The state herald., 1907-07-12
"wlLLIE" SELL is FREE.
After 1852 Days Imprisonment he
Sees Light Of Day.

After 1852 Days imprisonment no
Sees Light Of Day.
Lansing Kas.-"I wish you would al
iow me to ocupy my old cell tonight.
have no place to go. 1t is the only
home l have known for so long that
would be lost should | venture out
tonight"
And William Sell, after twenty-one
years of life in the Kansas penitentiary
was allowed to pass his first night of
freedom in his old quarters.
Sell, convicted twenty-one years ago
of the most atrocious murder in the
annals of Kansas, was liberated on re-
ceipt by the warden of pardon from
Governor Hoch.
This is about the happiest moment
of my life," said Sell, when the pa
pers giving him freedom had passed
into his possession, and Warden Has
kell had addressed him as Mr." Sell
and given him permission to violate
the prison rule in regard to addressing
visitor.
Before pardoning Sell--who, with
one exception, was the oldest prisoner
in the Kansas penitentiary in regard
to time of service-Governor Hoch ar
ranged for his immediate future. State
Senator Griffin member of the pardon
board, had promised the governor that
Sell should be given employment in
his drug store at Nortonville, Kansas.
An unforeseen circumstance, however.
prevented Mr.. Griffin from reaching
Lansing in time, and realizing his ig-
norance of the world, Sell did not care
to run the gauntlet OF the morbdly cur
ious by making the trip alone. SO he
remained another night in prison.
John higgins. parole officer of the
penitentiary, accompanied Sell when
he escorted him to his new home at
Norton7ille.
How It Feels.
"How does it feel, Mr.. Sell, to be n
| free MANI" was asked as the party was
making their way to the railroad sta
ton.
"Feel?" was the quick reply.
why, man, If were 20 live thou
sand years and had l commanded the
language of the most eloquent orator
In the world, | could not begin to out
tlh' lttllhEos nave lbohtu lol
| ward to this moment for an age. IL
seems to me.
Now that 1t has come. don't ask me
| to describe how 1t feels. Let me feast
on the sunshine, the landscape, the
green foliage"
A carriage had been provided for the
trip from the prison to the railway sta
ton. but Sell preferred TO walk.
Your pardon. gentlemen, II seem
selfish, but If you realized what this
| first voyage into your commonplace
old world meant to me I'm sure you
would not blame me.
Did any Of you ever sit down and
figure up how many days It takes to
make twenty-one years? thought
not. With Just one exception | havn't
been outside those old walls for Just
/ 1882 days. Think of 1T. .532 days
Yes, that's almost an eternity. And
| every one of those 1882 days had a
| night. Years and years ago the days
ceased to worry me to any great ex-
tent, but those nights-they were aw.
| full.
with Just little touch Of sunshine
| | have had In the last hour, | wonder
y Eb b'luE Ut
prived of II. know now that the be-
lief that some day should be free was
the only thing that saved me. felt
that the time must surely come some
time when some governor would set
me free. No greater injustice was
ever done a person than my imprison-
ment. That the loss OF father. mother.
sister and brother should not be
enough affliction for n sixteen.year-old
boy seems increditable. Not so In my
ease. however. Four months after the
murder OF my fathers family | was
brought to Lansing. condemned 10 die.
You know the rest. But. thank God.
there are some people who think
am innocent Of that crime or
wouldn't be here talking today"
The trip from the prison TO the sta
tion was nearly as enjoyable TO the
members OF the Sell party as to SNll
himself
As each object unfamiliar to n per.
son who has not even seen street car
, for more than score Of years met the
eye OF the recently liberated man It
| brought forth some enthusiastic ex-
| preston. That man thirty.seven
| years OF age could get such Infinite en-
| joyment from watching the passage OF
a trolley car as was depleted upon the
face OF willie" Sell seems almost In.
credible.