The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-22
PATRICK 70 THE PUBLIC.
A STATEMENT IN THE FORM OF
A LETTER TO HIS WIFE.
Doubt Has Meant Preston 10 Others. but
Means serVitude 60 Him IL
Absolutely sane Says lis Counsel
is rs Insane as q Fox" says warden.

Patrick is "a insane as a fox said
Warden johnson Of Sing Sing prison yes
terday in answer to a question relative to
the mental state of the prisoner under his
charge " no has resented the commutation
by The Governor of his sentence of death to
Life imprisonment. The warden contented
himself with this statement and would moi
commit himself further.
Friends and counsel OF Albert T. Patrick
who have recently been in communication
with the prisoner were strong in their denial
of the report that the man who has Just
been removed from the shadow of death
was mentally ~deranged. THE remark at
tributed TO Gov. Higgins TO the effect that
Patrick must be careful in his criticism Of
the action taken in committing his SEN
tence or he would 90 to Matteawan In the
sole basis for the rumor that Patrick's mind
had broken under the strain OF four years
In the death house'at Sing Sing. said one
OF the firm of Black, Olcott, Gruber a
Bonynge, Patrick's attorneys. yesterday.
Patrick is absolutely sane" said his
counsel yesterday. He has always been
above the average in mentality and he still
il so. We have been in constant CORE
spondence with him and his letters show
what kind of a mind he has. He is a keener
lawyer now than when he went into prison.
The prison life may have hurt him physically,
but It has not affected his mind one whit"
When Patrick learned yesterday that
the report had gone abroad that he was
possibly insane he was extremely excited
and cried out: Il am not insane; l am not
insane, and they know it, This was said
TO the jailers Of the death house who had
come to tell him TO prepare for his removal
to a cell among the %-lifers."
At first Patrick seemed anxious to give
out an interview to reporters, but later,
when he had been removed from the death
cell, he changed his mind and refused to
see reporters. He wrote a letter addressed
10 his wife, which he asked the warden to
show the representatives of the news
papers. This, Patrick said, should be con-
sidered as a statement from him to the
public.
Although the prisoner addressed the letter
20 his wife, il was evident that he intended
Il for a wider reading both from the tone
OF the letter and the formalityof the diction.
1t read as follows:
yours of yesterday, announcing that the
Governor had committed my sentence of
death to life imprisonment was received
to-day.
at is needless 20 say that / am bitterly
disappointed at the miscarriage Of my hopes
for freedom. but l am not discouraged. l
shall formally protest, for it's moral, even
though 1t may. nave no legal, effect. Then
I shall comply quietly with the direction OF
the officers who will, on the Governors
warrant, receive me into the penal part of
the prison, as provided by section y OF the
prison law, as resistance is useless and my
desires have been ignored.
Il felt sure that the United States Su-
preme Court would eventually declare that
my conviction had been secured without
IN proper proof and by unfair and dis
honest means. But L was so tired of delay
and so moved by the strain from my loved
ones that / listened to the suggestion that
the Governor would use his power Of pardon
to rectify a miscarriage of justice, and 80,
against the advice Of my attorneys having
the case in charge, l dismissed my appeal
and applied TO the Governor for free pardon.
THE Governor in committing me finds
IN effect that my conviction was illegal
and proof of my guilt insufficient. Or
In other words, that | am ~presumptively
innocent. Doubt of guilt or illega lily OF
conviction nave always in the case OF other
people been grounds for a Z discharge. Fer
me IL is thought proper to impose a painful
depreciation and humiliating servitude.
This degradation ! cannot escape, put
shall bear il bravely. buoyed by the belief
that | have the sympathy and support OF
all lovers Of justice, and the expectation OF
my early release and vindication.
Il shall forthwith petition the incoming
Governor to right this wrong, and l believe
that his knowledge of the law, keen Judg-
ment OF facts and love of Justice and per-
sonal courage will prevail ana that ne VIII
soon set me free.
NV health is good. except / am worn
out and tire very easily. But my mind is
clear and ! have been and will be guided
only by my own judgment. i wish to
thank all my friends who have sought 10
help or who have sympathy with me, ana
l ask a continuance of their efforts.
Il concede the proposition that II am
,sV.x nw1 hnsvn hnon Vtuhflu GnnVlnfO1 1
I should he punished; but If, on the CON
trary, my conviction is illegal, or there
may be only suspicion and distrust instead
OF proof of guilt, then IL is the concern or
all that the law be not made an instrument
OF oppression.
"IynchinG under color OF the law IL a
thousandfold worse than individual violence.
1t is my hope that the lovers Of law and
order and Of fair play in this country snail
see that justice shall come to me.
aAIsERr T. PATRICK"
Patrick began the writing Of this letter
IN the cell, No; I, in the death Y and
finished il in his new quarters, No. 1914,
gallery %. The order from the Governor
committing his sentence to life imprlson-
ment arrived at the prison at noon. When
Warden johnson went to Patrlck's cell to
apprise him Of the change that was to
be made in his quarters he found that the
prisoner had such a stock Of law books and
papers in his cell that an hours time would
De necessary to allow nm 10 PACK up ms
belongings. Il
When Patrick stepped out Of his cell and
walked down murderer row" those con-
demned to die came TO their grated doors
and watched him go by. Some offered 10
shake hands with him and congratulated
him on his escape from death. Others
watched him pass in silence, apparently
grudging a word of cheer in the bitterness
Of their envy.
Patrick was the dean OF 'murderers'
row" The door of cell No. 7 first closed
on him on April Z, 1902. Since that time
fourteen men rave had the death. watch
placed over them and have walked through
the grated ~alleyway TO the little room
where the chair and the straps are. Patrick
has heard their footsteps as they went out.
Seven times the date for his own death
has been set and he has heard the whisper
Of the death watch outside of his cell door.
When Patrick moved away from the
death house yesterday he left behind him,
in the cells Of the condemned, eight men
who await the chair. None Of them has
friends working for his release outside;
49,. 80 bono hatuaan him |