The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-02
RESPONSIBILITY
PLACED WHERE
IT SHOULD REST.
Governor Capper Personally
Signed Fred BisseI's Parole.
The Man Could Not Have Been
Released Otherwise.
MAJOR BROWNS INTERVIEW
He EndeavOrs to Justify Action
of the Board.
Defends Parole System, but
Does Not Excuse Governor.
MAJOR BROWNS INTERVIEW
He EndeavOrs to Justify Action
of the Board.
Defends Parole System, but
Does Not Excuse Governor.

Governor Capper personally signed
Fred Bissel's parole. He also person
ally signed the pardon and citizenship
papers. The so-calIed board parole"
which Bissen received was of no force
or effect until it carried the governors
personal signature. This signature was
given and Bissell left the state peni-
tertiary with the governors approval
Later the governor gave the man
rights of citizenship to join the army
in violation of the army laws.
In an effort to pass the responsible
lty to other persons. the governors
paper this week sent a representative
to kingman to interview w. L. Iron-
Jaw Brown former chairman of the
board of corrections. Brown issued
an appeal for public defense of the
parole system. The public was I'M
duly alarmed about the Bissen matter,
Brown felt. He told the reporter from
the governors paper that the record
or the confessed assailant and slayer
OF Edna Dinsmore was mo worse than
the majority and not so bad as a re-
spectacle majority"
The Brown interview was used by
the administration in the establish
ment of an alibi to the effect that the
responsibility rested entirely with the
board of corrections. The records in
the Bissen case show conclusively that
the parole was urged by the board of
corrections. But the board on its own
motion could not release Bissell from
prison. 1t required the sanction and
approval of the governor. Before the
governor consents to the signing of
parole, he asks for report from his
executive clerk who attends the board
meetings at the penitentiary.
Recommended by Board.
In the case of Bisseu, the parole was
recommended by the board. The rec
ommendation was made after an in
vestigation of the prison record of the
man. The board also looked into Bis
sells record for a crime against a
young girl in Washington county and
an offense against nature in jackson
county. On the theory that BiS5-l
was mo worse than the majority and
not so bad as respectable majority"
the board urged that Bissell be made
a free man. Judge c. w. Smith, who
attended the meeting of the board,
brought the report to Topeka, laid the
matter before the governor and stat
ed the facts. 1t was all regular and
formal The parole of Bissen was
signed by the governor and the man
was given his freedom.
State wide criticism of the action
which resulted in Bissells parole and
his subsequent pardon, was occasion
for an interview from Major Brown by
the governor paper. In the interview
the responsibility is clearly placed
with the board of corrections and it
is also pointed out that the board was
appointed by Governor Hodges. No
reference in the entire interview is
made to the fact that the governor
personally approved the recommended
tions of the board. The records, how
ever, show that such action was taken.
Attempt at Justification.
In the interview which the COVER
nor's paper secured from Major
Brown, an attempt is made to lessen
the gravity of the Bissell parole.
Brown hoped the public would not be
hasty in its criticism of the parole sys-
tenn. He even thought that few let
tiers or petitions might have been re-
ceived which in a degree justified the
parole. Even in view of the attitude
of fellow prisoners at Lansing toward
Bissell, Major Brown was certain the
man was no worse, in fact better than
the majority of persons who received
clemency at the hands of the board.
Major Brown told the governors re-
porter:
THE physicians report on Bissell,
while it showed Bissell to be of a low
order morally, yet was no worse than
the majority of the reports and not
so bad as a respe ctable sized ma
iOrity.''