The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-06
TO FREE TRUSkETT?

scontipued from Page one.l
the Truskett interests both preceding
and Immediately following the recon-
mendation of his bill for passage. may
Arouse the house to action. Relatives
peka in the interests of the passage
Of the Endres bill and the Leaven-
worth lawyer and representative is
known to have been in conference
with them. Immediately following the
Recommendation of his measure by
the house committee of the whole,
Endres rushed to the house telephone
room and called a Kansas City party
over the long distance phone. Miss
Elsie Truskett. niece of w. s. Trusk-
EFT. who was in Topeka in the inter-
ests of the Endres bill. is supposed to
have been in Kansas City.
McDougall Questioned 1t.
Twice in the last few days the En-
dres bill has been called for consid-
Grafton in the committee OF the whole.
Each time Endres asked to have the
measure passed. The bill continued
to hold it's place on the calendar.
Shortly before adjournment Friday
evening, the measure-House bill No.
21S-was again called. This time En-
dres said he was ready for considera-
ton.
person now in PRISON." asked Repre-
sentative McDougall of Sumner coun-
ty when Endres explained the bill
which he desired enacted into law.
mo. sir.' was the replys
The measure provided that It should
Ne in full force and effect from and
otter it's publication in the official state
paper.
II want to know If there is any
emergency in this case," said Will
Wayman Of Lyon county. why
shouldn't this bill become effective
sitter it's publication in the statute
book?"
Endres explained
1T is good measure and should
go into effect at once" he said.
Il am willing said Wayman.
A minute later the measure was
recommended for passage without
opposition on an aye and nay vote.
Rushed to Telephone.
immediately Endres rushed to the
floor of the house. He was heard to
place a call with the house long dis
lance operator for a party in Kan
sas City. The records of the Bell
eompany are not open to the public
and details concerning the party
whom Endres called or the reason
for the hasty message cannot be told
unless the telephone records are
opened or Mr.. Endres consents to
make a statement
Thomas Truskett brother of the
convicted man, and Miss Elsie Trus-
kett, a niece, have been in Topeka
this week and interviewed several
legislative members concerning the
merits of the Endres bill. Miss
Truskett is supposed to have been
In Kansas City Friday.
The Endres bill takes from the
trial judge the right to say when a
person sent to the criminally insane
hospital at Lansing shall be re-
leased. 1t places authority in the
state penal board and repeats Sec
ton S. chapter 299, of the session
laws of 1911.
killing i'm Hotel.
Four years ago Truskett killed T. ].
Nicely in a hotel in Caney. Kan. Both
men were wealthy oil operators. In
the trial of the case. attorneys for
Truskett pleaded insanity. Several
trials of the case in the district and
supreme court resulted and the case
was a heavy expense to Montgomery
county, Trustkett was finally acquitted
but held to have been insane at the
time the crime was committed. Judge
Flannelly sent him to the criminal in
sane hospital at Lansing prison.
Since his commitment, Truskett's
friends have been active in efforts to
secure his release. Governor Hodges
was appealed to on several occasions.
but refused to interfere with the judg-
ment of the trial court. Judge Flan-
nelly refused to sign an application for
rruskett's parole.
The Endres bill will permit the
taking of the case away from the trial
Judge, the governor and the superin-
tendent of the hospital for. criminally
insane. While the bill is general in
its scope, it will afford an opportunity
for immediate relief in the Truskett
case. 49,
Passed in House.
BY a vote of 65 to IL, the house to-
day passed the Endres bill providing
for release Of criminally insane on rec
ommendation of the state penal hoard
The bill was passed on third reading
without amendment or debate.
Members who voted for the bill
were: Altman, BardWell. Bird, Brice
Brown, Burton. Carson. Clark. Derby
Doerr, Doyle. burst. Edwards. Elliott
Endres, Farr, Terrell. Gillian. Gilman
0illum, Goodier, Hanger, Harley. Har.
ris, Hawkinson, Hendricks. Holder.
man. Hopper. Hoskinson, Highlands
Kelson. Kincaid, Laing. Layton. Nc.
Bride. McDermott. Milton, Moorehead
Moxcey. Meyer, Neihart. Neiswander
Nelson. Noble. O'Laughlin. Osweiller
Paul, Pierce, Ross, Schmidt. Stauffer
- No.