The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-26
4 DAY OF JOY AT Pen


F'1iOmena CARA, consumptiVe 1"eA-
lean. s.s.s< .s.s -. - -
Behnef has been released from a
ten-year sentence which he COM
menced in 1908. for the killing OF Iope
Sawyer after an assault committed
upon Behner's daughter. William
the killing of Sawyer and was sem
fenced at the same time as Behner.
He died after being paroled: Citizens
of Montgomery county joined In q long
petition for Behner's release and he
will be given employment by State
Senator Overfield. The Mexican par
doned was in an advanced stage of
consumption.
Henderson and Coleman, the To-
peka prisoners paroled. were sent
from this. county for burglary nine
years ago. This is their second pa
last year because they were found in
company II two Kansas City yeggmen
who were arrested and sent to the
Missouri penitentiary.
THE men both had the consent of
the prison officials to visit their
friends in Kansas City" said Governor
Hodges today. "They had just ar
rived there when their friends were
arrested. On the assumption that
they were going back to their old as
sociations the paroles were revoked
and they have served teen months
longer"
Walked Back to Prison.
Lon Harvey, a Harvey county col
Ored man, received his second parole.
Harvey was released six months ago
and went to Cowley county where he
worked a while. He celebrated his
release by getting drunk and his dere-
LECTION was reported to the prison
authorities. A parole officer went to
look for him but was unable to locate
him and returned to Lansing empty
handed. A few weeks later Harvey
were worn out and he was foot-sore
from having walked all the way back
to give himself up, having learned that
report had been made of his parole
violation. He will now go out for a
new trial.
The colored man. Cherry, from Miami
county, particularly interested the gov
ernor.
There was man sentenced to the
penitentiary for burglarizing bOxcar
at Paola. His companion, white man,
was given a Jail sentence of eight
months. The negro has already served
four years on an indeterminate SEN
tence. 1t doesn't look like justice to me
and decided to give him his condi-
tiOnal liberty"
Another colored man, Dick Williams,
received a parole from % year SEN
has served fifteen years with good con-
duct and has been instrumental in ex-
posing several whisky and dynamite
conspiracies in the prison.
A Parole Refused.
Governor Hodges has refused execu-
tive clemency in the case of Mollie
Stewart, of Ottawa, the last convicted
murderer to be sentenced to hang under
the old law of this state. Sympathetic
friends, including Mrs. Codding and
Mrs. Botkin, wives of the former and
present warden, petitioned in her be-
half. She was sentenced with a Frank
lin county farmer, named Schneck for
the murder of his wife and two chill
dren five years ago. Schneck's appeal
was tried in the Supreme court but his
conviction was confirmed there by a
four to three VOTE.
Klusmire PardOned.
William w. Klusmire. sentenced thir-
teen years ago from Holton for the muir
der Of his wife, whom he killed while his
children were away from home, buryfng
the body in a ravine on the farm where
they lived, was rardoned two weeks ago.
No announcement was made at the time
of the release of the prisoner, in regard to
whose trial the excitement in Jackson
and adjoining counties was very great.
KluSmire managed to conceal the murder
for several weeks until the body of the
dead woman was uncovered by dogs.
Governor w. R. Stubs commuted the
original sentence of so years to 20 years
on account of Klusmire's failing health
His children have been very active in
efforts for the fathers release. He had
served, with allowance for good time
credited to him, all but about two years
of his term. His conduct is said to have
been uniformly good.
"K1uemre. who is about So. looks like
a man Of 3d." said Sam T. Seaton. ex.
ecutive and pardon clerk Of the governors
office, today. There is no question about
his guilt, but the fact of his shattered
health and his familys anxiety for his
release, seemed to justify it,
Orient Officers Reelected.
| Kansas City, Nov. 26.-At tn meet
| ing of the directors of Kansas City
MexicO and Orient railway Yesterday In