The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-03


Marshall.
Following the revelation of series
of paroles , persons who served prls-
or sentences for crimes against young
and unprotected girls, Kansas club wo-
men have demanded relief from sys-
tenn that removes from women and
children of the state the protection
which the law affords. In challenge
to Governor Capper and the state
board of corrections today, Mrs
Emma Sells Marshall of Topeka de-
manded that Governor Capper remove
the present board or accept the re-
sponsibility checked to Him for sign
ing the Fred Bissell parole and later
giving the man a pardon.
Mrs. Marshall is widely known in
women's club circles in Kansas. She
was formerly parole officer at the
State Industrial school for girls at Be
lott Through her work in that insu-
tuition she became familiar with the
method of paroling prisoners. In a
statement today she declared that in
nocent women and children of Kansas
were paying the price of a record
which the state administration sought
to establish through the parole Sys
tenn. She challenged the statement of
w. L. (Ironjaw) Brown to the effect
that Fred Bissell, confessed assailant
and murderer of Edna DinsInore, was
better than a majority of the persons
paroled from the state prison. II the
Brown statement is true, Mrs. Mar
shall declared that the women and
children of the state were the victims
and paid the price of the existing sys-
TEN.
Must Pay the Price.
Before I would consent to the pa
role of such persons as Bissell and
some of his kind who l am told have
been permitted to leave the prison, I
would quit my job" emphatically de-
clared Mrs Marshall II don't care
what sort of record for prison reform
an administration was trying to make.
Such action means but one thing-that
unprotected women and girls of Kan
SaS must pay the price.
Governor Capper denies that he
was responsible for the Bissell parole,
although he signed the papers The
governor says the board of corrections
| is to blame. Then, why doesn't he
discharge the board? Why has he re-
tanned two of the three members who
turned Bissell and his kind loose on
unprotected women and children?"
| Mrs. Marshall then pointed to the
fact that J. E. Porter of Kansas City,
Democrat; and Charles NJ. Harger of
Abilene, Republican; were on the
| board when the Bissell parole was
granted. No effort, she declared, had
been made to remove them. Mrs. ].
M. Miller of Council Grove, president
Of the state federation of women's
| clubs, is also a member of the board
and was appointed by Governor Cap
per to succeed Major Brown. No eff
fort is made by Mrs. Marshall to shield
Mrs. Miller and the broadside today
directed at the state administration
was for all who might come within
| it's range
Want the Names.
THE women of Kansas demand the
protection the law affords said Mrs.
| Marshall. '"They demand it for them
! selves and for innocent and defenselXss
children. Yet Major Brown says Bis
sell is no worse than a majority of men
paroled from the penitentiary. 1 won
| der if he is correct? The women OF
| Kansas demand the names of other
persons of the Bissell stripe who have
been turned loose on the world. I
have been told there are others and
that they received papers in just the
same manner as did this man. 1 won
der if Kansas women and girls must
face such beasts every day and no one
does anything about it?
Mrs Marshall had read of the petit
tions and letters which flooded the
| parole board and the governor urg-
! ing that BlSSell be made a free man.
! The Topeka club woman wants more
! informatio on the subject.
Who are these persons who wrote
| letters and signed petitions ?' demand
| ed Mrs. Marshall. 'Who are some of
| the prominent and influential citizens
who pleaded for this mans release? Or
did someone just present a co1orless
petition signed by persons who did not
know its purpose? Or was there a
! petition at all? Surely there are many
(, people who would like to know about
| this matter