A Foul Murder

 

Submited by Modene (Knight) Thornton, June 15, 2010

May 18, 1888

A FOUL MURDER
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A Prisoner in Charge of an Officer Killed from Ambush
The RECORDER regrets to have to record a cold-blooded assassination which occurred Wednesday night near the southern boundary line of our county, but in Leon county. The particulars of the affair, as well as we can learn them are as follows: A citizen of this county, Mr. R. T. Martin, who lived a few miles south of Luna was arrested by Constable Linson, of Buffalo, on the affidavit of a negro, charging Martin with stealing a yearling. The Constable was taking him to Buffalo, in the night, and when in about half-mile of town, Martin was shot from ambush by two or more parties, and killed, living only about an hour and a half. He was shot with buckshot in several places, in the side, back, hip and shoulder, and the wonder is that he lived as long as he did. The shooting occurred between 11 and 12 o'clock. Martin fell from his horse, and lay by the road-side until the Constable could go to town and get help to remove him. The occurrence took place near a widow lady's house on the road, and she and her daughter stood by the dying man until assistance came, and while carrying him to her house he died. It is said he recognized his murderers, and told the ladies who they were, making a statement to them.

Several parties were suspected soon afterwards, and a hat dropped on the ground near the scene gave the officers a clue to the murderers. Sunday following the crime, Sheriff Childs arrested three men, John and Ed Smith, C. H. Hughes, who are charged with the murder, and were lodged in jail here to await an examining trial, which will come off today at Buffalo.

We hear that the negro who made the affidavit against Mr. Martin has dodged the officers and so far evaded arrest. The affidavit is said to have been based upon a falsehood, and the whole thing now seems to have been a plot to have Mr. Martin taken along the road at night in order to murder him. The time and place of the killing and other circumstances connected with it point strongly to this conclusion. With what may have been Mr. Martin's character as an honest or dishonest man, we have nothing to do, with good law-abiding men that should cut no figure; but it stands out a plain undeniable fact that his killing was a most brutal cowardly and shocking murder, and calls loudly for the severest penalty of the law for cold-blooded midnight assassination.

LUNA LOCALS

October 17, 1887

Mr. John Tucker, the constable, came into town Monday with several persons arrested for assault on Robert Martin. The Justice of the Peace, being sent for came and opened court. The Defendants waived an examination and they were bound over in small bonds as follows: John Wade, $500; Ed Smith, $300; Willie Wade, as an accomplice, $100. Two little boys, Wallace Wade and Willie Smith, aged 10 and 12 years, respectively, were released. It is said Mr. Martin is very badly cut with a knife.