Jackson-Clinton County IA Archives News.....Was He Murdered? October 28, 1885
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Ken Wright wright@prestontel.com December 6, 2009, 2:17 pm

Maquoketa Excelsior October 28, 1885
Maquoketa Excelsior, November 28, 1885

WAS HE MURDERED?

The remains of William Martin were brought from Clinton to Miles on Friday of 
last week and interred in the Miles Cemetery. In consequence of the ill health 
of the almost broken hearted mother, there was no funeral and she was not 
permitted to see the face of her only child, her much loved but unfortunate 
son. The remains were in a sad condition, having lain in the water about six 
weeks. There was a mark upon his head which  indicated that he had received a 
blow, and it is generally supposed that he was murdered. His watch and his 
empty pocket book were found upon his person, and in an inner vest pocket 
there was a $5 gold piece and the bill of lumber which he had purchased and 
paid for. He had between $160 and $200 with him. In the haste to get rid of 
the body, the villain or villains probably did not take time to search the 
inner pockets. The watch was of little value. The idea of suicide has been 
suggested, but Mr. Martin had no cause for such an act and was not the kind of 
man who would end his ills by shaking off the “mortal coil.” He went to 
Clinton on business, which showed that he anticipated continuing the carpenter 
business in Miles. He purchased his lumber and a box of shelf hardware and 
went to the depot that same day, six weeks since, and reached there just in 
time to see the train leave. He left the box in the office and went away and 
no trace of him after that evening was had until his dead body was found in 
the river near the Clinton bridge.
William Martin was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Martin, whose hearts 
are anguished by the sad circumstances of his untimely death. He was born in 
Antrim, North Ireland, May 4, 1843. He was married to Sarah Agnew in 1863, and 
came to America with his parents in 1866 or ’67. He had crossed the ocean five 
times. He has resided in Miles about 14 years and built five houses and left a 
shop on Main Street unfinished. He was the father of five children, the 
oldest, a boy, is 20 years old, the youngest is about nine years old. There 
are four girls and one son. Mr. Martin was an inoffensive citizen, a peculiar 
man, whose ill health was the cause of his gloomy appearance. His afflicted 
relatives have the sympathy of the friends in this sore affliction.-Miles 
Reporter


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