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(seq. 1)
To: Name: Dr. Miriam Van Waters Street & Number: Box 99 City: Framingham, State: Mass
Joliet, Illinois January 7, 1940
Dear Dr. Van Waters:
I was please to have your letters during the holidays. The best one of all you wrote on Dec, 31. This letter contained all that I like to hear. You seem to know what I like most of all.
You must have had a nice Christmas with Sarah home for a visit. I am glad you got lots of presents - goes to prove you have many good friends. What you said about my letter made me feel as though I had really done something worthwhile. Our letters have improved because our friendship has improved; we understand and know each other better, and this helps us along when it comes to writing.
My sisters were here today. (This is Saturday night) Mary Bell sure has grown. She is about as tall as I and just as heavy. I told them about you, Hill Top, and told them I was going to work on the farm when I get out of here. I told Mary Bell the cat she is to get is very valuable and that his or her ancestors came over on the Mayflower. Our visit was very pleasant except for the news of Dad. His heart is starting to cause him a little trouble again. Of course, he isn't bothered much if he takes medicine and does not over exert himself while working.
Harmony News for December came yesterday it is filled with interesting things. It is getting better all the time, and bigger too. I haven't had time to read all of it, but I saw the praise your artist drew for the picture of you on last month's cover issue. Frankly, I did not like the nose of that drawing, what did you think about it? Otherwise she is remarkable. Miss O'Keefe made the news again in sports. I am sure I would like her. She is too good a sport to be a crank. That reminds me of the other crank whose identity you have asked me to reveal. Since my last letter I discussed her with Miss Rice who said the person in question was far from being a crank; in fact, a very likeable sort of person. How can I name her now that I know I was mistaken? Besides she may read this letter before giving it to you! The Latin is toughh but so far everything is going reasonably well. I do not need a Latin dictionary. The test has one which covers the entire course. Nor do I think the book "Old Fashioned Flowers" would help me, [Doctor], you are giving
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me credid for knowing more about flower than I actually know. This is very flattering and pleasing to my vanity; but truthfully, I know so very little about flowers that I do not like to be considered an authority because someone is always asking me some questions, and I do not know the answer to everything. As to fame, you get all that the Snaps can bring to you. I want you to have the fame, if there is any, for yourself.
Do guests actually pull weeds? I never played tennis - not one game! I shall have a big job bossing myself. If a guest should forget to go home, I could put him at some job that would remind him of pressing engagements in the city. One must use tact!
We did a good many things this last year. Our visit, I think, was a big success. And we have made a start on my case which is something I have wanted for a long time. I should say our case, because it has become yours as well as mine. It certainly is a comfort to have you share my troubles. They are more than I can handle all alone.
You sent $5.00 for Christmas after I said I had enough. I appreciate everything, but I think it the duty of a true friend to keep you from spending more than is absolutely necessary.
My sisters left me a cake and some candy. This just arrived and the cake looks so tempting I must stop writing long enough to eat it. It is like tossing a tender lamb to a bunch of wolves.
Miss Binford remembered me on Christmas as did Mrs. Darrow with money and letters. Miss B. is still coming to see me soon. I must write to her somehow. I do not want to break off with her. She expects to see you this month at some meeting in Washington. Just think of what she could do for us if only she would. She knows everyone in this state including Governor Horner. Somehow she does not see things as we do. She believves I am of good character and would make good if given a chance. This alone does not help us.
Judge Holly forgot me this year which proves that the changing of times and conditions change some people. Of course, he is an important person now and perhaps it is not fitting for one of his position to have friends of my social standing. I am not angry, rather disappointed that such a once fine friend should change at this stage.
Miss Rice will come next Saturday to tell me about you, Hill Top, and everything else of interest. I hope to learn new things about you. I think her association with you has done her as much good as it has me. This association has been an education in its self. And lets hope for even more progress on all fronts for this new year. Mary Bell judgest character by studying the handwriting, so watch you step! Heaven help us both! I shall write again before long. My regards to your mother.
Always yours, Russell McWilliams 5661-E
Hello Edna.
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B. JAY KNIGHT Attourney 419 West State Street Rockford, Illinois
B. Jay Knight Frederick H. Haye
Telephone Main 3587
REFORMATORY FOR WOMEN JAN 11 1940 FRAMINGHAM
January 9, 1940
The common wealth of Massachusetts Department of Correction Reformatory for Women Framingham, Massachusetts
Attention Miriam Van Waters, Superintendent.
