River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-06-25

letter from prison.
His home was hardly more than
twelve miles away from Sing Sing.
but it was across the river and well
! IT in the country. 1t would depend
upon the rural system for its delivery
IS it travelled on its way. he let his
mind follow it with many tender and
Yet distressing thoughts OF Der who
would receive it.
Two days passed and the looked for
letter came. 1t was delivered to him
Q. KID by the deputy in charge of
the correspondence department. He
studied the handwriting on the en-
vel0pe. 1t was not in the old fash
Toned script of his mother. and his
hands shook as be drew forth the
letter and unfolded it.
He glanced at the signature and
read the name of Margaret Wadhams.
a friend and neighbor of his mother
She wrote that his mother had been
very i'll and that her eyesight was fail
ing rapidly. She could not see well
enough to write and had asked Miss
Wadhams to do the writing for her.
"She tells me to write you only a
bright letter. wrote Miss Wadhams.
but | think it is my duty to tell you
that your dear mother has broken
very rapidly and | believe that she
has not many more days to live. Her
heart was crushed by the blow that
fell upon you and that was only in
tended for you. James. She is patient
and prays constantly that some day
your innocence will be established.
Garrett. the New York lawyer who
defended you. wrote to her and urged
her to mortgage the house and raise
enough money SO that he could take
an appeal to the higher courts. She
was eager to do this. but ] prevailed
upon her to see Mr.. Westervelt. the
Nyack lawyer, first. Mr.. Westervelt
said that the lawyer was a rohber OF
widows and the poor and that he
would o let her get out of his hands
until she had sold her very clothes
He took up the matter without a fee,
like the kind man that he is. and
said it was utterly useless to take an
appeal. He said that there was no
chance of offsetting the evidence
against you unless the real slayer OF
the Waterman was found.
"She keeps the clothes you wore
when you were a little boy always
near her. She has the picture taken
of you at the county fair, and it is a
great comfort to her,"
No. 60, 1903 again put aside the letter
and sat staring at the steel wall of his
cell while he fought to master his emo
ton. For a moment he thought fran
ticaIly of trying to break out of prison
and hurrying to her. If he could get
a little start he could swim the Hudson
and make his way home in time to
kneel beside her bed. clasp her thin
hands in his and comfort her and
breathe his love to her as she passed
into the valley Of the shadow. He
glanced about him as If in the hope
that God would bring some miracle to
pass and that the steel walls and bars
would melt and the stone crumble.
Bill had swung himself up into his
bunk. Montgomery looked up and saw
his little eyes watching him keenly.
There was compassion illumining the
c~ountenance Of this creature with
prognathous jaw and sloping brow.
Trouble at home, kid?" be asked.
his harsh voice mellowing with the
kindly spirit that prompted the ques
ton.
No. 60. 1913 nodded his head. The
open letter in his hands told the tale
Gee, | wish you knew how to cuss.
kid." sighed the burglar. when things
come hard on me | get rid of it all with
a good, long. healthy wear 1t does
me an awful lot of good"
The boy shook his head, but the
earnestness of his cell companion
brought the faint flicker of a smile to
his lips.
They used to call me Roaring Bill
Awkins.'" Bill went on. Being as you
don't know how to swear artistic and
satisfactory, I'll just swear for you
No. don't object. I'll think 'em to my
self and not say a thing out loud"
He swung down from his high pallet
There was still a half hour before the
lights would be cut off, and this was
the best possible time for violating
prison regulations.
You stand at the door and keep a
sharp lookout. kid" he said. II want
to take a peek at this newspaper you've
won by good conduct
The discovery of this violation by a
guard would have cost Montgomery
his white disk and the loss of forty-1ve
marks. He gave a sigh of relief when
the lights went out and Bill could no
longer imperfl the disk and cheVron on
his sleeve
The boy was half asleep when Bill
leaned over the edge Of bis resting
place and whispered: kid, I've got a
scheme that's a wonder. You know
what told you about getting a suit OF
clothes for the getaway"
Yes"
II got 1t all doped out"