The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-05-14

MOUNT AYR. PEOPLE SORE.
They Criticise in Severe Terms the Sentence given
to Matt Hunter the Murderer Of Homer Holland


murder of Homer Holland, does not
meet with the popular approval of the
citizens of Mt. Ayr and Ringgold county
is evident by reading the following
scathing denunciation which appeared
in the last issue of the Ringgold County
Record. Much comment was also heard
in this city, and everyone wondered how
Hunter escaped with less than alife SEN
tence.
The Record has hitherto said nothing
on the merits or the demerits of the
Hunter murder case. We had ordered
our news reporters to make, so far as
possible, colorless reports, and to give
what is called the news, without ex-
pressed opinion or judgment.
This course was simply matter of
policy. 1t was our right to speak, and
possibly our duty, but we waived all
that in the supposed interests of the
courts and to save expense to the coun-
ty. We did not wish in the least to
prejudice the case in the judgment of
the community, but to let the law, if
possible, have free course and be glori.
fed.
We took this course because of the
nonsense and fallacies often connected
with applications of interested lawyers
for change of venue. These news.
paper reports are fiippantIy used to In.
fuence the courts in behalf of change
of venue, the object being in nine cases
out of ten to defeat the ends of Justice
and shield criminals.
To avoid this danger and folly the
press is practically barred from it's
teaching powers and privileges. 1t is
an outrage upon the press, but as things
are now constituted must be endured
until the people see the necessity for
and demand reform. The "change of
ue''lidea is the purest humbug, and
was invented In the interest of criminals
and not Of justice. The community in
which the crime was committed Is where
the criminal should be tried.
That newspaper report prejudices
the case is selfish and sinful nonsense.
To teach men to read, think and reason
does not prejudice the intelligent Amer
lcan. When he comes to the jury box
he is ready to take the case de nova,
and here the evidence and decide ac-
cordingly.
Hunter got an absolutely fair trial,
colored with mercy, in Mt. Ayr in Feb.
ruary, 1902. No men knew this better
than the defense. They hoped by some
change to defeat justice, and that was
all. They meant to shake out sackful
OF technicalities and nonessentials in
the courts.and use them to an end.
The time has at last come when we
may speak candidly and fully about
the case, and We now do so plainly and
earnestly in the interests of law and
order, truth and justice. At the same
time we do so with a sorrow and a sad
ness more than we'can express, and yet
st the bidding of law and order and
good citizenship.
The interests of the county are deeply
involved and there should be no mine.
ing Of words OF avoiding of responsible.
ities.
When the.word came last week that
Judge Parrish had imposed light and
short sentence-thirteen years really
upon Matt.,Hunter, after the splendid
finding of the Clarke county jury and
after his own life sentence imposed after
the first trial and his declaration then
that he would not have interfered if the
jury had.found q first degree verdict, we
were just going to press, and little could
be said save to express our decided pro-
test against the unexpected judicial de.
cision and the partial miscarriage Of
justice.
1t seemed to US, indeed, fiasco. 1t
was beyond all controversy farcical
closing Of the awful tragedy, and we'll
J, calculated to bring all courts and legal
proceedings concerned into common
contempt. The best citizens of Ring,
gold county stood appalled, at the un.
expected sentence. 1t seemed partial
and almost complete notification of law.
We could not account for it, and at
once had letter addressed to the judge
in a spirit of fairness and asked him to
give his reasons for this change Of mind
and sentence. He kindly answered
but his reasons are to US exceedingly
unsatisfactory and feeble. His change
Z of base is altogether unaccountable.
The inevitable conclusion is tina,
Judge R. l.. Parrish is creed shaken in
the wind" He sends bitter disappoint.
mentato hundreds Of virtuous people in
Ringgold county and throughout the
state and caused the law-breakers and
rabble to ejoice and be glad.