The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-02-02
DOES HIS TINE COuNT2
Des Moines Newspapers Quote Au-
thorities and Argue Law in
Matt Hunter Case,

Is Matt Hunter serving out his SEN
tence while he refuses to be sat hard
labor?' The question has broken out
again. In Tuesdays Des Moines Capt.
tai the following article appeared
According to the opinions of Attor-
ney General Mullan and Governor Cum
Minis, the popular impression that Matt
Hunter, slayer of Homer Holland, has
not yet begun to serve out his % year
sentence is erroneous. The theory of
the warden that inasmuch as the Judge
sentenced Hunter to serve % years at
hard labor his time does not commence
to run until he goes to work, has been
shared by the public and most officials
The unqualified opinion Of the attorney
general supported by the governor
disposes of this theory. They say that
while Hunter can lose the opportunity
Of earning ten years of good time by
reason of his stubbornness, there is no
doubt but that he will be entitled to
his release at the end Of 25 years, if he
lives that long, even if he never does
any work and elects; to endure the
gloom of a dark cell and subsist on
bread and water as result thereof
The report of the warden at Fort
Madison for the current months shows
that Hunter still ranks as third grade
prisoner. This meansithat he is allowed
none of the privileges accorded to the
well behaved prisoners, can see no one,
write no one, read nothing but the
Bible, must remain in a dark cell and
subsist on bread and water until his
vitality gives out. He is then given
better food and more air for time I'M
til his health is restored, when his CT
deal must begin again.
i This can go on, alternately, for %
years but no. longer The impression
that his attitude had the effect of max
ing his term life sentence, was wrong.
If his stubborn will could be broken
even now, he could escape with 8years
OF actual imprisonment, but at most he
can remain behind the bars but %
years, which is much better than his
first sentence, which was for life.
THE OTHER SIDE.
The Register and Leader of the fol-
lowing day contained the following ar
ticle, which possibly was intended as
rejoiner to the Capitals story:
"Some discussion has been and is be-
ing INDUCED in as to whether Matt
Hunter, confined in the penitentiary at
Fort Madison for the murder of Homer
Holland at Mt. Ayr, has begun yet to
serve his sentence. Governor Cummins
and Attorney General MuIlan have been
quoted, probably without authority, as
saying that despite the fact that he is
kept in solitary confinement he has be-
gun to serve his sentence and will have
to be released at the end of the SEN
tence period, even if he remains in soli-
tary confinement all of the time that he
is in prison.
matter:
Section 1882. No convict shall be
discharged from the penitentiary until
he has remained for the full term for
which he was sentenced, to be compu-
ted from and including the day On
which he was received into the same,
exclusive of the time he may have been
in solitary confinement for any viola
ton Of the rules and regulations of the
prison, unless he be pardoned or other
wise released by legal authority
cit is on account of this language
that it has been said that Hunter can
not be said to have begun to serve his
sentence yet, because he has been con-.
fined in solitary because he has violated
the rule of the prison as to labor.
at is a fact that the authorities of
the prison have a right to make him
work. Section $685. provides that if a
convict shall resist the authority of
the prison authorities or refuse to
obey their official lawful commands,
the officers may enforce obedience by
the use of such weapons or other aid
| as will be etfectual and if prisoners are
wounded or killed in such effort the
officers are justified. OF course, the
prison authorities never enforce orders
to this extent but the law seems to con-
fer ample power upon them to do it,"
Beautiful eyes and handsome face are
eloquent concentrations. Bright eyes
are windows to woman's heart. Hollis
ter's Rocky mountain tea makes bright
eyes. 30 cents. Tea or Tablets. W. G..
Stcmnel & Co.
An Unfortunate Family.
Charlton, Jan. 26. While out hunting,
near Russell, Joseph Dixon of that
place, was seriously injured. His gun
caught on the branch of tree, the con-