The Wichita Beacon (Wichita, Kansas), 29 Jan. 1917, Mon., p. 5

WIFE ACCUSES C. J. MARTIN OF DESERTING HIS FAMILY
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Causes His Arrest in Wyoming and an Officer Will Go After Him.

     Clarence J. Martin, a Wichita evangelist and former newspaper solicitor, is under arrest in Thermopolis, Wyo., on the charge of wife desertion.  Mrs. Martin alleges that for several weeks she and her children have been in need. Martin at one time was employed as a singing evangelist in Iowa.  For the last few years he has been alternately engaged as newspaper solicitor and evangelist.  He resided 1216 Jackson Avenue.  A deputy marshal of the City Court will go after Martin and return him here for a hearing.

The Wichita Beacon (Wichita, Kansas), 6 Feb. 1917, Tue., p. 6

     Clarence J. Martin, who was arrested in Wyoming last week for wife desertion, went on trial in the City Court this afternoon for that offense.  The case was opened this morning and then continued until later in the day.  Mrs. Martin testified that her husband had contributed nothing to her support since December 9.  Martin declares that he left home because Mrs. Martin ordered him away.  He claims to have a letter in which she says she doesn’t want him to return home.

The Wichita Beacon (Wichita, Kansas), 7 Feb. 1917, Wed., p. 3

HELD ON ONLY ONE CHARGE
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Wife Who Accused Declared She Would Not Live With Her Husband.

     The woman who will not live with her husband can not prosecute that husband for desertion or non-support.  For the fiftieth time in the last year or so this fact was driven home to a complaining witness—Mrs. Clarence J. Martin—in the City Court Tuesday afternoon.
     Ten days ago Mrs. Martin swore to a complaint charging her husband with leaving her destitute.  Mr. Martin, a newspaper solicitor, was arrested in Wyoming and returned to Wichita at a cost of $150 to the county.  At his preliminary trial yesterday afternoon Mrs. Martin admitted that she would not live with Martin.  She was informed by the court that she had no claim to his support if she refused to carry out her part of the marriage contract.  The court said the charge of desertion was not proved.
     Martin by his request was held to trial on the second count of the complaint—non-support of his son.  The defendant said he was willing to support the boy and the case may be dismissed later.

The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kansas), 7 Feb. 1917, Wed., p. 12

SPENT $150 FOR WHAT?
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County Sent to Wyoming for Husband Then Learns Her Case Won’t Stick.

     After Rev. Clarence J. Martin had been brought back from Thermopolis, Wyo., to face a charge of failing to support his family (the proceedings costing the county about $150) it was found that the evidence was not strong enough to hold him for wife desertion, although he was bound over to the district court for non-support of his child.  Mrs. Martin who had sworn to the information, stated before Judge Pierpont yesterday that she would not live with Martin, which nullified the criminal charge.
     Martin, a former minister, who was employed in Wichita for a number of years, announced himself as ready and willing to provide for the keep of his child, and testimony indicated that he had made provision to some extent.  He claimed he had not been able to do more because he could not hold a job, due to the fact that his wife wrote damaging letters about him to the towns where he worked.  Mrs. Martin told Judge Pierpont that she would let her husband alone if he would provide for the child.  This was the second marriage for both of them.

The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kansas), 22 Feb. 1918, Fri., p. 5

FACED BY TWO WIVES, MARTIN IS CONVICTED

     With wife, divorced wife and a child by each appearing in court against him, Clarence J. Martin was found guilty of child desertion in division one of the district court yesterday.
     Mr. Martin was accused of deserting Eugene, the 6-year-old child of his second wife.  The jury was out about five minutes and returned a verdict of guilty.
     Bable [Mabel!] Martin, the first wife, and Libby [Lillie!] Martin, the second wife, sat side by side during the trial and both testified against the defendant.  Richard, the 16-year-old son of Martin by his first wife, was also a witness for the state.
     Mr. Martin and his second wife, Libby [Lillie!], were married in 1909.  He left her December 9, 1916, and for a time he continued to send money home.  A letter from Martin to Mrs. Martin’s attorney was introduced, in which Martin admitted having an “alliance” with another woman.  When confronted with this letter, on the witness stand, he explained that, by the word “alliance,” he meant correspondence.
     After Mr. Martin had been gone some time a suit was started in the city court, charging him with wife and child desertion.  He was located in Wyoming by Marshall Fitzpatrick.  During the trial Mrs. Libby [Lillie!] Martin testified she would not live with him.  Upon this testimony, Judge Pierpont dismissed the case of wife desertion, but bound him over to the district court on the charges of child desertion.  County Attorney Ross McCormick then brought suit against him in the district court for wife desertion.  This case will be tried on February 27.
     Martin’s first wife, Mable, and her son, Richard, live at Winfield.  It is reported that when Martin left her he tried to get her to sue for divorce, that she refused to do so, and that he went to Nebraska and sued her for divorce, charging that she had deserted him.

The Wichita Beacon (Wichita, Kansas), 22 Feb. 1918, Fri., p. 6

A CHILD DESERTION CASE GOES AGAINST THE FATHER

     Clarence J. Martin was found guilty in the District Court yesterday on a charge of child desertion.  This is one of the first cases tried in this county on this charge.  The penalty is at the discretion of the court.  The court may sentence him to serve two years in the penitentiary or may parole him under an order to pay a weekly sum of money for his child’s support during the two years.
     Mr. Martin said this morning that he would ask for a new trial.  He says much of his testimony, which would have put an entirely different aspect on the case, was ruled out by the court.  He expects a reversal of the verdict in the Supreme Court if a new trial is not granted in the local court and an appeal is necessary.  Mr. Martin is under bond pending the final disposition of the case.

The Wichita Beacon (Wichita, Kansas), 27 Feb. 1918, Wed., p. 1

     Clarence J. Martin, who was found guilty of child desertion, asked for a new trial.

The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kansas), 2 Mar. 1918, Sat., p. 5

DESERTION CASE AGAINST MARTIN IS DISMISSED

     The wife desertion case against Clarence J. Martin was dismissed by Judge Bird yesterday on the ground that Martin had already been required to pay $25 a month for the support of the child, when he was convicted of child desertion, and that he would not be able to pay any more.