The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-28
RevOkeS Parole of Man Held for
Crime Against Girl.
DOES IT MEAN He IS GUILTY?
Capper Held Up Yesterdays
Act, Giving This as a Reason.
Practically Places Conviction of
State on BisselPs Head.

Thrice in the space of a very few
hours Governor Capper changed his
mind concerning the right of Fred
Bissell to be a citizen of the state of
Kansas with all the rights and priv
ileges of a voter and taxpayer and a
respected citizen in a law abiding COM
munity. The triple change of mind
was made by the governor in view of
the fact that Bissell was being held at
the state penitentiary under guard
against a mob that sought to avenge
the assau u1t and murder of nine-year-
old Edna Dinsmore.
Except for the fact that he was held
by the officers for one of the most
atrocious crimes in the history of
Shawnee county. Bissen was vested
with the rights and privileges of the
avera ge citizen. Despite the fact that
he had served a prison sentence for
assault on a Washington county girl
and another sentence for crime
against nature, Governor Capper' S
board of corrections had given Bissell
a parole. Later Governor Capper had
personally given Bissell citizenship pa
pers. Concerning revocation of these
papers, the governor changed his mind
three times in almost as many hours.
Finally, after due and deliberate con-
sideration and many changes of mind,
the governor signed an order which
removed Bisselrs rights as a citizen
His First Action.
Thursday morning it was announced
from the governors office that notices
had been drawn revoking BisselPs citi-
Zenship. The plan was announced in
press dispatches and was used in early
editions of afternoon papers by news
writer's at the state house.
Then the governor changed his
mind. An hour after the papers re-
voking BisSelPs citizenship had been
drawn, it was announced that the pa
pers would not be signed. Such action
would return Bissell to prison. 1t was
a decision in advance of the submis-
sion of evidence concerning the mans
guilt, it was urged. So further action
was uspended-tempora A few
hours later the governor passed on
BisseIFs guilt. reversed all his former
action and sent the accused man to
prison.
Move No 8: The governor was
convinced Bissell should serve the re-
mainder of his sentence for his crime
which sent him to the penitentiary
from jackson county. He would sign
the notice rcvoking the citizenship
and send Bissell back to prison. So
new papers were prepared and notices
were sent to Lansing state prison that
the citizenship and parole had been
withdrawn.
His Change of Mind.
The action was taken by the COVER
nor following almost state wide criti-
cism of the action of the governor S
state board of corrections which gave
Bissell a parole in the face of his rec
ord Of crime. Almost equal criticism
was directed against the governor
who personally restored Bissell to full
citizenship when he told the governor
he wanted to join the army
It is probable that under existing
conditions Bissell will be held at the
state prison until the expiration of
his regular term for a crime in Jack
son county. His term will expire in
November this year. He will not be
required to serve the thirteen months
he has been at liberty under q parole
and citizenship. Under an interpreta-
ton of the law, Bissell's time on parole
was the same as time behind prison
walls. He will merely serve to the
natural end of his sentence. Later he
will be tried for the crime alleged to
have been committed by him while a
citizen under the governors authority.