Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-06-11
Sees Rose ZoldOSke.

Our friend, M. H. Barnnm, while in
the southern part of the state, called
upon Miss Rose Zoldoske, and the
following is what he has to say about
his interview with her:
Ed. Record: On Saturday last it
was my pleasure to visit the Waupun
prison, and for the first time to see the
prisoner, Miss Rose Zoldoske, for
whose pardon l have worked so
earnestly that nearly got into jail my
self The prison officials were very
courteous and kind. The matron, a
beautiful, middle aged woman, whose
abilities and fitness for her position
deies the changes of administration,
came with the poor girl to the warden S
parlor and gave me all the opportunity
[ needed to visit with the unfortunate
girl.
Rose Zoldoske is as innocent of crime
as a child, and what struck me with
peculiar force is the fact that she
remembers the people of Richland
Center as she knew them when all
were friendly. The great calamity
that has befallen her seems to her
farce, nightmare, a fate that she
can neither understand nor avert.
Her own remarks show that she feels
that her friends are few and her
enemies many, but when questioned by
ME as to individuals, she spoke of them
as she knew them before her trial, or
was silent. She became most animat-
ed when that part of the evidence was
discussed as to the possession of poison,
and declared that never in her life cid
she have any such thing in her
possession or know where any poison
was kept.
She spoke very highly of the life and
character of ELY Maly and could not
believe that any girls with whom she
associated could write the Minnie
Braddock letter. Of Anna McLaren
she said II believe she was a good girl
or I should not have associated With
her" She feels deeply tie error that
was made in not allowing her to be put
on the witness stand-there were SO
many things in the evidence against
her that she could have explained.
She expressed herself as discouraged
in hopes of pardon. To her it seems
so strange that men will not see the truth
and that justice for her is SO long
DELAYED, she shrinks from the nOtOriety
she has already gained and looked her
doubts when | assured her that not one
in hundred of the people of Wiscon-
sin believed her guilty.
The kind hearted matron put in a
word of cheerful hope, but that and all
that we could say scarce lifted the
cloud from the pallid face. They are
vely kind to her in the prison and her
weary life behind those narrow bar
crossed cells is made as pleasant as the
forbidding circumstances will allow.
Old Mitchell she spoke freely, but
is in no sense an admirer of that indi-
yidual. Her opinion of him cor
responds exactly with descn ptions
given of him by others who were
inmates of his family while his former
wife lived.
1t is my unprejudiced opinion that
any sensible person who Will visit Rose
ZOldoske and talk freely with her, will
come to the opinion that / have so long
maintained, that she is guilty of nc
crime, and in fact that it is not in her
disposition or in her nature to commit
crime Her incarceration is an out
rage on Wisconsin justice and shame
to the people for every hour that she
remains IN prison.
N. H. BARNUM.
If Gov Upham desires to perform an
act that will in part retrieve him in the
minds of the good people Of the state,
let him pardon Miss Rose Zoldoske
from states prison. We can then claim for
his administration at least one creditable
act and he needs that before he retires
from office.