GEORGE MARTIN'S END

June 28, 1897 

Putnam County Murderer Killed By a Louisville Thug

Story of His Crime Twenty Three Years Ago- Western Writers
Gathering at Winona.


Jeffersonvile, Ind-- June 28--Geo. W. Martin, of Cloverdale, Indiana
was murdered in Louisville Saturday night (June 26, 1897). He was found
lying on the street near the Victoria Hotel with his skull caved in. Later
it was found that some men have seen a negro strike him with a heavy 
instrument and then run. C. C. Matso, of Cloverdale, identified his body
as the former citizen of Cloverdale who was sent to Jeffersonville prison
for life in 1874 for murdering his wife. He was pardoned in 1893 and had
subsequently made his home in Louisville. Between 12 and 1 o'clock Sunday
morning the man approached Patrolman Haagar at the Union Station in Louisville
and complained of having been robbed of a gold watch and his money on Ninth 
Street a short time before. The officer told the man to go home and he would
have the robbery looked into, but Martin returned to the scene of the robbery
and was met by a colored man who mashed his skull. The coroner's inquest
showed that a terrific blow had been dealt as the man's skull was extraordinarily
thick and no ordinary blow would have broken through. The bone were shattered
and blood vessels in the brain ruptured.

MARTIN'S BRUTAL CRIME

Greencastle, Indiana-- June 28, 1897

The murder of George W. Martin in Louisville Sunday morning recalls one of the 
most brutal crimes that ever occurred in this county. Martin while under the 
influence of liquor shot and killed his wife near Cloverdale and was sent to
prison for life. The crime was committed in 1874 and newspaper files of that
period give this following history of the case:
On Sunday night, November 29, 1874, the Martins were at the home of Riley Stanton
two and a half miles east of Cloverdale. The husband was under the influence of 
liquor as usual. About 9 o'clock he asked his wife, who was sitting in a chair
with a child folded to her breast to leave Stanton and go away with him, which
she declined to do. He then offered her $500 if she would give him a divorce and 
finally demanded that she should declare that she had not been a good and true
wife to him. She said she would not, if would not be true and that she would
die first. He drew a 32 caliber revolver,cocked and pointed it towards her and 
repeated his demand declaring that if she did not make the statement he 
requested within a given time, he would shoot. The wife said nothing and after
a brief pause the fatal shot was fired. The ball entered the left side of the
young mother's forehead. Her head dropped back and she died instantly with the
babe clasped in her arms. Stanton, his wife and daughter were present, but had
not interferred for the reason, as they alleged that they had no thought that
Martin was in earnest or intended to injure his wife. As soon as the pistol
was discharged Stanton grappled with the maniac, overpowered and disarmed him.

When released by Stanton, Martin approached his dead wife, called her by the pet 
name by which he had always addressed her, kissed her and then left the
house. He wandered from place to place during the night and reached Cloverdale
before daylight. He there procured more whisky and talked wildy about the
occurence of the night. He was place under arrest by a constable and kept
closely guared by a posse of citizens through Monday and Monday night. Much
excitement prevailed and there was great danger of mob violence. But for the
firmness of a very few citizens who desired that the law should be allowed
to take its course a lynching would have occurred. On the following day the
prisoner was arraigned before Esq. M.C. Bridges on the charge of murder, 
pleaded "not guilty" waived an examination and was committed to jail to
await the action of the grand jury. Judge W. S. Eckels represented the 
State. Martin's counsel were C.C. Matson, H. B. Martin and W. B. Burk.
Sheriff James Stone was present at the magistrate's court and took charge
of the prisoner. 
Martin first pleaded not guilty, but his attorneys were limited as to time
to secure evidence on the point of hereditary insanity and the next day they
had their client plead guilty and throw himself on the mercy of the court.
The judge sentenced him to prison for life and on December 16, 1874 Martin
entered the Jeffersonville prison. He was paroled in 1893 by Gov. Matthews
on the condition that he would not return to this county; would leave
intoxicating liquor alone and not violate any of the laws of the state. So
far as known Martin kept the parole sacred. The son who was in the mother's
arms at the time she was killed now lives in Cloverdale and a daughter 
resides in Chicago. The body will probably be buried in Kentucky. The 
Louisville murder has created great interest here, where the scenes and facts
concerning the first murder are so well remembered. 


Submitted by Kathy Bargerhuff