Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-23
FOUR COMPANIES OF THE MI
LlTIA ASSIGNED TO PROTECT
JuNKlN RESTING EASY.
THE "BOYs" SHOCKED
Moral Effect OF Murderers's Presence
at Ft. Madison Told Humorously
by T. Green The Conserva-
tory of Music.

!
Fairfield, Washington and Oskaloosa,
OF the National Guard, who have been
assigned by the commander of the
guard to insure safety to the murder
er John Junkin during his arrangement
and trial next month, have been busy
with the various maneuvers. incidental
to such work since the order was
given. Now, however. there is a tenn
porary relif from the stress under
winch they labored. previous to the
court order of Judge M. A. Roberts
that Junkin's arrangement and trial
would not take place until April.
Inc seIf-confessed murderer Junkin
IS treated as the black sheep at the
penitentiary in Fort Madison, where
the prisoners flee from his presence as
though he spread a pestilence and
might contaminate them by associa-
ton with him.
Green on the OPEN"
Tom Green, of the Burlington Gaz-
cite, whose news stories are all flavor
ed with keen wit, has the following
on Junkin's sojourn in Warden San
ders' institution for the reformation
OF criminals at FIT. Madison:
When Warden Sanders was in Des
Moines recently he told the news
papers there that he felt the necessity
OF lsolating Junkin. as it is said the
prisoners life would not be safe among
the highly cultured moral GONZALES
cents who sojourn in his conservatory
of music. They boys" We're highly
shocked when Junkin was brought into
their midst and some of them ex-
pressed themselves quite forcibly, ac-
cording to Mr.. Sanders, as to the pun
ishment that should be meted out to
him.
"A committe of life termers who had
been unjusty convicted for numbering
several inoffensve women, children
and old men framed round robin it
is said, to the effect that they refused
TO eat at the same table with such
brutal criminal as Junkin. When one
| of them was demonstrated with for his
uncharitable action he sulked and re-
fused to learn his music lesson, for
which derellction he was forbidden to
| wear his red necktie for three Sundays
in succession.
Junkin's Presence Not Liked.
The glee club, led by much perse-
| cuted young fellow, who rightly felt
That the world owed him living and
proceeded to collect it wit ha piece of
lead pipe and was unwarrantedly in
! terfered with by the authorities on
\ three different occasions, said they
would not sing note while Junkin
was in prison After much coaxing
and the promise of an additional ra-
ton of pie for each meal, the singers
We're placated and changed their minds
about warbling.
! The basket ball team, composed Of
hNe greatly abused second story work
ers, forgers. con men and depredators
of the modest boards of widows and
orphans, was also highly indignant at
the intrusion of Junkin in their midst
It's an outrage said Mr.. 'Skeeter
Kid, to int1ict the presence of such
a monstrous criminal as Junkin upon
our community. In my long experience
in institutions of this character cover
ing period of twenty years. have
never been SO insulted 1t is prepos-
ferrous, concluded Mr.. skeeter Kid,
cutting off slice of expensive Hiper
[ Piepsick chewing tobacco.
Perhaps the most indignant inmate
was Mr.. Ad Storms. 1t is alleged that
Mr.. Storms was quite outspoken in his
condemnation Of Junkin. I would not
speak to him if l met him face to face
on the street. said Mr. Storms
through the clouds of smoke from his
ashamed Of itself inflicting such a
monster on US
"Mr. Hazzy Hedge, colored, who is in
retirement because he justifiedly made
a ribbon display out of fellow negro
| in Keokuk because the said negro had
demanded Is cents that Hazzy owed
him and a prejudiced coroner's jury
said 1t was murder. was another Of
those who protested. Mr.. Hedge has
been bounded by the law for several
years for various derelictions that, ac-
cording to his statement had not the
slightest foundation. He now plays
the bass drum in the band and is one
Of the best embroidery workers in the
refuge. That man Junkin,' said Mr..
Hedge, is a blot on the fair name of
our race. I am surprised that the au-
thorities should be so short sighted as
to immune this desperate in our midst.
| If | had my way, I would say four
slaps on the wrist and then away with
! him..
| IF Junl5in's presence in the sanito-
rum thus disturbs the placidity Of
the routine, would it not be safer for
| him and for the morals of the sew
ing circle society of the pen" to move
him to some place where his presence
would not have such a jeapordizing
effect. Why not put him in one of the
orphans homes of the state for safe
keepng?'
friends left for his home at Stockton,