Delia D'Ambra

Which just goes to show you how quickly folks who supported the McMullen family were used to reverting back to thinking the worst of people who supported the Rust family. The man who'd received the citrus fruit had been a game warden in Itasca State Park for some time in the early 1900s.

Which just goes to show you how quickly folks who supported the McMullen family were used to reverting back to thinking the worst of people who supported the Rust family. The man who'd received the citrus fruit had been a game warden in Itasca State Park for some time in the early 1900s.

He'd busted dozens of poachers for illegally killing animals in and around the park, and on one occasion had even investigated Martin for that suspected crime. According to John Dobie's book, at some point between 1909 and 1913, while Martin was working as the park's commissioner, he was suspected of owning illegal animal traps and placing them in the park.

He'd busted dozens of poachers for illegally killing animals in and around the park, and on one occasion had even investigated Martin for that suspected crime. According to John Dobie's book, at some point between 1909 and 1913, while Martin was working as the park's commissioner, he was suspected of owning illegal animal traps and placing them in the park.

Now, just to refresh your memory, Martin is Nelson Rust's son-in-law and likely a person who was Team Rust and not Team McMullen in the ongoing feud between the families over the deadly shooting in 1898.

Now, just to refresh your memory, Martin is Nelson Rust's son-in-law and likely a person who was Team Rust and not Team McMullen in the ongoing feud between the families over the deadly shooting in 1898.

Anyway, one day when the game warden who governed the park discovered that a fox had been poached using an illegal trap, which he suspected was one of Martin's traps, he paid money to the guy who'd harvested the pelt and set his sights on building a case to catch Martin when he came looking for the fur. But Martin figured out what this game warden was up to and interfered with his investigation.

Anyway, one day when the game warden who governed the park discovered that a fox had been poached using an illegal trap, which he suspected was one of Martin's traps, he paid money to the guy who'd harvested the pelt and set his sights on building a case to catch Martin when he came looking for the fur. But Martin figured out what this game warden was up to and interfered with his investigation.

Basically, Martin traveled some three hours and 45 minutes south to St. Paul, Minnesota at the last minute to purchase a trapping permit before he went to the game warden's office to collect the pelt. So when the warden saw Martin come in and thought he had everything he needed to bust him, Martin produced his very recently obtained trapping permit, and the game warden's plan fell apart.

Basically, Martin traveled some three hours and 45 minutes south to St. Paul, Minnesota at the last minute to purchase a trapping permit before he went to the game warden's office to collect the pelt. So when the warden saw Martin come in and thought he had everything he needed to bust him, Martin produced his very recently obtained trapping permit, and the game warden's plan fell apart.

No arrest and no consequences for Martin. But you know what's kind of wild? I found some obscure Texas newspaper clippings from the mid-1940s which detail that Martin himself and his wife Nellie, who was Nelson Russ' daughter, experienced a series of unfortunate events in the latter part of their lives that are very random but also kind of interesting.

No arrest and no consequences for Martin. But you know what's kind of wild? I found some obscure Texas newspaper clippings from the mid-1940s which detail that Martin himself and his wife Nellie, who was Nelson Russ' daughter, experienced a series of unfortunate events in the latter part of their lives that are very random but also kind of interesting.

For example, in early January 1946, Martin, who was 79 years old, was hit by a car while walking on the side of a road and killed instantly. The driver of the vehicle that struck him claimed he'd been blinded by the glare of oncoming headlights and was unable to stop before he hit Martin. It doesn't appear any criminal charges were ever filed.

For example, in early January 1946, Martin, who was 79 years old, was hit by a car while walking on the side of a road and killed instantly. The driver of the vehicle that struck him claimed he'd been blinded by the glare of oncoming headlights and was unable to stop before he hit Martin. It doesn't appear any criminal charges were ever filed.

Then, a few months later, in August 1946, while Nellie, his widow, was in the hospital, her home was burglarized by a trio of thieves. About three months later, Nellie died. Now, I'm not someone who puts a lot of stock in generational curses or bad luck or whatever you want to call it.

Then, a few months later, in August 1946, while Nellie, his widow, was in the hospital, her home was burglarized by a trio of thieves. About three months later, Nellie died. Now, I'm not someone who puts a lot of stock in generational curses or bad luck or whatever you want to call it.

But I'm not going to lie, all of these details and stories I found kind of made me have second thoughts for a minute. Today, the one undisputed truth in the events from 1898 is that William McMullen lost his life in a violent way. A wooden pole still stands in Itasca State Park, marking the spot where he's buried. It reads, W.M. McMullen, 1861-1898.

But I'm not going to lie, all of these details and stories I found kind of made me have second thoughts for a minute. Today, the one undisputed truth in the events from 1898 is that William McMullen lost his life in a violent way. A wooden pole still stands in Itasca State Park, marking the spot where he's buried. It reads, W.M. McMullen, 1861-1898.

Pioneer, shot October 30th, while hunting at Itasca Lake. Peace and memory. Was he a victim of a tragic hunting accident? We'll likely never know. Was he a victim of murder? Only Nelson Rust can answer that question, and he can no longer tell. The next case I'm going to tell you all about happened just a few short years after William McMullen's death, but all the way in eastern Tennessee.

Pioneer, shot October 30th, while hunting at Itasca Lake. Peace and memory. Was he a victim of a tragic hunting accident? We'll likely never know. Was he a victim of murder? Only Nelson Rust can answer that question, and he can no longer tell. The next case I'm going to tell you all about happened just a few short years after William McMullen's death, but all the way in eastern Tennessee.