The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-05
TWO men co FREE
Paroles for Ike johnson and
Theodore McKim.
Were Life Term Atchison
County Convicts.
THEY KILLED SALOONKEEPER
Johnson Made Record as Prison
Surgeon.
Announcement of Clemency Is
Withheld. ss
THEY KILLED SALOONKEEpEn

Governor Hodges has granted pa
roles to Ike Johnson and Theodore
McKim, two Of the most widely known
convicts in the state penitentiary who
were sent up for first degree murder
in Atchison county ten years ago. NC
Kim was dressed out" several days
ago and johnson will leave the prison
this week. News OF the granting OF
the paroles was suppressed in the gov
ernor's office.
Twelve or fifteen years ago Johnson
and McKim were among the most
widely known holdup men In the Mis-
souri, valley and operated extern
aively in the Missouri river coun-
ties. In 1903, the men were convicted
Of the murder of Nicholas Bierick, an
Atchison saloonkeeper. Since going to
the penitentiary, both Johnson and
McKim have reformed, it is said. and
johnson has become an expert sur
9eou. assisting in nearly 500 minor
and major operations. johnson Will
leave the prison to become surgeon
in Leavenworth hospital is
claimed.
Charged With Many Crimes.
Both of the prisoners bore bad rec
orde for crime when convicted OF the
Atchison county murder. once Jonn-
son was charged with participation In
man. He was placed in the Leaven-
worth county Jail to evade a Wyan-
dotte county mob and was positively
identified as one of the assailants.
''Toots'' Rambo. Johnson's alleged ac-
complice, was not thoroughly identi-
fled. But in the trial Of the cases.
Rambo was convicted and johnson
was acquitted. johnson and McKim
were suspected Of numerous robberies
and holdups, but not until after the
Ii 10 convict cd
Of crime.
The shooting of the Atchison saloon
keeper occurred May 1, 1908. Nc
Kim and johnson entered the saloon
and ordered Bierick to throw up his
hands. Instead, the saloonkeeper
drew a revolver and began firing. In
the pistol duel which followed, Bier
ick was killed and Johnson was bad
ly wounded, but when the police ar
rived succeeded in making his escape
from the saloon. In the trial OF the
case, johnson sought to prove an
alibi, but it was broken by the sud
den and unexpected confession Of Nc
Kim. Both men were convicted OF
first degree murder and sent to the
penitentiary for life terms.
johnson q Prison Surgeon.
Inside the prison walls, McKim
and johnson told the warden that
they expected to reform. johnson
pital. He had once worked as sur
geon's assistant and in a few months
the we'll known murder convict be-
came a valuable man. He assisted in
almost every major operation and
personally handled scores OF minor
operations. Fellow prisoners looked
on johnson with admiration and re-
spect and his work during the recent
penitentiary fire was largely respon-
sible for the granting of his parole.
A dozen men were taken to the hos
pital suffering from burns and in
juries. johnson never left their side.
He was on the job day and night and
his cool. unerring judgment and de-
votion to fellow prisoners attracted
the attention of the prison officials
and Governor Hodges, who arrived at
the penitentiary a few hours after the
fire started.
McKim has for several years been
prison mail carrier. Although the
man was a life termer he has for sew
eral years enjoyed the freedom of the
prison grounds and was one of the
most faithful TRUSTEES in the institu-
ton. McKim was dressed out" at
the prison several days ago and is
now in Kansas City. Johnson will
leave the penitentiary in a few days,
according to reports from Lansing.