The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-12

few words to him. and instantly the
whole line of questioning has changed
The two attorneys, appointed by the
court two days before the trial began,
have a fund of information about the
case and about BiSSelPS life covering
more details than the prosecution has
accumulated in year. Undoubtedly
they got it from BisSel. He has dem
onstrated a marvellous memory for de-
tails and supplies them just as they are
needed.
When Bessie Dinsmore, mother of
the murdered girl, told her story on
the witness stand she kept her back
to Bissell. She refused to look at him
and even backed from the court room
in order to evade him. But not so
with Bissell. He kept his eyes upon
her as he has upon every other Wit
ness, from the moment she entered
the room until she left it. His look
was one of intense interest, not emo
| ton.
Made Her Use His Name.
From time to time it was necessary
| for Mrs. Dinsmore to refer to B1sseli
and it became evident that she was
attempting to evade the use of his
name She called him he and him
and that man. and used various 9TH
er subterfuges
Bisseu whispered to his attorney:
who do you mean by that man z!
2
81 mean," and she hesitated long,
''I mean-Bissell.' And Bissell lean
ed back in his chair satisfied
There have been times during the
hearing when it appeared that BlsselI
and his attorneys are going to at
| tempt to prove that he is insane
Numero questions have been asked
along that line Witnesses We're asked
by the defense to state their opinions
| as to whether or not Bissell has
| normal mind. None of the witnesses
had qualified as alienists but Judge
W. H. Mechanism. presiding judge,
| permitted the expression OF such
One witness testified that in con-
versation at the state penitentiary
BisseH made this statement:
| when 1 went back to our bakery
and heard Bessie's (Mrs. Dinsmore's)
At the same time the tears We're rum
ming down my face.
Attorney Shook for Bissell demand
ed to know if in the opinion of the
witness that statement was the state
ment of a normal man. After much
wrangling by attorneys the court held
the question was a proper one and
one witness after another admitted
such sentiments could not come from
a normal mind. 1t was these ques-
tions that lead the prosecution to be-
lieve the insanity dodge will be at
tempted by the defense Monday.
Won't Fight Insanity Plea.
Robert Carver will not fight an in
sanity plea, he stated today. Under
the present Kansas law, If Bissell
were found to be insane it would be
necessary to find that he is criminal
Nv insane and he would be placed in
the insane ward of the state peniten-
tiary in even closer confinement than
, as an ordinary prisoner. Mr.. Carver
fails to see where Bissell would be
/ that appears to be the port towards
I which the defense is steering.
! The defense has attempted to shat
! ter any effect the so-called confession
! NAV have had upon the Jury by show
! ing that it was obtained by coercion.
| No testimony has been produced upon
! cross exa mination proving that third
/ degree methods were used upon Bissen
to obtain the confession, but that ex-
I preston has been used innumerable
/ times by the attorneys for the defense.
1t was stated at the Wyandotte
county court house during the hearing
! that convictions of first degree murder
were extremely rare in Wyandotte
| county. Because of that statement
/ great care was taken in the selection
of the jury. All of the men on the
} Jury with one exception are fathers
/ and the one exception is married
man. Carver was aided by the local
prosecuting officials in selecting the
Jury That the jury has been affected
by testimony offered at different times
Il has been apparent. More than once
/ when details of the crime against the
little girl were being laid bare jurors
were seen wiping their eyes.