Meade County news., 1917-05-24
Slayer of Little Topeka Girl
Given a Life Term in
Penitentiary.
MURDERER BOASTED TOO SOON
Kansas City, Kan, Jury Was Out Five
Hours Before Reaching Yer
dict in Case.

Fred Bissell, 28 years old, was con-
victed at Kansas City, Kan, of the
murder of Edna Dinsmore, 9 years, of
Topeka. The conviction carries with
it a sentence of life Imprisonment in
the Kansas penitentiary. 1t will be
the third term in the penitentiary that
Bissell has served and his fifth term
in prison, as he has served two re-
formatory terms.
The lawyers who defended Bissell
were named by the court and served
without fee. When the case came be-
fore Judge McCamish of the Wyan-
dotte county district court from To-
peka he learned that Bissell had no
legal counsel. Kansas has no law pro-
viding for free legal aid" except that
the court may appoint. Judge Nc
Camish appointed w. A. Shook. Mr..
Shook served without pay, even pay
ing his own expenses when he went
to Topeka to investigate and for maps
and other things necessary to the de-
fense.
The jury retired shortly after noon.
Bissell was gloomy at first and de-
scribed how they would convict him.
But as time passed and the jury did
not report he became hopeful and
even boasted how he had selected the
jury and would go free. When it filed
in at o'clock he looked up with a
smile. When the verdict was read
the smile vanished and Bissell began
to humble. After hearing the verdict,
however, the attorney did not forget
his duty to his client and asked that
the jury be "polled." AS each of the
twelve declared it was his verdict Bis
sell gazed at the floor. Then, mutter-
ing, he followed deputy sheriff from
the courtroom.
The crime of which Bissell was con-
victed was Turing Edna Dinsmore to a
vacant house in Topeka April 25, 1916,
numbering the child and burning the
house. The body of the child was
found by firemen. ,Bissell, who had
quarreled with Mrs. Bessie Dinsmore,
mother of the girl, was arrested and
confessed.
Plan to Save Fruit Crop.-The Kan.
sas Arkansas Valley Apple Growers
Association, composed Of fifty men in
Sedgwick, Sumner, Reno and Cowley
counties, who control three thousand
acres of apple and other orchard trees,
has been called to meet at Belleplaine,
June 2, to work out plans to increase
and conserve the fruit crop, which
promises to be large this season. At
preliminary meeting held at Belle
plaine a committee was named to meet
in Wichita May % to take initiatory
steps towards, perfecting the organi-
zation and to get expert speakers for
the Belleplaine session.
X X X
River Is On Fire.-The Walnut river
is on fire. Oil refuse on the water is
burning. The fire extends from the
Butler county oil fields to Winfield.
The blaze is causing no damage, but
is deplored by many farmers who in
the past year have been skimming the
oil from the river and making con-
siderable profits from its sale.
X X X
Dead From Apoplexy.-Milton Land
auer, 80 years old, dry goods merchant,
is dead at Larned from apoplexy. His
father established the business which
he conducted there forty years ago.
X X X
j. p. Becker of Wichita Shot,. P.
Becker, a widely known stock broker,
was shot and dangerously wounded at
Wichita while on his way home by a
highwayman The robber took two
valuable diamonds from Becker and
fled. Becker was shot in the head.
X X X
Columbus Forming a Company.-Co.
lumbus is organizing a company of in.
fantry which will seek a place in the
new Third Kansas Regiment The
first twenty-five recruits signed UP
recently. 1t is expected to complete
the company, as far as securing the
necessary men is concerned, within
a week.
X X X
No Wheat In Smith county.-For
the first time since its settlement
forty-five years ago, not an acre OF
wheat will be left standing in Smith
county for harvest this year. Approx
imately 100000 acres were drilled tc
the cereal last fall, but it is all turn
ed under and the ground being listed
to corn. Implement dealers are being
overwhelmed with orders for listers
and find it impossible to supply the
demand.
X X X
Rector an Army chaplain-The Rev
Otis E. Gray, rector of the Trinity
Church at Atchison, has been appoint
ed chaplain and has been called t
Fort Riley for service in the officers
training camp. Mr.. Gray is a native
of England and served three years il
the British army.
X X X
Child Dies of Meningltis.-A S-year
old son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert H
M