
fine a man for being poor by exempting from
taxation. & larse amount of property for the
rich man and only a email amount for the
poor man. If we would do the fair thing,
xxualee the exemption equal In each case.
The pity of the whole scheme is that It Is
necessajry to have any tax at all.
If some one could only devise some
method oy -which we could escape this
burden and then would devise a free water,
free bread and free meat scheme and free
everything else, we would have more time
to growl at the existing order of the uni
verse and perhaps call the Initiative and
referendum on the law of nature that re
quires a man to die before he can find out
what Is beyond the great divide.
J. W. CAMPBELL.
Tans! Tans! Tans! at Rosenthal's.
TALKS III HIS CELL
Martin Tells Story of Career
in the Army.
DRUG FIEND FOR YEARS
Man Who Commanded Company at
San Juan. Hill Sits in Wild-Eyed
Agony AVithln Shadow
of the Gallows.
Seated on the edge of the lower iron
frame that serves as a bed. Edward H.
Martin looked the picture of despair last
night at the City Jail. His shoulders were
drooped, his head had fallen forward and
was supported by his hands, with elbows
on knees. His gaze seemed riveted on the
floor and at times shifted to a vacant
stare into space. The noise of the door
opening at the end of the corridor and the
echo of the heel taps of visitors .on the
stone floor failed to arouse him from his
lethargy: His face was pale and haggard.
The mouth was drawn, the eyes narrowed
and the. expression one of pain sup
pressed. -
The corners of the mouth trembled and
the eyes pleaded when he turned his face
toward the door in response to a call
from Captain Baty. He had been deprived
of all drugs for perhaps ten hours and he
looked the perfect pioture of the "fiend"
fighting the craving with which he was
battling body and soul.
"Well, Ed," said Captain Baty, "how
are you feeling now?"
Martin rose. It was more of a stagger
than anything else. He stood with eyes
blinking, an ashy color creeping about
his mouth.
Story of Blighted Life.
"I don't feel very well," said he. "I
wonder if my wife is home all right. I
am worried about her." Here the hands
clasped -and unclasped, trembled, sought
his face, were lowered again, then raised
to the brow and from then on until he
was through talking and his visitors had
taken their departure, those hands were
Incessantly on the move. Not once -were
they quiet.
"If I could only What's that? Was
I evei" in the Army? Yes. I was a
graduate of West Point and served as an
officer In the United States Army for
several years. I don't believe I care to
tell all about my Army life hut if I don'C
some one else will. I was appointed by
the President as a cadet to West Point
in 1894. My appointment was secured
on the recommendation of William' Ryan,
of New York City, Congressman for the
Sixteenth Congressional District of New
York. ' '
'I entered the class of '98 and was
known by all my classmates as "Mifty"
Martin. All college boys you know get
some sort of
nick names during their I
, - -: r-r ! - - I '.--A
i Y.- - il - : ' : ' " i'-'-i $ "j" . "
rV'sifv tW" :fSf ' . r ' -
A - v ' I t 1 r .
school days and I was "Mifty." I gradu
ated in 1S!8 and was sent immediately to
the front in the Spanish-American War
as a Second Lieutenant in Company A of
the Twenty-first Infantry. I remained In
the front during the Cuban campaign
until a year later. While a Second Lieu
tenant I commanded Company A be
cause we were very short of officers. I
was in the thick of the fight at San Juan
11111 and engaged in many of the
skirmishes before and after this event,"
Took Drugs as Medicine. '
"In 1899 I was stricken down with a lot
of other fellows with the yellow fever.
It was while convalescing from this dis
ease that I became ' addicted to taking
drugs. One night when I was suffering
the agonies of the damned I begged a
doctor to give me some morphine and
from that I contracted the taste for h,
"During my convalescence I was sent
back to New York City and on being
able to do duty I was assigned as an
aide on the staff of General Merritt. Com
mander of the Department of the East,
with headquarters at Governor's Island,
New York harbor. I was soon trans
ferred from there to the Artillery Corps
and assigned to Sandy Hook, where
from 1899 to 1902 I was employed as an
expert In the Artillery Corps on interior
and exterior ballistics.
"In 1MX! I resigned from the Army.
Yes, I was forced to resign. Practically
that. The Medical Department knew that
I was addicted to the use of drugs and
although I was not court-martialed I
was given a chance to resign. People
AKTKK M-tRTIVS ARREST.
who take drugs cannot stay In the Army,
so I got out.
Has Classmate at Vancouver.
"Captain Manus McCloskey, of the Ar
tillery Corps, who was stationed at Van
couver Barracks a short time ago, was
a classmate of mine. He no doubt will
hear of this. He may still be at Van
couver, for all I know.
"My family? No. I won't tell you any
thing about them. You will have to find
that out for yourself."
Martin is confined in a cell on the top
floor of the City" Jail. This Is a portion
of the jail set aside as quarters for pris
oners charged with more serious felonies
and murders. In a penitentiary it would
be called "murderers' row." It Is much
more heavily barred than the ordinary
portion of the JAl. The cells are only
seven feet long and six feet wide and are
built to accommodate two prisoners.
