Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 251, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 October 1912 — NEWLAND TROUBLE EXPANDS RAPIDLY [ARTICLE]

NEWLAND TROUBLE EXPANDS RAPIDLY

Son of Alleged Wife Beater Assaults and Severely Injures Will Postill and Escapes After Arrest. - A sequel to the arrest some two weeks ago of George Martin, of Newland, on the charge of assault with intent to kill his wife, was enacted Friday, when Charles Martin, son of George, severely beat up Will Postill at Newland and later escaped from officers after he had been arrested and brought to Rensselaer. The affair looks bad for the senior Martin, who is charged with having made threats that his son would come home from the northwest and settle matters with Postill. The father is now under arrest, charged with being an accessory before the fact to the assault committed by his son. The story of Martin’s arrest following the alleged assault upon his wife was published in The Republican at the time and later Mrs. Martin wrote a letter denying that her husband had attempted to Injure her. According to the statement of several, mainly the Rensselaer carpenters who have been working at the Ed -Oliver storage plant and barn, Martin had threatened to kill his wife and they say that on the day that the assault occurred she had gone to the house where the men were boarding and expressed her fear of her husband and asked that the men respond if she cried for help. At about 7 o’clock that evening the cries of “murder” rang out on the otherwise quiet evening air, and the men started toward the Martin house. Postill was the first one there. He dashed up the stairs and reports that Martin was bending over his wife, choking her and apparently butting her with his knee. Martin stopped when he approached and Mrs. Martin was later taken to the home of a neighbor, where they say she talked freely of her husband’s abuse. Postill and other workmen thought Martin should be severely dealt with. They were raised in an atmosphere where beating one’s wife is not tolerated. They, had Martin arrested and he waived a hearing in the justice’s court and was bound over to the circuit court. L. H. Hamilton went his bail.

There was nothing new about the matter until Friday morning. Postill had. gone to work on the Oliver storage plant and needed his 5-foot rule, which he had left at the home of Jim Rees. He started after it and, according to his story, met George Martin and his son Charles. The latter is a young man of about 20 years and weighs about 190 pounds. He had returned that morning from North Dakota, where he had been for several months. Postill states that youg Martin said to him: "You’re the fellow that is butting into my father’s business, are you?” With that Martin sailed into him and he made no resistence, because he expected the elder Martin to use his knife if he should get the better of the young man. He just leaned back and let young Martin beat him up. He soon went down under the weight of the blows and when the punishment had gone on a little bit he cried out “Enough,” and the elder Martin said: “Come on, Charley, he’s had enough, let him up.” Postill was able to get’ up, being injured only about the face and head. He did not come to town until the afternoon when he had his Injuries dressed. A warrant was sworn out for the arrest of young Martin and Marshal Mustard and Constable Parks served it and brought Martin to town. He was taken before Squire Bruner. It was reported there that Postill’s condition -was serious and it wts suggested that Martin, in self-defense, take another doctor to see him. His’ fattier, who had accompanied him to town, asked Justice Bruner if they could do that and was told that they could if the officers went along. 'They said they were going to get a doctor and Constable Parks started down the steps from Justice Bruner’s office with them. Marshal Mustard was approaching the steps' from the west on Washington street. Suddenly young Martin darted out of the stairway and ran to the Rowles & Parker corner, turning north. He was followed by the officers. They called on him to halt but he paid no heed and as he turned the corner at Cornelia street Officer Parks fired into the air, but this did not stop the fleeing man. Automobiles were hurriedly pressed into service and a quite thorough search of the town made and telephone messages were sent to Logan Wood atj Parr and to the marshal at Monon, but nothing was found of him, except j his coat and overcoat, which he had thrown off as he passed Knapp’s lir-; ery stable, evidently to hasten his flight. - * The father up to that time had hot

been arrested on the charge of complicity in the assault, but after the boy fled an affidavit was filed against him as an accessory before the fact. He was arraigned before Justice Bruner and his bail fixed at SIOO, which was supplied by Ll H. Hamilton. It is alleged that Martin bad inspired the boy tcy-whip Postill. The officers also state that he advised the boy to skip out. He denies both charges with vehemence. Martin has an automobile and is the mail carrier • between Newland and Gifford. He 1 says the boy’s action is getting him in bad and that hewill try to locate.« him and bring him back to stand trial. * Postlll’s injuries are not serious, being entirely superficial. The left /• eye and the left side of his face are considerably bruised but he is able to be out on the street today and in a few days will be all right again.