Bisbee daily review., 1912-03-31
THE CASE OF MR MATTA,

Nn NFN ' Ns
 Some speculation, We understand
 is being indulged in as to the statu
 Of Mir Eugene Matta, whose peculia
 case is of greater interest than th,
 gentleman himself Mr. Matta ha
 for some time been domiciled in ;
 large and imposing structure, con
 structed by the late territory Of Ari
 zona, at great expense near the towr
 of Florence. Pinal county, famed fol
 the salubdiety of its climate and the
 flowing whiskers and oratory of on
 friend, Col Thomas F. weedin.
 It is the belief of those who were familiar with the circumstances sur
 rounding the affair of Mir Matta that
 his residence would be permanent and somewhat restricted. He was, ir fact. alluded to by those who were rude Of speech and archaic as to theii notions of prison management. as a long term or life convict
 Mir Matta under some impulse, modified, it was alleged, by a certain degree Of deliberation and tincturcd by malice, became the providential means Of the demise of a fellow citi, zen. Certain brutal persons in that vicinity. armed with little brief authority, abridged his constitutional rights of freedom and the pursuit of happiness and accused him of ''mur- der" word which is, happily going out of use in Arizona. Mir. Malta was brought before oourt-anI equally happily. courts are about to have their talohs rimmed-and iury composed of unfeeling persons some of whom, We are informed, favored the elongation of his neck. Others, still less mercifll, proposed 10 subject him to the perpetual misery of pris- On cell. The latter form or brutality prevailed and Mr Matta was trans. ported to an institution that has been yulgarly called a penitentiaYy.
 
 But, Mir. Matta was destined to fall upon happier times. when what had been mistaken as a crime should be clearly recognized misfortune. So far as possible, the state has compeu- satcd Mir. Matta and others similarly situated for the discomforts they havo endured at the hands of misguided society.
 Now we are brought to the presen. status of Mir. Matta which presents what We may call hypothetical prob lem, for. in the circumstances, it can, never become a real problem. Mr. Matta has been sent on a mission, the nature of which we do not know. .o Albuquerque with the understandings that he shall return to his domiciie near Florence there to remain until he shall be again commissioned. or until provision has been made for his permanent absence either by parole or pardon.
 Idle persons and some Of the archaic regime have asked, What if Mir Mat Ga, once beyond the boundaries Of Ari-' zona and remembering some Of the and nonotony. (there is none now,) Of his existence in the Asy- um for the Unfortunate, sholld decline To recross the boundary" What could be done about it It has been pointed put that the usual processes. employed In the apprehension Of fugitives from justice or escaping prisoners, could not be invoked in his case. He is not ! fugitive from justice but on the con rary. be IS an honor man. as much 70 as those who attain academic dis .inrtion in the great English uuiVer-t iities or other seats Of learning.
 Mir. Matta could not be apPrehended 'n a warrant charging him with any ict which in prehistoric times in Ari- ona was called a crime. for. having nce been put in jeopardy, in the in- ident wherein a fellow citizen was .eprived Of life. he could not again be estrained of his liberty in that con