The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-28
LETTERFROM RANDOLPH
FORMER MONTGOMERY JUDGE
 WRITES FROM COLOMBIA.
Says Will Return Here After Im- prisonment is Over and Hopes to End Years in Peace
 and Quiet.

many friends of Judge F. c. Randolph. as well as to the general public, to know some things he has to say, in a letter re- ceived only a few days ago by one Of his friends here, extracts from which he mas kindly allowed The Advertiser to make.
 This letter is dated May 15. 1903. at Me dellin, Colombia Judge Randolph says:
 T presume the imposition of silence to which you alluded (referring to letter received by him) came from my saying that friends who had observed the silence of the tomb during two years when was under sentence of death had as well cop- tinue silent, or words to that enect. That was my idea and hard as 1t is for me to bear. I see no injustice in the remark or idea I preserved your letter and the rough draft of my answer, but with many others. they have been destroyed by rats and vermin.
 No I have not lost faith in all man. kind. I have lost faith in those friends. who. during the two years which I was under sentence of death. did not raise a finger nor voice in my oenah' nor even write me a word of Kindness or otherwise"
 In referring to his inheritance from the Corbin estate, he says:
 q care not for money, save for the good uses of 1t, and for years have ex- pressed no other ambition than to pay. first. my just debts. second. to support those by nature dependent upon me; I wish to know what owe, and to this end would like notice published calling upon all creditors to present MT. - and yourself their claims. itemized and verified, which you will forward to me. .'
 He also says:
 T was condemned to fourteen years imprisonment dating from September D. 1895 For good conduct the law allows rebate of one-third of the sentence, in my case. four years and eight months; so ought to be set free January D, lSo, TOT my keepers have certified to my conduct as perfect In every respect, yet l nave no idea that I will be set free Tn lSOo' nor III 1910: because here the laws are deao-let- ters nothing but the will of the autnorl- ties rule: and the United States govern Tpent though its minister, in words ana action has assured the authorities or Co- lombia that free of all hindrance, they can wreak their utmost desires upon nle'
 But soon or late, l will return 10 Aia hama. if live, and live I will. for l cannot afford to die in debt to the world, or leave the world in debt to me want to square accounts with the world and every one in it. That done, the when or the how of my going hence lmpoT.s not. However, I may not hurry to A'a hama unless I know the authorities tneIe are determined to prosecute me III tna' event I shall return as speedily as pos- 
 sibe .
 'I have the resolution to dare whatever man has ever dared, but physically nave the dry rot. Age, long and close con fnement, cruel treatment poor ana ln- suflcient food and raiment with diseases resulting therefrom, every form Of human misery to which flesh is heir, all have left me a physical and mental wreck in all save will power; this alone has sustained me. and must continue to do so. yet with all this. and with a falling memory, have mastered the general principles, ana with great results. of modern science and philosophy. down to the latest date, lSW It has been a fearful labor, for was and still am ignorant of the rudiments and details of the sciences, and 1t has ruined my already weak eye-sight. l have not lost an hour in all the long years of my imprisonment With grammar and die tionary alone I have acquired Spanish and French. speaking and reading the former with some prOpriety, and reading ana writing the latter. 1 am now about to tackle German. after English, the most important of all languages.
 Judg, Randolph then describes how he has managed to secure DOCK at'e[ DOCK on nhilosophy and the sciences. In refer Ting again to his return here Judge Randolph says:
 .'Tbe best thought of modern civiliza- +ion condemns as a relic of barbarism. the punishment of a criminal for ven qeance or for men, punishment founded on the current and vague idea that the first, last and only aim of criminal laws ia punishment That opinion holds that there are only two proper civilized objects to be aimed at by all criminal laws. inc improvement, reform of the criminal, and the security and safety of society. So far and by pure accident 1t is true, society can lose nothing by my past acts. If is fully damnified for them, and has nothing to fear in the future; then what reformation can be hoped for from fur ther punishing an old man. overwhelmed with sorrows and sufferings, broken in mind and body and spending grave-wards
 q desire you and MT. - to ascertain from the judiciary what is their pleasure In the premises Lear was free I am a prisoner bound hand and foot in A foreign land. still I would spare those of my name and lineage coming after me. | the further pain of a prosecution (against l which I shall make no manner of de- | fense) I would spare the innocent | legacy of increased shame. especially | since cannot gild it with gold. I will | not. however, shirk from a conviction. | much as I should dislike it. l confess | I would like to pass the few remaining | daSe of life in retirement and the hunt | after truth It seems to me that | :sow and here is the time and place for | any more numerous friends to make l