Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-10-30
J. c. Hunter Receives Exec
utive CIemenCy-Pardon
to Become Effective Here
on Monday Morning

Broken by age and long years OF
Imprisonment for a crime he denies
committing, J. C. Hunter, 79-year-old
Confederate veteran, serving a life
sentence for the alleged murder of
three women fourteen years ago, re-
ceived official notification Saturday
that his confinement was at an END
and that his rights as a citizen of
Georgia would be restored to him
Monday morning.
Out on the Lawn of the Confeder-
ate Soldiers home, where Mr.. Hun
ter has been detailed as trusty for
the past four years, w. E. McAllister,
superintendent of the institution,
handed to the aged convict an Off
cial paper signed by Governor Cliff
ford Walker, ordering his pardon,
and stating that the evidence
on which he was convicted was most
unsatisfactory.
Reiterates Innocence
The old man, partially warned of
the happy event by a battery Of
newspaper cameras which faced him
as he came out into the yard to re-
ceive his Surprise" took his re-
lease calmly. His voice, however,
trembled slightly as he thanked
Superintendent McAllister and his
lawyers, John w. Thomas and
Warthen Evans, whose efforts in his
behalf were instrumental in bringing
about the pardon.
at is good to be free Mr.. Hunt
er said after the brief ceremony was
over. "but I have never felt like d
corvict. L am as innocent of that
crime as the sun that shines down
on US today, and although l knew it,
resigned myself to the will of God
during my imprisonment
Confessions Claimed
Two other persons, since Mr..
Hunters conviction, have confessed
to the crime, according to Mr..
Hunter and his lawyers. One, ne
gro, admitted his guilt shortly after
Mr.. Hunter was sentenced to death.
The negrO's story was checked up
by the authorities and many small
details of it corroborated. The ne
gro, whose name was Bryan, how
ever, escaped from the county Jail
where he was being held at Savan-
nah and has never been located, it
is stated. His story, however, did
much towards getting Mr.. Hunters
sentence committed to life imprison-
ment.
About three years ago man who
Mr.. Hunter said was named Brad
ley, was quoted by a Texas news
paper as having confessed to the
same murder, giving details Of the
killing which were virtually identl-
cal with those Of the crime for
which Mr.. Hunter was imprisoned.
according to his lawyers!
Mrs. Hunter, from whom Mr.. Hun
ter has been separated for some
time, with two other women, a Mrs.
Ohlander and her daughter, Mrs.
Gribble, were found murdered in a
house at Perry and Montgomery
streets in Savannah on December
10, 1909.
Mr.. Hunter, protesting his inno-
cence, was tried for the crime, which
had been Committed with an ak in a
revolving manner. Although he set
up an alibi, he was convicted and
sentenced to death in March. of 1910.
New Trial Denied
While awaiting execution in the
! county Jail at Savannah, the negro
Bryan confessed to the triple muir
der. Shortly thereafter he escaped.
Meantime, Mr.. Hunter had been de-
MED a new trial. His sentence, how
ever, was committed to life. He was
sent to the state prison at Milledge-
vile and served there nine years, be-
ing detailed to the Confederate home
as a trusty four years ago.
Three years ago he first sought a
pardon, after Bradley, according to
a Texas newspaper, had confessed in
a prison there to the same crime. Re-
Gently doctors pronounced him in a
serious condition, due to his years
of confinement and his age. An op-
Grafton was necessary, they said.
Without remuneration, Attorneys
Thomas and Fans took up his case
before the pardon board and the
governor and brought it to a sue
cessful close.
Mr.. Hunter will remain at the
Old Soldiers Home, being entitled
to the same benefits given other vet
Grams. During the Civil War he be-
longed to Company F, Sixty-third
Georgia Infantry, commanded by
Colonel w. w. Gordon. He was at
Corinth, Dalton and other battles,
| and was wounded in an engagement
with Sherman's men at Peachtree
Creek, Atlanta.
Declaration of Governor
In ordering his pardon, Governor
Walker declared:
The evidence in this case is most