The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-02-20
FORMER LITER
AND INVENTOR
IS FREE Man
Carl Olson Left Penitentiary
Saturday-1nmates Gather
for Farewell
SEVEN TIMES BEFORE
STATE PARDON BOARD
Used to Bother Former Warden
Hellstrom Constantly With
Safety Rail Device

Carl Olson, former lifer, inventor of
the safety steel rail, is now a free
man.
After 12 years of penal servitude
for murder, Olson left the prison last
Saturday evening after taking a pub
lie farewell of his fellow mates.
At its last meeting the retiring par
don board gave Olson his freedom, ef-
fective Feb. II.
Farewell For Prisoner.
The inmates gathered to take final
leave OF Olson who was very popular
with them At the request Of Warden
Talcott, Olson came forward and told
the boys of his pardon and the pros
poets for useful career "outside." ;"
He was roundly applauded and for
several minutes held an informal re-
ception.
Probably no inmate was known
over the state and the northwest bet
ter than Olson. During Warden Hells-
trom's regime, Olson sprang into the
limelight as the inventor of a steel
safety rail- That was in the winter of
1910. A company was formed later
to exploit the invention.
Y HE used to bother me constantly
with that invention" said former
Warden Helstrom this afternoon. II
got tired of hearing so much about it
and never paid any attention to it
until a wreck occurred near the peni-
Tertiary some years ago, in which a
number OF cars were derailed and
coal scattered over, the tracks and
tie grade. 10 was due to broken rails
1T then occurred to me that I
would look more fully into the inven-
tiOn of the HSdnvict ! added few
suggestions Hid Olson got the pat
ents.
Conduct Above Reproach.
Olson's pris8tfh conduct was above
reproach frof1 the first and after a
few months he became a trusty spend
ing practically all Of his time with
out the prison walls. RE was we'll
known about Bismarck, being a
chauffeur for both Warden Hellstrom
and Talcott. He was trusted beyond
greater confidence and repose than
any other prisoner.
Olson went before the state board
OF pardons seven times. He always ac-
cepted the decision without protest
and patiently awaited until the next
meeting of the board. He got his
Communication before the board in De-
cember and February ID was set as
the date for his freedom. The honor
system was installed in 1907 by Hells'
from. It was the first year in tho
prison that Olson started to work on
his invention. ,,, s.4s.,.y,E,,, J,
Convicted at Towner. rf,ao :,
Olson was sent up from McHehry
county for first degree murders1 A
farmer was found killed near Velva
presumably for his money, team and
wagons. Olson was arrested in Min
nesota. The horses and some other
property of the farm were found in
his possession. The defense Of the
accused was that he had traded a
bicycle and some money for, the out
fit. He was conyictad op June 2, 1905,
Judge Christianson prosecuted. The
evidence was purely circumstantial
and to the date of his release from
the prison, Olson constantly main
tanned his innocense.
He was 80 years Of age when he en-
tered the state prison Olson was one
Of the most reticent and retiring of
the inmates. A
Olson left Bismarck Sunday and has
taken a position with the Ford Motor
company of Fargo