THE MARTIN CASE

Southland Times, Issue 19388, 31 October 1924, Page 8

THE MARTIN CASE

‘ DASTARDLY RUMOURS.” * MR WESLEY SPRAGG ANSWERS BISHOP CLEARY. ‘THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE.” A statement regarding the Martin case was given to the Auckland Herald by Mr Wesley Spragg, who is a long established friend of the Martin family, and who was closely associated with the case from the beginning. The statement is as follows: — “In view of the positive statement by Bishop Cleary that ‘the immediate cause’ of the departure of Margaret Martin from home ‘had no connection with any religious views held by her,’ and because that statement (I am quite sure unintentionally) gives support to some dastardly rumours which reflect upon the mother, I think it my duty to give the girl’s own version of the facts. GIRL’S LETTER TO MOTHER.

“When the newspapers and the public began to make inquiries for information of her whereabouts Miss Martin addressed a letter to her mother, dated September 19, 1924, as follows: ‘My dear mother. —You will understand why I left home so suddenly yesterday. I claim the right to follow my own conscience on religious matters, and I am no longer able to stay with you in view of the attitude you had adopted. For that reason and entirely of my own will I thought it better to go. I am staying with people who are kind, so I am well looked after. There is nothing to worry about. With love from Margaret.’ ANOTHER LETTER TO POLICE. “A copy of a second letter of the same date, addressed to the Inspector of Police, repeats the reason given in the first letter. It reads:— I wish to state that yesterday morning I left home owing to the serious opposition which met my intention with regard to matters of religion. I am quite well, safe and happy. I left entirely of my own accord, and am equally free in staying away. Should I wish to return there would be absolutely nothing to prevent my doing so.’ WORDED UNDER COUNSEL. Mr Spragg continues:— T think there is evidence that both these letters, especially the one to the Police Inspector, were carefully worded under counsel of her new friends. They were written in the early stages of the incident before it would be reaLsed their (writers’) action would be the cause of the present unhappy sectarian bitterness, and before it was seen there was need for carefully worded explanations. That being so, I think they may be considered conclusive. UNWISE AND CRUEL COUNSEL.

‘ Without doubt the religious views, such as they were, of the girl were of immature judgment, and doubtless very unwise and exceedingly cruel counsel given in connection therewith broke up the Martin home. Emphasis appears to be laid upon what is called ‘the immediate cause’ of departure, etc. There need be no mystery about this. WOMAN LURKING IN BACKYARD. “Mrs Martin had reason to believe that a woman, who was lurking in a suspicious manner about the backyard of her residence, and who ran away when she knew she was being observed, was there for the purpose of inducing her daughter to leave home (an earlier incident had given reason for that belief), and so she placed the latter under some small restraint. To be quite explicit she was locked up for a night in a room with access to her mother to keep her from contact with the woman outside. This was to prevent her from doing exactly what she did do immediately the opportunity occurred, that is, run away to her Roman Catholic friends. Since her return home Miss Martin has told her mother that this locking up incident was ‘the immediate cause’ of her running away from home. NO OCCASION FOR SURMISE.

“There is no occasion for either foolish or wicked surmise about the matter. I am sorry I am called upon to contradict Bishop Cleary or to take any public part in this incident. I greatly regret its occurrence in our community because of the cruelty which has been inflicted upon an esteemed family, and an especially admirable mother. I am also very sorry because of its influence in stirring up uncharitableness and needless antipathies and strife among neighbours who were intended to be friends.”