In Re: Russell McWilliams [handwritten] file]
My dear Miriam Van Waters:
Your letter of December 6, 1939, has been in my mind for an answer for the last several days.
In Illinois the shortest time within which parole can be asked for is 9 years and 8 months where the sentence is for life. I may be a few days off on this, but I have given you the approximate time.
You will recall from the history of the case that Governor Horner commuted the sentence from death to life which was during his first term of office.
He is about at the end of a second term and is a candidiate for nomination i nthe April 1940 Primary. It would seem a bad time now to approach him on the question of pardon for the reason that if he were to pardon Russell at any time between now and the election, the Chicago Tribue and other papers would, no doubt, take after him in a very vicious way.
After Governor Horner is actually elected to his third term, which I believe will happen, I think it would be proper to approach the Governor on the matter of a pardon.
A casual study of this case will reveal, I am sure, that Russell had two strikes against him before this case occurred on account of his family set-up.
His father is a good man, honest in every way, but truly representative of the mountaineer class of people, shifting through into Missouri from the Appalachian Mountains.
His mother is, in my opinnion, of a rather weak intellect and while a goo woman, still of no force whatever.
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[9 Januar 1940]
B. JAY KNIGHT Attorney 419 West State Street Rockford, Illinois
B. Jay Knight Frederick H. Haye
Telephone Main 3587
Miriam Van Waters -2-
While Mr. Darrow was alive, we used to take turns in seeing Russell, but now since Mr. Darrow is gone, I have endeavored to see Russell if and when I could.
Jane Addams and Miss Binford of the Hull House were of great help to me at the time we were in this case, and it was through that that we were able to get Mr. Darrow here for the last hearing.
Federal Judge William Holly of Chicago was also in the matter with us. I have know Mr. Holly for years, and, in fact, Mr. Holly was my Chicago correspondent and therefore we were able to bring a little more pressure upon Mr. Darrow at a time when he was very weak and hardly able to stand.
It so happens that I am a Democrat in politics and am in a position to go through Democratic channels in the event we asked for a pardon.
Trusting that this rather indefinite letter gives you some idea of my position and hoping that some day I may meet you in an effect to free Russell, I am
Sincerely yours, [signed] B. Jay Knight B. JAY KNIGHT.
BJK/JG
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Please Return
CENSORED 5
To: Name Dr. Miriam Van Waters Street & Number Box 99 City Framingham, State Mass.
REFORMATORY FOR WOMEN FEB 7 1940 FRAMINGHAM
BOX 1112 Joliet, Illinois February 4, 1940
Dear Doctor; Four of your five letters have arrived since I have written to you. The one of Jan. 12, sounded like you were having troubles of some sort. You mentioned Mr. Knight's letter and the plans for after our state elections. I wont mind waiting if you think it best, but it will be hard to wait that long for your next visit.
The other letters were all good, but I favor the one of Jan. 21. It had more of what I like. I like to hear about us, the form, and other things, or course. I also like to write and think of the same things.
You must have wondered where my last letter went. I hope you didn't mind too much. Anyway, I wrote to Miss Rice. You will think that strange! She went to see Jessie Binford for me, and she has written about the visit but said nothing as to the success or failure of the venure. The more I see of other people, the more certain I am that I must become Hill Top's chief former.
Mary Bell writes that Dad is better, but weak. I am afraid for her if anything should happen to him. The Latin is getting tough. I received an unmentionable grade in one lesson. I thought my "Hello Edna" would catch her by surprise, and "Where does he get that Edna stuff?" I suppose she just smiled. I am almost idsappointed.
Those cranks of yours (if you really have any) would only amuse me. I don't care very much about meeting people anyway. Hill Top will be an ideal place to make a new beginning; there I can see as many or as frew as I like, and without some half-wit boss doing his best to make it hard. You will be the real boss which is very much to my liking. I shall let your mother help me manage the place. She probably could give me some good pointers. I shall run Mr. Mandino off the place if he isn't careful. I don't like his giving you these [fang?] cakes!
Miss Rice visited m some weeks ago. She read my "Horoscope". It was interesting. I look for her again this week. I suspect visiting me interferes with her studies and if this is true I shall ask her not to come agian until she finishes school in June.
No doubt, Sarah, like the rest of us, has her troubles. I am sure you can deal with whatever it is that causes her to want to quit school. You are the only one who enjoyed such torture.
Do not mail currentcy-Money Orders and Checks accepted. Foodstuffs and Packages are not accepted at any time.
Visits every two weeks by relatives only.