malachi martin (born 1822) was the prison warden at florida's first state penitentiary in chattahoochee, florida and a state legislator. he was renowned for barbarity and corruption including the use of prison labor for his personal benefit. another account blames changing politics for the most horrific accounts. he served as speaker of the florida house of representatives. martin, a republican, was friends with samuel fleischman who consulted with him before being murdered by the ku klux klan.