The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-27
KIENE WILL co
TO BOTTOM OF
CITY MOB PLOT
Sheriff Promises to Stir Up
Prosecutions for Topekans.
Issues Stirring Statement From
Headquarters at "Pen."
DR.. RINEHART is MENTIONED
Sheriff Cummings Says He
Made Sensational Statements.
Kiene Observation-Disclosures
Gives Out General Denial.
"BISSELL MAY NOT Be GUILTY"
Sheriff of Shawnee Urges PeO-
pie of Topeka To Be Calm.
Would Not Have Name of Capt.
tai City BlOOd-Stained.
"BISSELL MAY NOT Be GUILTY"
Sheriff of Shawnee Urges PeO-
pie of Topeka To Be Calm.
Would Not Have Name of Capt.
tai City Bl0od-Stained.

State Penitentiary, Lansing, Kan,
April 27-That J. H. Rinehart, coro-
ner of Shawnee county, second in au-
thority to the sheriff, was ring lead
er of the Topeka mob, that stormed
the Jail at Lawrence last night, was
the statement made by Sheriff Cum
mings of Douglas county. to Sheriff L.
L. Kiene by telephone this morning
Rinehart stated, said Cummings,
over the telephone. that any man
who would try to protect a man like
Bissell deserved to have his own
daughter treated like little Edna Dins-
more was treated.
Kiene was dumbfounded by the in
formation.
why that man is sworn to enforce
the law the same as I am" he said.
1.-The coroner is the only official who
can arrest a sheriff if he should go
wrong"
Kiene declared that he would make
an immediate investigation upon his
return to Topeka and that he would
ask for warrants for the ring leaders
in the mob. He declared Shawnee
county had no need. as an officer, of
a man who would lead a mob and in
cite to mob violence. Sheriff Kiene
is deeply affected by developments in
Topeka, since he left last night, and
asked that the State Journal make
the Following statement for him:
Kiene's Statement.
Il am not so much interested in
the life of Bissell as in protecting
the good name of Kansas and To-
peka. So long as I am an Off
Ger of Shawnee county and the
| state of Kansas, no man will be
lynched who is under my protec-
ton. If 1t is possible for me to pre-
fectly clear. Bissen has not con-
fessed and is Just as vehement in
denying his connection with this
horrible crime as he was when
first taken into custody.
| There are circumstances that
| indicate he may not be the guilty
man, though I firmly believe he
is guilty of such an outrage, but
the law says he is entitled to a
fair trial and he is going to get it
| if we can secure it for him / have
been told that at least one county
officer charged with the enforce
ment of the law took a leading
part in last nights demonstration
and made threats against me, per-
sonally, for doing my sworn duty.
Il intend upon my return to
Topeka to make a thorough inves-
tigation and 1 shall ask for war
rants for him and the other lead
| ers. I do not believe that Shaw
nee county or the state of Kansas
has any need of that kind of Of
| ficers.
mo one can deplore this hor-
rible crime more than myself for
I have young children of my own
but we cannot bring back to life
the innocent victim of this in
| human monster, whoever he IS,
| and I shall do all in my power to
protect this prisoner and see that
&
THE people should have the
same degree of confidence that
they will do absolute justice to
any one charged with crime as
| myself have The people them
selves cannot afford to do any
thing to prevent the administra-
ton of Justice
Rinchart Denies 1t.
DIR. ]. H. Rinehart emphatically
Continued on Page ~