Arkansas Governor. He received a place in American history as Arkansas's 28th governor, serving from January 11, 1927, until his resignation on March 2, 1928, upon the appointment to the bench of the Federal District Court of Eastern Arkansas, and serving at that position until his death. He served as a Democratic governor for only 14 months. He was the first Governor of Arkansas to broadcast his inaugural address on radio. During his term, he had to deal with flooding of the Mississippi River throughout the state. In April of 1927, the Confederate pensions board was created, and a highway road system was started. Bringing him national attention in May of 1927, Martineau ordered the National Guard to restore peace in response to the three hours of racial-motivated rioting of a mob of thousands of people with the lynching without due process of an African-American prisoner, John Carter, in downtown Little Rock. Born one of ten children of a French-Canadian farmer, his family arrived in Arkansas shortly before his birth. After graduating in 1896 from what is now the University of Arkansas, he earned a law degree from the University of Arkansas Law School in Little Rock in 1899. As an educator, he was the principal of the Chickasaw Male Academy in Tishomingo in the Indian Territory in 1896 and was the principal of the North Little Rock School from 1897 to 1900. Following passing the bar, he started practicing law. He entered politics in 1902 as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, serving until 1905. In 1919, he signed a habeas corpus blocking the execution of six of the twelve African Americans sentenced for their alleged participation in the riots after the Elaine Racial Massacre. Among the deadliest racial confrontations in the history of the United States, hundreds of Africa Americans lost their lives in this riot, as well as five white persons. His action gave the six defendants time to seek relief from federal courts and avoid execution. The Arkansas Supreme Court overruled in action, but the United States Court eventually in 1925 upheld his decision in the case of Moore v. Dempsey. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the office of governor in 1924. His actions earned him respect as a politician and judge.
Arkansas Governor. He received a place in American history as Arkansas's 28th governor, serving from January 11, 1927, until his resignation on March 2, 1928, upon the appointment to the bench of the Federal District Court of Eastern Arkansas, and serving at that position until his death. He served as a Democratic governor for only 14 months. He was the first Governor of Arkansas to broadcast his inaugural address on radio. During his term, he had to deal with flooding of the Mississippi River throughout the state. In April of 1927, the Confederate pensions board was created, and a highway road system was started. Bringing him national attention in May of 1927, Martineau ordered the National Guard to restore peace in response to the three hours of racial-motivated rioting of a mob of thousands of people with the lynching without due process of an African-American prisoner, John Carter, in downtown Little Rock. Born one of ten children of a French-Canadian farmer, his family arrived in Arkansas shortly before his birth. After graduating in 1896 from what is now the University of Arkansas, he earned a law degree from the University of Arkansas Law School in Little Rock in 1899. As an educator, he was the principal of the Chickasaw Male Academy in Tishomingo in the Indian Territory in 1896 and was the principal of the North Little Rock School from 1897 to 1900. Following passing the bar, he started practicing law. He entered politics in 1902 as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, serving until 1905. In 1919, he signed a habeas corpus blocking the execution of six of the twelve African Americans sentenced for their alleged participation in the riots after the Elaine Racial Massacre. Among the deadliest racial confrontations in the history of the United States, hundreds of Africa Americans lost their lives in this riot, as well as five white persons. His action gave the six defendants time to seek relief from federal courts and avoid execution. The Arkansas Supreme Court overruled in action, but the United States Court eventually in 1925 upheld his decision in the case of Moore v. Dempsey. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the office of governor in 1924. His actions earned him respect as a politician and judge.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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