The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-27
One Report Is That He Has
Been Released From Prison.
Parole Board Members Declare
This Statement Untrue.
ALL KEPT SECRET.
FayOrs Shown Wealthy Prison
ers Add Zest to RumOr.
Reporters Barred From Federal
Pen Under New Rules.

Leavenworth, Kan, Sept 27.-John
R. Walsh will not be released from the
federal prison here until next week. II
he is paroled at all. it was declared
today.
From an apparently authoritative
source 1T was learned that the report
of the federal board of paroles will
positively be made in Washington TO
Attorney General Wickersham by r.
V. LaDow, president Of the board, in
person. He has the power to send the
report by mail or telegraph but Il IS
said that this will not be done. Mr..
LaDow will not be in washington un-
til the early part of next week.
Following the receipt Of the board
recommendation by tie attorney gen
eraI if it be favorable to the prisoner
the final act of parole viii be taken.
one OF the most persistent rumors here
is that the bankers parole papers had
been prepared before President LaDoW
left Washington and that an ATTEMPT
would be made to release Walsh Sc
cretly-
one story even went so far as 20
say that W alsh had been spirited out
of prison and taken to Chicago on "a
train last night. Board members in
sist that Walsh's case viii be treated
exactly like that of any other prisoner.
is Walsh Free Now?
That John r. Walsh. the former
Chicago banker, was released from
the federal prison Tuesday is a rumor
that can not be verified here. but Will
not down. and, in keeping with a new
policy at the prison since so many
bankers have become its guests, such
a thing has been denied there.
The warden at first denied that
Walsh had been before the parole
board. Later it was admitted by the
L. r
been seen by the members before noon
Tuesday.
The warden, r. w. McClaughrey.
admitted he had been mistaken and
explained he had so much to do he
was NEARLY crazy"
Contradictions. the known favors
shown wealthy prisoners. have set
afioat the rumor that Walsh already
has been paroled, is out OF prison and
probably is speeding to a secluded
spot, avoiding the publicity which the
prison authorities, under orders from
Attorney General Wickersham. have
barred the prison doors against. The
attorney general recently suggested to
the warden that he move his office to
the front, in order 20 keep reporters
entirely on the outside. This however.
has not been done yet.
There is a suspicion that the papers
are already here and that Walsh Will
be released secretly. The officials.
however, emphatically deny It and say
he Will have to take his turn just like
any other prisoner. The department
of justice has during the past year
placed such censorship on the prison
that no guard would dare discuss
prison affairs with an outsider and
even the warden is forbidden TO give
anything but the plainest routine in
formation.
Reporters are allowed only In GER
tain portions Of the prison and are
given written forms containing such
news as is Official" No pictures OF
prisoners or any parts of the prison
can be given out under any circum-
stances. These restrictions are pecu-
liar to this prison and have all been
imposed since prominent bankers be-
came guests at the prison. Walsh.
when released, will make every effort
to avoid notoriety and inasmuch as no
prison official is allowed to divulEe
when he is to be released, IL released
at all, he may be able to escape notori-
ETY. for several weeks.