Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-12
Trial OF A. N. HUNTER
Man Who Murdered Homer Hol.
land, the Athlete, Placed on
Trial Today.
The Case Will Be Fought by
Able Attorneys on Both
Sides.
Jealousy Over Affections of
Josie Bowman. OF Leon.
Cause OF Tragedy.

Mount AYR, Feb. 1.-THE trial of A.
M. Hunter charged with the murder OF
Homer Holland in this town on Nov. y
1901. began in the district court today
ON REQUEST of County Attorney f. 5.
Fuller n special venire of twenty-foul
men have been drawn in addition to the
regular jury panel. These jurors have
&c securing men whose participation
will insure a fair trial in the most i'm
nortant murder case which ever came
up in this county.
Hunter will be prosecuted and de-
Tended by attorneys who are the most
eminent in southern Iowa. County At
tcrney Fuller will be assisted in the
prosecution by III. r. Spence. of the ilrln
OF Spence & Smith. MIR. Spence is
chairman of the republican state CEN
trail committee.
1t may be of interest to know that a
few days after the shooting of Holland
and prior to the employing of other
counsel the defendant sought to secure
the services of Mr.. Spence. After an
investigation into the circumstances of
the death of young Holland Mr. Spence.
who is an intimate friend of ex-Sheriff
Holland, the father of the dead boy,
refused to accept retainer and dis
missed MIR. Hunter with the statement
that he did not feel he could afford to
become connected with the defense.
Hunter is not, however, without able
counsel The law firm of Henry d
Miles, the senior partner of which was
for several years on the bench In this
district, have been retained, and they
will put up stubborn opposition to the
efforts to convict. Messrs. Henry &
Miles have associated with them in the
defense Lewis Miles, of Corydon. broth
err of the junior member of the firm and
at present United States district attor-
ney for the southern district of Iowa.
Lewis Miles did not wish to be known
as connected with the case until it
came to trial, and the announcement
that he would take part was not made
until yesterday.
The community Is taking a judicial
attitude which assures fair and i'm
partial trial for Hunter. There is an
almost total absence of prejudice. The
testimony brought out may change
public sentiment as the trial progresses
but at present there seems to be no
sentiment one way or the other, the
public being content to leave the deter
mination of Hunters guilt or inno-
cenca to the court and iury.
S. II. Hunter, father of the accused.
was until about thirteen years ago =
resident OF Mount Ayr. At that time
he separated from his wife here and re-
moved OF Emmetsburg, where he has
since lived. He arrived yesterday and
was In consultation with the attorneys
for the defense during the afternoon.
Later he was closeted with Lewis Miles
for several hours going over the case
and examining the testimony taken at
the coroner's inquest. AT the close of
the conference Mr.. Miles stated that he
did not believe a jury could be gotten
together In less than two days. The list
of the petit jury panel was in the hands
of the attorneys and they went over it
with a view of wedding out those who
appeared objectionable.
Homer Holland was shot and killed
on street in Mount Ayr on the after
noon of Nov. by A. NJ. Hunter, popu-
l;rly known as Matt" Hunter. The
tragedy attracted state wide attention.
because of Hollands athletic proves
and the trouble which waged for two
years in the Iowa intercollegiate Ath-
lrtic Association over the charge of
professionalism brought against him.
He was born and reared here. In his
early youth he was famous as foot
racer, ball player and all-around ath-
lete. He entered Drake University at
Des Moines and his athletic ability
brought that school to the fore front in
Iowa athletics. Then charges of pro-
fessionalism were brought against him
and finally sustained by the state games
committee. He left Drake University
and returned to Mount Ayr to live. Soon
after returning he began gambling and
up to the time his death was more or
less associated with gamblers Hunter
Is gambler and he and Holland were
very much together. Just before the
tragedy they had quarreled over $50.
which Holland claimed Hunter owed
him.
On the day of the tragedy, after some
discussion of the alleged debt, Hunter
laid down $40, which Holland seized
and went out on the street. Hunter fol-
lowed him and shot him. No one saw
the shooting at close range The theory
Of the state is that it was deliberate
murder. II is understood that Hunters
attorney will plead self-defense. When
Holland was raised after falling to the
sidewalk an unloaded revolver was
found under him. His friends think it
fell from his pocket. Hunters friends
think Holland started to draw the gun
for bluff and Hunter, not knowing 1t
was not loaded shot in self-defense.
After the shooting it developed that
both men We're paving attention to Miss
Josie Bowman. central telephone opera
tor al Leon, and that they We're jealous
of each other. 1t is thought this phase
may figure in the trial of the case.
SELLING HORSE MEAT.
~ K.t