The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-10

gate and there, for the second time IN
twenty-one years stood outside the
prison walls When the trunk had
been brought in Sell, his friends, Mr..
drummer and Mr.. Haskell, went to the
warden's apartments in the prison.
where Sell entertained them for an
hour with stories of life in the prison.
1t was after Z O'Clock when the party.
with the exception of Sell. sat down at
the warden's table for dinner. Sell.
who had eaten before his pardon
came, went TO the hospital to pack his
trunks and boxes
was to be granted, Sell worked all day
in the hospital. When the warden
and the governors secretary arrived
with the pardon at $50 O'Clock he was
still in the hospital. The last medicine
he prepared was powder for the
chief clerk in the warden's office
Sell probably will leave the prison
tomorrow morning He said that he
Kan where he has been offered
position as clerk in the drug store
owned by L. S. Griffin, a state senator
I understand that the governor
wants me to take the place, said Sell.
81 expect to take 1t, but first I may
visit some friends Mrs Boyce wants
me to visit her and Mrs. Goodin wants
me to go to her home in Ottawa But
can't tell tonight where L Will go
first
Seth Wells Roasts Governor HOch.
A dispatch from Erie, the old home of
the Sell family. quotes ex-State Audi
tor Seth G. Wells as follows:
The pardon of Willie Sell is no sur
prise TO me. The governor practically
committed himself on the matter at the
hearing two years ago, and I am only
SURPRISED that it did not come sooner
In my judgment Sell is as red-handed
q murderer as ever entered the state
peni+entiary, and if the criminals OF this
class are tc be turned loose upon soct-
ETY. Governor Hoch may just as We'll
order the walls and doors OF the penl-
tentiary to be torn down. The Incl
dent only proves that HOch Is the weak
est and most vaciIIating governor that
Kansas has ever had To complete the
affair I believe that Mr. Hoch should
pardon Jessie Morrison and arrange for
her marriage with Willie Sell Ihen
would like to see them locate in Mar
ION, next door 70 Governor Hoch, where
they could enter the governors Sun
day school class"
W. T Dutton who lived here at the
time of the Sell murder. and was one
of the first men at the Sell home after
the crime was committed. said:
'sThe pardon is an outrage 1t is
ridiculous that man like Hoch is al
lowed to overruIe Judge Sttllwell, who
was on the bench when the case was
tried here. The people of this COM
are practically unanimous on
the subject OF Sells guilt, and the re-
Of the state would be a very impru-
dent move.
Collins Has Little Hope.
John Collins of Topeka. whose par
don for the murder of his father has
been talked of, said today:
II do not think there is much hope
for me- The pardon of Sell has moth
ing to do with my case
Collins has served eight years for
the murder of his father in Topeka
eight years ago He was convicted on
eircumstantiaI evidence and sentenced
to hang, and it has been believed sew
araI times that Governor Hoch would
pardon him Collins has been doing a
clerks work in the penitentfary since
ne has been there. He was a Kansas !
student and is well edu- /
.ated.
-"I am hoping; that's the best can 4
To-" he said this morning. Maybe 4
hey will do something for me. 1 don't 4
know what. All I can do IS to be a 1
model prisoner and hope"