The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-04

Not less than four men, convicted of
crimes against young girls. have been
released from the state penitentiary
within the last year In each instance
paroles or pardons were granted.
Stuckey is now under a temporary
parole. In each of the four cases the
men were released with the approval
of the governor. Their release was of
ficially approved by him after facts in
the case had been submitted, and rec
ords reviewed.
Following the protests against the
release of Fred Bissell confessed as
sailant and murderer of Edna Dins-
more. information gathered this week
from prison records shows the recent
release of at least three other men
convicted of crimes against youn-
girls. In each instance the release
was approved by the governor In the
case of J. G.. Stalnacker. action was
taken by the governor on his own mo-
ton and aroused a protest from scores
of persons familiar with details of the
case and his alleged offense.
Shortly after the parole of Bissell,
Henry Obermeyer of Council Grove
distance telephone today Warden ].
K. Codding said he did not know
whether Obermeyer had received his
citizenship papers
He has been out long enough to
get them,'' said the warden He left
the prison before I returned as war
den"
Obermeyer's Crime.
Obermeyer was convicted in Morris
county several years ago. He was
convicted of an offense against his s
year old daughter. 1t is stated that
Oberneyer in his defense pleaded in
nocence because. he is said to have
testified, he was asleep when he COM
Almost Immediately following the
removal of Warden Botkin as head of
the state prison, Governor Capper
paroled Stalnacker- The parole was
conditioned that the preacher leave
the state and never return. Stall
hacker figured extensively in the Bot
kin custer. He was sent to the peni-
Tertiary from Ellis county for an at
tempted assault on his niece. When
Governor Capper gave Stalhacker
parole a howl of protest that in a
small way rivalled the complaint
against the Bissell parole came from
Hays and Ellis county
Because of Stalnacker'S prominence
in the Botl<in custer. members OF the
investigating committee freely ex-
pressed their criticism of the mans re-
lease. In a formal statement. Senator
James a. Troutman of Topeka, chair
man of the investigating committee,
made open criticism of the governor
act He referred to Stalnackerl as a
degenerate and declared that the ad-
1
citizen for Kansas was the greatest ar
gument for the holding of the man at
the state prison. Further. Senator
Troutman urged, he could not fathom
the logic which called for the dump
/ ing of undesirable citizens of one state
/ onto another state.
The Stuckey Case.
Paralleling the BisseIl- Stalna cker-
{ Obermeyer cases, is the case of Wal
/ lace Stuckey. Williamsburg preacher.
who deserted his family as the result
+ of a mad infatuation for a girl in her
teens. The Stuckey case has been be-
/ fore the public seven years Stuckey
was sent to prison for his offense
against the Williamsburg girl. WAS ar
rested in Cuba as a fugitive from JUS
I tice. brought to Kansas and sent to
/ the penitentiary to serve his sentence.
I Last summer ne was temporarily pa
( rolled to visit his Cuban wife, who ex-
pected to become mother. Much of
/ the time since he went to prison
Stuckey has enjoyed his freedom.
! Under one pretext or another he has
won temporary paroles and has spent
much time outside prison walls
At present Stuckey is under release
I to take treatment in a Kansas City
/ hospital. The minister is not confined
/ in the hospital In fact ne is living
in house a short distance from the
! hospital.
8 "a