Miriam Van Waters Papers. Male Prisoner Correspondence, 1927-1971. Correspondence: G, 1965-1970. A-71, folder 597. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

HAROLD SINGER S. SIDNEY STONEMAN EMMANUEL KURLAND FRANKLIN N. FLASCHNER ROBERT J. KURLAND

LAW OFFICES OF SINGER. STONEMAN & KURLAND 31 MILK STREET BOSTON 9

January 26, 1966

Mr. Richard Gingras M.C.I. Walpole Walpole, Massachusetts

Dear Mr. Gingras:

You and I have a good friend in common. She is Dr. Miriam Van Waters.

She has written and asked me to see you, and of course, I am happy to do almost anything she would request of me.

I have no idea of whether I might be of any useful service to you, but I am willing to visit you, listen to you and give you the benefit of any advice I may have.

However, before I come down to see you, I should like you to drop me a note requesting my visit. If I am to come in to see you as an attorney it should be at your request.

Please drop me a line at my office.

Sincerely,

Franklin N. Flaschner

FNFlrs bcc: Dr. Miriam Van Waters

Feb 6, 1966

Dear Dr. Van Waters I received your letter this morning & was delighted to hear from you. I also received the prayer writing in the 16th century. It is one I have never heard before & I find it very inspirational. Thank you. I received a visit today from my parents. Both have been feeling well, for which I am thankful. My mother had said you she would write to you in the near future & that she would have written earlier had I given her the full address. You see I did send the address, less the city & state.

You mention visiting me in your last letter, I am very pleased that you wish to do so but I

hope you will not attempt this untill spring when the snow has left the ground.

You ask where I am working, & I have to tell you that I am not. I have been locked up since Oct 16, 1965 & I will be here for a while, I request to stay here although I did enter for punishment. Since that time in Oct, I have sent for a course in Botany & also French. I hope to educate myself as best I can. Since the lapse between our first letters I have come to think differently in many respects. I guess the church has helped. In my last talk with Father Foley he stated he was aware of your existence & admired your strength in life. He told me of a few visictours you have encountrd & the encumberments set before you. He also agreed that

more people should exist that shared in your wisdom.

My mother had talked to him over the telephone & has said something about visiting him, I am not sure about this.

I will received, in the mail, some pictures of my family. If, in the spring or summer, you are able to visit me I would like to show them to you. All are respected & I have made up my mind that I will never again burden them with a "black sheep" I intend to be one of the flock.

God Bless You

Love Always Richard Gingras

Feb 24, 1966 11 Wrentham Rod Worcester, Mass

Dear Doctor Van Waters

I'm sorry I took this long in writing to you. I want to thank you for the interest and kindness that you have shown to my son Richard at Walpole. He probably has told you about the situation up to now.