The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-27


The action Of Governor Hodges in
swing freedom to the men II the fnal
chapter In three of the most oensa-
tional killings I'm southeastern Kansas.
Each of the men had been convicted OF
killing a woman. Asbell was serving
life sentence for wife murder. Rainey
killed his sweetheart. Farnsworth'D
sentence was 20 years for wife murder.
Asbell and Rainey had each served
nearly 20 years straight time. whtlo
Farnsworth went to Landing in 1907
All Of the men have had almost perfect
records during the time they have been
in the penitentiary.
When Their Paroles Came.
' There was a pathetic scene in the
Bertillon oNce at the penitentiary yes
terday when Parole Clerk Sam Seaton
handed the three convicts their paroles.
Seaton left the governors ONCE early
in the afternoon with the paroles In hio
pocket. At the penitentiary he told
Warden Botkin to bring the three men
before him. They came single dle-
swarthy little Farnsworth. the mus
,cular giant. Asbell. and tho lean. lank
and haggard Rainey in the rear. A.
the men took seats opposite seaton.
three pairs Of eyes searched those Of
the parole clerk for some answer to the
sudden call to the Bertillon once.
Suppose Jap" said Seaton address
ing Rainey. that told you the govor-
nor nAu e18ucO y WoSAeus AVS yOU "
II wouldn't believe It" declared
Rainey. But the mans face went
chalk white and his mouth twitched
at the corners as he said It Asbel1
and Farnsworth fidgeted nervously In
their chairs and to the three men tho
few seconds intermission must have
seemed an hour.
s'The governor hasn't done Just sx-
actly that" said seaton who con
he has signed some papers in the
cases Of you three"
II am ready to hear anything" vol
unteered the giant Asbell.
me, too" said FarnsWorth.
WELL" said Seaton. ''the governor
is going to send you home for Thanks
giving"
Three men never Strengthened up
In their chairs more suddenly than did
the three murder convicts. And in
eyes were dimmed with tears and
three hands were outstretched to
grasp that of the governors repre-
sentative. For five minutes they tried
to thank Seaton. But 1t was no use.
1t wasn't in their vocabularies. Only
the smiles that the men had not worn
In years and the eyes that couldn't
keep back the tears told the story Of
what the Thanksgiving paroles really
meant
Prisoner Cheered News.
Then the men were measured to be
''dressed OUT in real prison society
clothes. After that they were led
back to their cells. Five minutes later
/ the news spread through the cells 1t
was almost time for lights out" but
the news travelled fast. through cell
block after cell block and from cage
to cage. "Asbell. Rainey and Farns-
worth are going home" was the mes
sage. Then, AZ though someone. had
suddenly touched an electric button In
| giving 4 signal. there was = cheer
| from the men in cell block No. 1. An
l instant later the cheering was taken
up in another block and another, Zach
man rejoicing IN the good fortune that
Thanksgiving had brou9ht to their
| fellow inmafea No one trted to stop
Them It would have probably been
useless to hAve stx7od.
Tho stories Of the threo murders
for which ASbeu. Ratney and Farms
worth went - pfloen etp = pnse ok
| the most senoa&io0al of ~ serfu51nal
| reeords Of sOufheast Xauaua RN1H6v
snd TAxnsworth aAlnitted tie k1l11lIi
| for which they Hout to pfioouf IL
/ though eaeh. claiMa6 . le9Al 94lk
1Co1siane4 = laee 1UG1-