The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-10-08
Matt HUNTER is BAD
Ringg0ld County Murderer not Earn
ing Good Time in Prison Accord
ing to Report of the Warden.

4
Mat Hunter, who was sentenced to
twenty-five years in the penitentiary at
Ft. Madison by Judge r.. L.. Parrish for
the killing of Homer Holland, is up to
his old tricks again, and has refused
to go to work. When he was in the
penitentiary, after heing sentenced for
life, he refused to work and Warden
Jones sent for him in order to have a
talk. The warden endeavored to show
him that it would be easier for him to
go to work and try to obey the rules
and regulations of the penitentiary.
Hunter replied by saying he never had
worked and that he did not propose to
commence working at his time i'm life.
The interview with Warden Jones ended
with the suggestion that he had called
for him this time, and that when he
wanted to sec him again it would be
necessary for Hunter to send up his
card and ask for second interview
Hunter persisted in his determination
not to work, and he was placed in the
dungeon, where he remained for the
longest time known to a prison officials.
He succeeded in breaking the solitary
confinement record.
When the hope of new trial was
held out to Hunter he was persuaded
by his attorneys or the warden to be
good and go to work. 1t was thought
that a good prison record would be
helpful to him in the trial that was
held at Osceola. 1t will be remembered
that Warden Jones gave out an inter
view in the capital city papers, just
prior to the trial at Osccola, in which it
was stated that Hunter had been good
prison and was working faithfully in
the penitentiary. This interview con
tradicted the previous report made by
the warden, and it was supposed that
Warden Jones lad been worked" by
some one interested in Hunters defense.
The matter was passed over at the time,
and the attorneys for the State did not
even call the attention of the State
Board of Control to Warden Jones con-
Trajectory interviews, which could very
properly have been done, as it was no
part of this officers business to aid in
any way in the defense of SO noted a
criminal.
1t now appears from the report of
Warden Jones made to B. W. Garrett,
pardon clerk to Governor Cummins,
that Mat Hunter is not earning any
good time. This report was filed with
Mr.. Garrett on September "a. Hunter
has been placed in the the third grade
& which indicates that his behavior is far
from good. Prisoners in this grade are
not allowed to hold communications
with anyone, and cannot receive letters
or visitors.
The report of the warden made to the
governors Office, bears out what Sheriff
III. M. Miller learned while in Ft Madi-
son last week, where he went to deliver
Jos. Fullhart to the prison officials.
Hunter positively refused to go to work
and the officials of the penitentiary
again placed him in solitary confine-
ment, until such time as he would con-
sent to obey the rules of the institution
and go to work This form of punish
ment rarely ever fails to bring a prison
er to his senses, for one who is not
good in the penitentiary is seldom very
happy. But Hunter WAS obstinate and
refused to work after the severest pun
ishments known to the prison had been
inflicted, The officials were entirely
baiiled in their efforts to compel Hunter
to work, and fearing he would die in
solitary confinement before he could be
induced to work-which he boldly
stated would be the result--the officers
concluded to abandon their efforts to
! compel their prisoner to work. Hunter
is now in the third grade, and is kept
locked up in cell by himself where all
communications with him are absolute
q ~ prohibited. His rations consist of
the simplest foods, but he Of course en-
Joys the pure sweet sunshine of heaven,
which lie was denied Of while in solitary
confinement.
If Hunter persists in not working and
ii, disobeying the rules Of she institu-
tion he Will have to serve cut the term
of twenty-five years to which he was
sentenced by Judge Parrish. BY being
good he could have reduced his sentence
to thirteen years and seven months,
counting the time deduced for good
behavior. From present indications,
I, however, it appears that he likes the
place and he has concluded to serve out
the full sentence imposed upon him.
Mt. Ayr Record.
Farms for Sale.
A $50 acre farm, 3 miles from Line
! Il l.