The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-02


Neosho county people who were on
hand to fight the application for a par
don which was presented in behalf of
William B. Sell, otherwise known as
Willie" Sell, the Neosho county man
serving a life sentence in the peniten-
tiary for the murder of his father,
mother, brother and sister on March 10,
1886
Governor Hoch strongly intimated by
his questions and attitude that he is
very favorably inclined toward the al
legged boy murderer, who for 19 years
has been in the penitentiary, and whose
36th birthday fell on May l. when the
pardon application was heard.
Governor HOch's Speech.
This attitude was still further ex-
pressed today about 1 O'Clock when Gov
crnOr HOch closed the presentation Of
testimony, arguments and remarks with
a statement OF his views on the case
He said:
This is a very peculiar case; a most
mysterious case. 1t is in many ways
q most pathetic case. This boy, Willie
Sell, is the sole survivor of his family
Seemingly the community where he
lived is against him. His apparent guilt
was undoubtedly what caused this sen
timent. I don't blame the people of
NeoshO county; they are Just like the
people of any other community But
1 must say that I have not shared and
do not share in the seeming sensitive
ness which the people from this county
exhibit about having the verdict of the
court down there set aside by a pardon
I'm sure these people do not want that
boy to remain in prison if he is innO-
cent. They should throw to the Winds
their pride in consistency.
In all the proceedings at the time
Willie Sell was convicted 1 fail to ind
anybody that championed the boys
cause. There was no one to assume his
innocence and proceed on that assump-
ton. The assumption was that
he was guilty 1t is human ma
ture that such should be the case.
Shakespeare says To the jealous, trif1es
light as air are proof positive Every
bit Of evidence was read to correspond
with this assumption Of guilt
When man like Judge Hum
phrey, whom 1 have known for so
years, philosopher, possessed of j.
keen analytical mind, gives his
thought not as a paid attorney, but as
a citizen and a father, and reaches a
conclusion, IL i'll becomes d governor
OF a state to say that the question is
not OF sufficient importance to war
rant his investigation. If I could sit
here the remainder of my term. and
investigate nothing but this one case,
with the certainty that I would ultt-
mately get at the truth, I would be
willing to do it.
The consideration of what the peo-
PIE OF NeOSh0 county want done in this
matter viii have only this much in
huence on me: That these people
probably 1 say probably. know more
about 1t than people living at a dis
tance.
It has been very clearly develoDed
curing this hearing that this boy did
not nave sufficient defense at the time
Of his conviction. He had a number
eI so-called lawyers, who were scram-
ping Tor possession of his property.
hVen those who are opposing the
granting OF this pardon characterize
ms lawyers as a gang 1 have a son,
ana / know that I would not entrust
MS welfare to the hands of such men
as these lawyers of Willie Sell have
Deen- represented to be at this hearing.
me challenge has come to me In
me public prints that I do an utterly
Impossible thing, and give Willie Sell
new trial, under certain conditions
If ! was the supreme court of this
state and could give this boy a new
trial with the ablest lawyers in the
state to defend him, I can tell you
that it wouldn't take me a minute tc
make up my mind to grant such 3
trial
"On the other hand. I am frank te