At present Martin Is the only occupant
of the City Jail's "murderers' row." As It
is isolated from the other parts of the
jail and there Is only one jailor who is
on duty downstairs all the time except
for occasional visits to see that "all's
well in "murderers' row," Martin Is com
pletely alone, with no one within the
sound of his voice.
AETNA TERRIFIES SICILY
Eruption and Detonations Drive the
People From Villages.
MESSINA, May 5. The eruption of
Mount Aetna continues, accompanied
by numerous earth shocks. The de
tonations have terrified the people
living in the villages in the vicinity
t of the volcano and they are camping
in the open air.
ARRIVAL OF MARTIN AT
d t lie1! i ' -
Police Captain Moore.
SsT
inn- fK. Ul
PendeTn, l'
' y divid
i this year
year.
(Continued From First Page.)
curately gauging the outward play of
emotions of a man accused of such a
crime, guilty or innocent. Only, after
talking with him for three hours, Mr.
Manning was more convinced than ever
of the man's guilt, as were the majority
of those who were present at the ex
amination. The room was kept clear of
all persons excepting newspapermen and
officers.
When the party reached the deteck
tives' room Martin seated himself easily
in a chair assigned to him. threw him
self hack and began studying the cell
ing. He was plainly striving for self
possession, and quickly got control of
himself, his nervousness being manifested
only by. a slight trembling of his hands
and the muscles of his face.
"I am Mr. Manning, the District At
torney, and I wish to say to you that
anything you say will be used against
you should your case come to trial. You
are not required to speak, but you may
be examined at this time If you wish,"
said Mr. Manning.
"Why, yes, I am willing to answer
any questions and tell anything I
know," responded Martin, withdrawing
his gaze from the ceiling and looking
squarely at the official.
In answer to preliminary questions
he said his name Is Edward Hugh Mar
tin, that he came to Portland a year
ago last October, that he Is 34 years
of age, son of Hugh Martin, of New
York, and who is now traveling in
Europe; that he came here from Syra
cuse, N. Y., where he lived only six
days and . was married, that previous
to that he was In Atlantic City for five
weeks and previous to that in New
York, where he was born. He said he
graduated from West Point with the
class of '9o. having been appointed by
the President in '94. He was at once
commissioned a seconu lieutenant and
assigned to service with the Twenty
first United States Infantry, going im
mediately to Cuba, where he became
acting company commander his Cap
tain being assigned as Regimental
Quartermaster and his First Lieuten
ant being on detached service as Lieutenant-Colonel
of a New York regi
ment. In Cuba he fought through the
San Juan campaign and later was
stricken with yellow fever, he said.
While a sufferer In Cuba he was given
MARTIN
ACCUSED
OF WOLFF MURDER
THE POLICE STATION
E. H. Martin.
Detective Hellyer.'
slCiJ J I A T "
tfte hoIfWo c taife vie,
?ph CornZT -PSal
end of Pany of 0"J mat the Said
July 6, ion 2 "'ucrs of
1908, during
WVn it ...
F- Graves,
cocaine and has been addicted to the
use of drugs on and off ever since.
s to his parents, he said they are
wealthy, his father being a retired
real estate broker. He made no men
tion of the fact that his father was at
one time Captain of' Detectives In New
York City, which developed last night.
His father and mother are now in Eu
rope. He heard from them several
months ago from Rome and again from
Palestine, but did not know their pres
ent whereabouts.
Becomes a Medical Student.
After his marriage to a hospital nurse
at Syracuse and the lapse of a short
period spent in the East, he came with
bis bride to Oregon and began a course
In medicine at the University of Ore
gon. He made no mention of his res
ignation from the army prior to his
marriage or to the fact that he was a
First Lieutenant in the artillery corps
after the Cuban campaign and that he
was regarded at Fort Mason as an ex
pert on heavy armament. As a medical
student he said, he became acquainted
with Dr. Josephl, Dr. Wheeler, Dr. Zan
and others.
"How. did j'ou support yourself and
wife during this time you were study
ing medicine," Mr. Manning asked.
"Well, my father deposited money for
me with the Oregon Trust Company. I
drew iS a week and my father sent
money to- pay the house rent besides.
After the bank failed I did some work.
I was employed first as chalnman by
the City Engineer's ofTlce, receiving $76
per month, and later was made
draughtsman at $90 a month. Last
March I took the examination before
the Civil Service Commission for the
position of City Sealer of Weights and
Measures."
"Where were you May 1?" said Mr.
Manning, suddenly changing the trend of
his questions.
Martin, who had grown quite at ease,
settled himself far back in his chair,
threw hfs shoulders well back, and, af
ter a moment's hesitation, said: "Well, I
left home about 8:45 and got back about
Ave minutes to . I was about town and
saw different people." '
"Well, whom did you see in partlcu-
lar?" .
