Schlesinger Library

[Stamped]CENSORED SEP 2 1965 CORRESPONDENCE DEPT M. C. I WALPOLE[Stamped]

September 1, 1965 Box #100 S. Walpole, Mass.

Dr. Miriam Van Waters 14 Clark Road Framingham, Mass.

Dear Dr. Van Waters:

Life sometimes takes strange twists and it certainly has for me during the past year.

Two years ago, as a member of the Marlboro Junior Chamber of commerce, I promoted and chairmaned a fund raising drive in behalf of a very worthy cause - Muscular Dystrophy. At that time I had the pleasure of meeting and working with members of the Framingham Chapter MDAA including yourself. Perhaps you now still recall or remember me.

Today I am incarcerated at Walpole State Prison. I made a grave mistake, I was convicted for counterfeiting, and I'm currently serving a 4-7 year term.

Being an outstanding penologist for many years, you fully understand what prison life is like. As for myself, adjusting to the life of an "inmate" has not been easy, especially since this marks the first time that I have ever been in trouble. However, I cannot escape the fact that I'm here and I must make the best of it.

Meanwhile, my first concern is that of keeping my family together. As you probably know, the State operates three forestry camps where certain prisoners are assinged to serve out their time. These camps offer greater visitation privileges than Walpole. This is especially true where children are concerned.

I have three children and my wife is expecting another this month. I don't want to harm them or create any mental blocks by having them continue to visit me here at Walpole. The children are all quite young and I don't think seeing walls, guards, steel doors, etc., does them any good. Therefore, I am writing to you in hopes that you might help me in getting transferred to the forestry camp at Carver, Massachusetts, as soon as possible.

I want to thank you again for your kind attention to this letter, until I hear from you, I remain.

Sincerely yours

Joseph Gnerre

Jospeh T. Gnerre

2

till I see them, we been 5 months without a pinch. But Im not to well liked and Im scared that if it dose hurt me at parole Ill start giving up all hope, for I do count on 10 more months without trouble for parole, to tell you the truth Im getting so fed up and tired with prison Im getting the feeling that they can do what they damn well please with me. thats the feeling Im getting, and Im about ready to tell them that. I took about enough of everything and I tried my best to stay out out trouble, and believe me Im tired and fed up with time. See you have a past record like mine, poeple dont believe you when you try to do good

letter, Im going to write about a month before I see them and tell them the whole story of my goodness and foolishness. Ill tell them the truth nothing held back. Ill tell them how foolish Ive been, and also Ill explain that I have only a year to finish my sentence after may. Ill only be on parole for 1 year for I cap up my sentence in 1968, so if I cant do a year then Ill give up. For Ill have everything good going for me, Ill have your help, Ill have legal medicine which Ill go once a week. Ill have my family back once more after I prove that I can do it. Ill have a good job which Im greatful to you for it, Ill have better friends, better than the ones here that were suppose to be friends, which I can say is, you cant have friends in prison, they only use you to there own advantage, but out there I can pick my own friends and pick good ones.

seeing "the Board" with such strong support from Mr Severn and yourself ~ but they failed to recognize the possible benefit of Parole and consequent supervision for this man who will so soon leave Prison anyway. They took one look at his erratic record ~ and that was it.

After the initial disappointment and typical emotional outbursts, Raoul has settled down considerably and he is hoping to return to the general population in the near future.

Thank you for your genuine concern and realistic assistance.

Sincerely yours,

Fr Foley