John Martin
Agency: Kansas City Police Department, MO
John Martin was born in 1847. He was survived by his wife, Mary Martin and had one child, Edward.
Officer John Martin was shot at 2:30 am on February 15, 1886 after he approached three men at 4th and Wyandotte Streets directing them to quiet down. As he approached the men one of the men straightened out his arm toward Officer Martin and fired a shot into Officer Martin's mouth, breaking his left jaw. After Officer Martin fell to the ground the suspect fired two more times with one shot finding its mark in the back of the neck and lodging at the base of the brain of the officer.
The alarm was raised and officers checking the area stopped Alexander Tulor at 4th and Main Streets. Tulor admitted to being one of the three men at the scene of the shooting. Tulor in turn named Thomas Franklin Martin as the shooter. Police located Thomas Martin in a room at 10th and Main Street and took him into custody. Thomas Martin was sentenced to ten years in prison for the assault after his companions turned state's evidence as reported in the April 1, 1886 edition of the Star (KC Star, 1886).
The Kansas City Star reported former Kansas City Officer John Martin's death in the Monday edition - August 15, 1892 - describing Officer Martin as mentally diminished after recovering from his wounds in 1886 - He was set to work as a turnkey until three years prior to his death when, after his mental condition continued to diminish, he was sent to an asylum in St Joseph, Missouri. Officer Martin eventually succumbed to his wounds on August 13, 1892.
Funeral services for John Martin were held August 16th at the family residence at 2434 McGee.
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