Miriam Van Waters Papers. Reformatory for Women at Framingham, 1876-1970. Subseries 3. Student correspondence, 1936-1971, n.d. Correspondence: H, 1950-1952. A-71, folder 303. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

2-10-50

Dr. Van Waters:

Gladys Hall's sister sent her this clipping, and she would like you to read it.

hmo

Friday, April 7, 1950 -ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS-6

Baby-Slayer Paroled From State Prison By JACK MOHLER Rocky Mountain News Writer

Bernice Williams is a free woman today - free except for the memory of five years behind the grey walls os State Prison at Canon City and the never-ending torment of a tragedy-ridden past.

Four years, 10 months and eight days ago the stately brunet entered the penitentiary to serve a 10-to15-year sentence for slaying three new-born children - all born to her out of wedlock.

Parole Become Effective

At midnight last night, Bernice's automatic parole became effective. She was a "model prisoner" according to Warden Roy Best and her good behavior and work as a trusty served to work for her release in minimum time.

A passionate appear by Bernice last fall "to start 1950 in a free world" failed to being a commutation of the sentence from Governor Knous, who once ruled against her in an appeal to the State Supreme Court - of which he then was a member.

The grisly details of the tripleslaying unfolded in Denver 0 and across the country - for week after April 1943, when a janitor in Bernice's apartment house found

Bernice Williams

the tiny, mummified bodies in a basement trunk. Questionad by police, Bernice readily admitted drowning the infants in her bathtub, minutes after each birth.

Couldn't Care for Them

She told detectives she killed the babies - born between 1941 and 1943 - because she could not properly care for them and feared for the future. The father or fathers of the infants never were named.

The bizarre case held the nation's attention for many weeks. These were some of the startling disclosures:

Bernice had given birth to each of the babies unattended in her apartment bathroom. She had worked steadily until within 24 hours of the time of delivery of each child. Her co-workers - even her own mother - never became aware of the condition. She reported back to work within two or three days following each birth.

Bernice was an honor student at North High School in Denver - turning down a scholarship to a nearby college upon graduation. She evinced no obvious interest in men and devited much of her spare time to writing poetry. After graduation, she held several responsible jobs - each one better than the one before. At the time of her arrest she was a buyer for a large Denver department store. Her emplyers were enthusiastic about the tall and beautiful young woman.

Free to Leave at Midnight

All these facts came to light seven years ago but the details mentioned here still can be recalled by thousands of newspaper readers and radio listeners.

With the coming in effect of her automatic parole yesterday, Ber-

nice put all thoughts of publicity in the past.

A terse message from Warden Best told the fitting end of the tragic story. Bernice was free to leave the prison at any time from midnight last night on. Her parents would meet her at the prison gates. The three would travel first to Denver and then to Omaha, where Bernice is reported to have a job.

She will be 31 years old in July. She looks older.

3-29-50

Dr. Van Waters:

Gladys Hall would like you to read this - and note the similarity to her case.

hmo

Yes, I'd like to keep it for reference

Young Parents WhoStarvedBaby Put on Probation

NEWBURYPORT, March 24 -

The young parents of a 5-monthsold boy found starved to death in their home March 8 were convicted on neglect charges today and given suspended jail terms.

The couple, Charles R. Davis, 24, disabled veteran, and his wife, Helen, 21, who live at 61 Middle st., have four other small children.

The baby, Charles Jr., died of malnutrition caused by neglect, according to Associate Medical Ex aminer James F. Whitten of Amesbury.

Judge A. Vincent Kelleher, at a closed District Court session, sentenced Mr. and Nrs. Davis to jail for 30 days. Then he suspended sentence and placed both on probation for a year.

He also ordered their four children committed temporarily to the guardianship of the state Welfare Department.

The parents said today they plan to move to New Hampshire. Judge Kelleher said if they establish a home and if conditions are found to be proper, he will recommend that the children be returned to them.