The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-01
BISOT'S STRANGE CAREER.
Murderer, Fugitive and Wealthy Doc
tor Comes Back to Prison.

Governor Chase has under consideration q
pardon for Arthur Blsot, who committed
murder in Bedford, Lawrence county, Christ
mas night. 1876. The case is one of peculiar in
tsrest Bisot was found guilty of killing the
marshal Of Bedford and given a life sentence.
The circumstances OF the crime and the sem
tence passed upon her son caused the mother
of the convicted man to become i'll with
brain fever. Bisot, only eighteen years
Of age, was taken to the pententiary at
Jacksonville. The condition of his mother
grew steadily worse and Governor Williams
family physician stating that it
was but the one chance to
save the woman's life. With
the assurance that he would return 10 the
prison at the expiration of his furlough, he was
allowed to go unaccOmpanied by a guard.
Her son with her, the mothers condition
changed for the better, and Bisot day after day
dreaded more and more his return 70 the prison.
Friends talked to him and advised him
TO escape. and frenEied at the thought of be-
ing confined for life, he followed the advice and
left. Extenuating circumstances were made at
the time and have been made since for the
murder, but these were of no avail
even in getting for the man executive
olemency beyond the furlough. Bisot made
good his escape. going first to the mining
east. He went to Philadel phia where he
passed through afull course OF medical lectures.
Although he was sought for his whereabouts
could never be learned. was anything
learned OF him until many years had gone by
and his mother began to seek q pardon
for him. de was then in Mexico,
beyond the reach of the Indiana authorities
He had prospered in Mexico through his pro-
fession and mining interests, but there came a
longing to return to Indiana. No one in Mex
leo knew OF his crime or his past history, for
there he went under an assumed name. Nor
did that name appear in the long seeking for
pardon which was asked for Internationally.
Mrs. BisOt repeatedly sought this pardon
from Governors Porter Gray and Hooyey. ALI
refused 10 interfere in any way, the chief reR-
son for not considering the being that
Bisot was a fugitive from justice. A short
time before his death soft chord was struck
in Governor Hoovey's heart and he consented
to investigate the case. After Governor
Hoovey's return from his trip to
Mexico Bisot wrote home that he
had met the governor and shaken hands with
him. None in the party, however knew him
or recognized him in any way. Matters
had reached such point in
the case that the governor had
promised Mrs. BsOt that il her son should re-
turn to the state and surrender to the prison
authorities he would further consider the case.
The death of the governor for q time broke off
all negotiations but the matter was quickly
brought to the attention of Governor Chase.
He has since been investigating the case for
himself and he has made the same promise
of his predecessors. 81 would never in my po-
sitiOn chief executive of Indiana pardon a
fugitive" said the governor some weeks ago.
Bisot for long time refused 10 accept the
conditions of the governor, but his mothers
letters and appeals caused him to change his
mind. Tuesday he returned TO Jacksonville
and gave himself up TO Warden Patton. From
the fact of mis- having voluntarily gone back to
prison il is very probable that pardon for his
crime will be forthcoming.
Governor Chase Thursday granted a pardon
TO Arthur Bisot, of whose strange case so much
has been said recently. he now enjoys his
liberty with George Bechtel. who was con.
voted of manslaughter and was pardoned
some time ago. The two men were on a spree
and killed the town marshal OF Bedford at the
time. The petition asking the governors Glenn
ency for Bsot was signed by the judge,
prosecutor and other attorneys in the case aud
also by a thousand or more residents OF Bed
ford. The reasons given for asking for par
don were that he had suffered enough in the
five years imprisonment and from anguish in
being banished from his country and home.
Bisot was released from the penitentiary at
JefiersOnville yesterday. where he surrendered
himself few days ago after many years spent
in Mexico. He went at once to Bedford.
The SENTINEL correspondent at Bedford
was the first TO carry the news OF his pardon to
Bisofs mother. Her face frightened ct the
glad tidings and tears down her face as she
said THANK God" Mrs. Bisot had been for
years beseeching governors for this pardon.