The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-01
Failed to Pass His Examina-
tiOn as a Pharmacist.
Not Dismayed and Will Try
1t Again.
VISITS MIR. SLATER.
Says Topeka Is Most Beautiful
City He Has Seen.
Expects to Continue Work in
Senator Griffin's Store.

81 am taking my first vacation said
Willie Sell, who was recently pardon
ed by Governor Hoch after having
served 20 years in the state peniten-
tfary for the murder of the Sell fam
lily on a farm near Erie, Neosho coun-
~, as he sat in the office of his friend
and counselor, Fred c. Slater, this
morning. Il am returning from kan
sas City where L took the pharmaceu-
teal examination and failed to make
the required grades to pass
Il was not greatly surprised nor dis
appointed, for though 1 have had con-
siderable experience in compromising
prescriptions and work of that kind,
L knew nothing of the mode OF con-
Quoting examinations of this kind or
of the technical knowledge necessary
to secure a druggists certificate.
will take another examination in about
six months and think that with the
things 1 learned this time 1 will have
no trouble in making the required
grades.
II could not think of passing
through Topeka without stopping off
and seeing Governor Hoch and MI
Slater who have been my friends with
out hope of remuneration or reward:
Mr.. Slater has given of his time ana
ability and has been one friend who
has done more for me than anyone
else and l want to publicly express my
lasting gratitude to him. Governor
HOCh. too, mas zone much IOA mt e1hN
I have his letter of advice in my pocket
and have carried it with me since
Topeka is the most beautiful city
have ever seen, though it has changed
much since 1 was here last, "a years
ago. I was singing in glee cluD at
that time and Governor st. John
campaign was on and l toured me
state singing prohibition songs Ior the
state central committee
You sing some now? was sug-
gested. not done
much singing of late and L expect that
I am pretty badly out of tune"
Sell is a pleasant appearing young
man whose age might easily be
GUESSED at 25 though he admits that
he is 81. He is we'll dressed and neat
appearing and willingly discusses all
the different phases of the crime
which caused him to spend 20
years of his life in o felop's
is entirely innocent. There are
no crows feet about his eyes nor |
gray hairs on his head to indicate the |
troubles which have been his and APP |
parently he bears no luminosity to
wards those who were responsible for
his imprisonment
ssMany letters have been written to |
me from my old home district ex- |
pressing sympathy and congratula- |
ton" said he. though I know that |
some harsh things have been written |
and said about the action of Governor !
Hoch because he pardoned me. There
are but a few people who feel towards ,
me as do these few but unfortunately |
they are of the wealthy and influen-
tial class.
''Mr. Seth Wells has taken an active
interest in the case and against me
and is responsible for considerable or
the agitation unfavorable to me in |
Neosho county and this can be ac-
counted for in only one way, politics.
His mother might have been one of
nv principal witnesses but she was
reason. She was suffering from con-
sumption and was sitting near win
dow and saw the three men ride up
the street on the night of the murder
and Mr.. Wells knows of this incident.
The omission of her testimony is only |
one of the incidents showing some of
the errors in the trial of my case. |
have heard from nearly all of my rela-
tives since my release. One of my |
uncles, Harrison Sell, who disap- |
peared shortly after the murder, has |
never been heard of since. though we !
have made repeated attempts to locate |
him. 1 remember many of the Incl |
dents which occurred about the time |
of the crime and particularly the visit |
of this uncle just a few days prior to |
the murder.
There is no doubt in my mind that |
considerably more money was owned |
by my father than has ever been &C |
counted for but the fact that $275 was
found in his pocket was one of the |
strong links in the chain of evidence |
which convicted me. This money rep
resented his salary for school teach |
ing for a full term and was drawn the |
day previously.
at hold no ill feelings towards any
one and shall try and follow the ad-
vice of Governor Hoch and my friends
have nice place in Senator Griffin's
drug store at Nortonville and receive
the best of treatment from every one.
great deal of the time but as we ham
die notions I wait on trade in all of the
departments"
Mr. Sell was shown through the me-
ehanical department of the Topeka
State Journal and took a deep interest
in the working of the linotype ma
chimes and the press which was run
Saturday issue. at is all so different
from what have been used to seeing
IN the printing line" he said 'sfor I
have had some little experience in that
department at the state institution
where 1 was confined so long.
Down there they have crude out
fit when compared with the equipment
of this office and have had no know
ledge of how the work is done on
great daily newspa per-" He examined
the minutest details of the battery of
linotype machines and the press as
well as the stereotyping apparatus He
is the guest of Mr.. Slater while in the
city and expects to leave for Norton
Vile tonight to take UP his work as a
drug clerk.
The Prudential State Savings bank
placed a handsome new sign across
the front of their building this morn