The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-11
MAY OPPOSE THE PARDON
Brother of Murdered Man Objects
to Matters Release.
HOW TURNER WAS KILLED
Louis Turner Tells How His Brother
Was Shot and How He Died.
Never Expressed Desire
to Save Mattler.

| In all probability there will be OPP
position raised when Governor Smiths
recommendation that Stephen Matter
be pardoned is taken up by the state
board of pardons July "a.
Matter is serving life sentence at
the Deer Lodge penitentiary for the
crime of manslaughter, he having killed
Gus Turner at Garrison in October 1890.
AS stated in a Helena dispatch, pub
lished in the Standard last Saturday,
petitions signed by many influential
citizens have been presented praying
Matters pardon. He is the son of a
prominent Indiana family.
A resident of Anaconda, a brother of
the murdered man, is Louis Turner,
who is employed in the lumber depart
ment of the A. C. M. Co. Louis Turner
is familiar with all the circumstances
connected with the killing Of his broth
er and, moreover. has had an oppor
tunity to learn of Matters character.
He does not believe that Matter should
be pardoned. and will probably oppose
the action recommended by the COVER
nor.
In the governors letter of recon-
mendation," said Louis Turner last
night, Il notice he says he has been in
formed that before his death my broth
er asked that Matter be not punished.
| was with my brother all the time and
l never heard him express any such de-
sire. The shooting took place on a
Thursday morning. l brought my
brother from Garrison to Deer Lodge
and placed him in the hospital. where
he died on Saturday night. During
that time | was with him almost con-
stantly. The evening the authorities
came to take the ante-mortem state
ment my brother said: oh, let it go
until morning This may have been mis-
understood by some, but l am certain
my brother never said anything to in
dictate it was his wish Matter should
not be punished.
"Mattler Is man | hardly think
should be allowed his liberty. / have
conversed with him since he has been
in prison, and in one conversation ne
told me his brother had been killed in
Texas and added: If L ever get out of
here and find the -- - who did
| it l will kill him.
THE facts connected with the muir
| der, as proven at the trial, are as fol-
| lows: Matter and two friends of his
| went into the hotel at Garrison for a
meal While waiting for it to be served
| Matter made a remark to his friends
| that he would get the meal for the
| three for 81, although the regular price
was so cents each. When they had done
| eating, Matter stepped up to the coun-
ter or bar and threw 81 down on it.
! Gus Turner, my brother. who was the
clerk, asked him for half dollar more,
as so cents was the rate for transient
| meals. E,. g...'a.
MATTER said in reply that 81 was all
! he was going to pay. Just then John
| O'Neil, proprietor of the hotel, stepped
up and asked Gus what the matter was.
Gus told him, whereupon Mr.. O'Neil
took the dollar.
"Mattler then went out with his
friends and was gone Is or 20 minutes;
then returned Mr.. ONeil was watch
ing him and followed him to the side Of
the hotel. where he found Matter de-
facing the building. He told Matter
where to find the Clubhouse.
Here the trouble began. Matter be-
gan calling Mr.. O'Nei1 vile names. Gus,
| hearing the conversation, stepped out
| and asked Matter not to use such Ian
guage. Matter turned upon Gus, asked
him what business It was of his and,
drawing a revolver, fired at him. Gus
| grappled with the man to defend him.
self, but Matter managed to fire two
shots at close quarters into the body OF
Gus. Gus sank to the ground and Mat
tier. wrenching himself away, fired an
other shot, although my brothers back
was turned toward him"