"Let's see. I saw Judge Cameron for
one. That was just about 3 or 4 o'clock.
I talked with him for some time."
"What about?"
"About his campaign and about the fact
that some carmen were going to make a
fight on him for District Attorney be
cause he fined a couple of men in a cer
tain case."
"Where did you go when you left him?"
"Well, I went to Turn Halle and after
wards went home."
"Where were you on Sunday?"
Had Quarrel With Wire.
"I wont to mass with my wife. Sunday
night I was at the Imperial. I remember
that because I had a quarrel with my
.
recnr
ecord on the
nird quarter
tv
wife and we decided to separate for a
time."
"When did you first meet Nathan
Wolff?"
Martin met this question calmly, saying
he met him when he first came to Port
land. He took a watch In and pawned It.
"When did you next see him?"
"As near as I can remember It was
about two months later. I went in to
ask him to hold my watch for me until
I could get It out."
"Did you ever see him again?"
"No, not that I can remember of. I
think that was the last time I saw him."
"What room did you kill Wolff In?"
The question was dropped without a
moment's warning and the District Attor
ney leaned, forward and looked intently at
Martin.
Denies Killing Wolff.
The suspected man writhed In his seat
and looked hurriedly at the table. Then
he turned, leaned well toward Mr. Man
ning and met his eyes with a steady look.
"Now, see here, Mr. Manning, I didn't
kill Mr, Wolff," he said In a much louder
tone than he had been speaking before.
"Well, there's no use In your trying to
stave this thing off. I've got you In a
hole and you Just as well tell the whole
thing," persisted the prosecutor.
"You haven't got me in any hole and
I'm telling everything I know just as It
happened," was the firm response. Mar
tin had a hard struggle for self-control
at this point.
"Where did you get those marks on
your Jaw?" was asked abruptly.
"Well, about five years ago "
"Oh, no, no those marks are fresh,"
put In Mr. Manning, Impatiently.
Martin Becomes Contused.
Here Martin became thorougftij- con
fused. He ran his hand to his Jaw, folt
of the broad scratches and pondered with
great deliberation.
"Those scratches, do you mean?" he
asked slowly and In a manner which
seemed to indicate he was playing for
time. "Why, let's see, I'll tell you about
them. It was like this. We have a cat
over at our house."
"Oh, a cat didn't make those marks,"
put In Mr. Manning.
"I'll tell you about that. We have a
eat. Saturday my wife brought home
some chops and laid them on the table.
The cat had never done such a thing be
fore, but It jumped up on the table and
grabbed a chop. I grabbed at the ca:
and It bit my finger. I threw up my
hand and the cat clawed my face."
"And did the cat make that cut on your
head, too?" Martin was asked.
"No; that happened like this" an4
Martin again indulged In a thoughtftd
pause of several moments' duration. '1
was splitting wood with a hatchet. The
blade flew oft and struck my head and
made this cut."
"Are you sure,, it was wood you were
using the hatchet on?" was asked, with
suggestive inflection.
"Yes, and the blade flew up and cut me,
Just as I said a moment ago."
City Physician Zlegler entered at this
moment.
"Examine those marks on this man's
face. He says they were made by a cat,"
said Mr. Manning.
Martin arose and submitted to the ex
amination, but the hitherto slight trem
bling of his hands became more pro
nounced and his face twitched nervously.
"Those are not the scratches' of a cat,"
was Dr. Zlegler's decision after a minute
inspection of the lacerations. "They are
too broad for that. As to the cut on his
head, I find it extends nearly to the
bone."
"How recent are those marks and the
cut?"
Cuts Freshly Made.
"T should say they had been made
within the past three or four days."
"What time. Mr. Martin, did you get
home Friday night?" pursued Mr. Man
ning. "Five minutes to 6. I am sure of that
because r had a little quarrel with my
wife and left again, returning home
shortly before midnight." Plainly, Martin
did not know his wife had already In
formed the detectives that he did not get
home until nearly midnight.
"What clothes were you wearing at that
time?"
"The same suit that I have on now."
"How long have you been wearing that
suit?"
"Since last week."
"And are you sure that you haven't
changed it for another?"
"Certainly I am."
"Have you any money about you at
this timer'
"Yes I have about $40."
"Put it out there on the table ani
let's see It."
Martin drew out two 5 gold pieces,
one $10 gold piece and several silver
dollars. He explained that this was
mostly money he had borrowed from
Ashley and Rummelin and that he had
saved it for his wife. He had given it
to his wife once before, after pawnitm
several articles, so as to make her believe
he had drawn a full month's salary, he
said.
"How much did you give your wife?"
"In all I gave her S5. I got $52 back
on Sunday night. We had decided to try
living apart for a while, say for a year
or so, and see how we would get, along.
I took that money and left her the home.
I was to shift for myself."
Confronted With Rifle.
At this moment a rifle with which
Wolff's head was beaten during the tight
with the murderer was brought in. It
was a ghastly object, clots of blood and
4