The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-09

I, I am intensely anxious for your sue
| cess, not only for your sake and for
my sake but for the sake of society of
| which you will now become a reSpon-
sible member. 1t is my desire that
you find honorable employment at
once (and / have taken the precaution
TO secure several available positions
for you) and that you devote your
time and energies to some useful work.
1t is my desire that you refrain from
making any exhibition of yourself
upon the lecture platform or upon the
stage or in any spectacular way. You
will have tempting offers along all
these lines but / hope wou will refuse
them all. 1t is my desire that you
keep away from all places of question
able resort and out of evil company.
Accept no employment that will COM
pei you to work on the Sabbath. Make
a practice of attending church and of
keeping good company. OF course it
is my desire that you shall absolutely
touch not, taste not and handle not
Intoxicating liquors. You should avoid
all forms of gamblfng-all games of
chance. In making these requests,
am, as your benefactor and friend,
simply doing that which is essential
for your best good. Along these lines
and these alone lies your safety and
hope of future success. 1t will give
me great pleasure always to hear Of
your success in life and to contribute
in any way in my power to this end.
"Y ours truly,
''E. w. HOCH, Governor"
Story of the Murder.
This killing was done in the Sell
home near Erie, Neosho county Kan,
on March s, 1888, in most cold
bIooded and dastardly manner. 1t was
undoubtedly one of the most bloody
history of the state. The murders
were committed a night, when the
victims were in bed. The killing was
done with a hatchet and butcher knife,
g,
or split open and their throats cut The
only one in the family to escape was
Willie Sell. at that time an undersized,
16-year-old boy.
Willie Sell claims that he was awak-
ened about 1 a. m, March s, and saw
a man standing in the doorway be-
tween the room where he and his
brother slept, and the room where his
father, mother and sister slept. He
saw the man go out doors. He follow |
ed him for quarter of a mile, where
the man was joined by another man
with two horses, and the two men |
rode away. Willie then went to the |
home of Farmer MendelFs and gave
the alarm.
The boy who was put into he peniten- |
tiary 81 years ago. He is now 81 years |
old, and has been model prisoner for |
21 years. Every warden of the pen |
itentiary has favored his pardon, and
during the administration of Governor |
Leedy, the pardon board recommended |
an unconditional pardon. Leedy re-
fused to comply with the recommends
tion
Willie Sell Was Covered With Blood, |
On the night of the murders, Willie |
Sell had slept in his underclothes The |
front of his shirt was spattered with |
blood as if, according to witnesses, it /
had been sprayed with a small hose
There was also blood upon the draw
ers and on one knee, as if he had knelt /
in a pool of blood. His feet were |
bloody where he had stepped in pool
of his fathers blood. The creases
about the knuckles of his hands show
ed blood stains, as did his finger nails
A basin of water red with blood in
dicated that someone had washed his I
bloody hands there.
In spite of the hideousness of the
tragedy, Willie failed to show the
slightest emotion over his loss. He did |
not weep, but showed the calmness
CONTINUED on Page Six.)