Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-01-18

~ "ASthOA SASAC ~ ttAS way III
which you can take up her case for
consideration in the matter of ex-
tending the clemency asked for: I
am sure if YOU felt convinced she
really intends to live correctly in
the future. you could feel disposed
to consider the case favorably. /
understand she received a 1O-year
sentence in one of the Maine re-
formatories for women. that she has
served two years; if her reforma-
tion is apparent and her desires for
the future true. then the matter of
length of sentence served would not
matter.
OF course I never met or know
Miss Strickland. but in reading the
article I somehow felt that here was
a case which was deserving.
Kindly advise me, If possible,
whether you are forwarding the let
ter to Miss Strickland through the
officials of the institution; also
whether it is your intention to in
| vestigate and pass on her petition.
Please do not give the matter pub
licity in this secticn.
With most sincere assurances in
advance for any favors which you
may deem it possible to extend and
with best wishes for your welfare
and prosperity for 1919. I am
Very sincerely yours,
MARK B. MILLER.
Address P. o. Box 3O1. Troy, Miami
county. Ohio.
The enclosure was as follows:
Miss Sadie Strickland.
Augusta. Me-.
Dear Miss Strickland:
have just read in Dayton, Ohio,
, paper about your letter to the Gov
ernor Of Maine praying for clemency
in your case. If agreeable to you
and with the permission Of the Of
ficials of the institution there. gov
, erned by your writing privilege,
should like to correspond with you,
with view of forming a friendship,
which might be continued and en-
hanced after your discharge. which
l trust may be brought about at an
early date.
The writer is 80 years of age and
employed in a good position of the
| Troy Wagon Works Co. in Troy,
Ohio, in the sales department. l
have had some trouble previously
myself and can appreciate the posi-
ton you are in and believe you are
sincere in your statement contained
in the letter which YOU wrote the
Governor, that you would, if given a
chance, prove your desire to be and
to do good after your discharge.
When one makes a big mistake or
does wrong. one has to pay: how
ever, l do not believe the length of
| time one has to pay matters so
| much. that is, one may see the
follies of wrongdoing and have a
real desire to do right after COM
paratively short time of incarcera-
ton. Therefore. ] believe you when
you have said you would live right
if given your freedom. OF course.
| that is always at the discretion and
! judgment of the officials and / know
the officials are no different in the
State of Maine than elsewhere and
beside dispensing the law they are
also human and disposed to give
! anyone a chance who deserves it.
| I am writing the Governor Of the
State Of Maine today, asking his
good Offices to see whether can have
| this letter forwarded to YOU and
open correspondence with you, also
asking him if there is anything
which could be done toward having
your case taken into consideration
| toward the end which you desire. :
Should be able to reach you with
this letter and should it be accept
able to the officials there. and should
| it be your desire, may l not hear
from you occasionally as you may
spare me letter from your
writing privilege? l will write you
again after l hear from you.
Respectfully. friend,
MARK B. MILLER.
| 4 letter was Immediately forward
ed to Mr.. Miller by Private Secre-
tary L. NJ. Hart, saying that 'the
Governor cannot be an intermediary
! between yourself and Miss Strick-
land, an inmate at one of the Maine
institutions. There is not objection
to your writing Miss Strickland
yourself. 1t is for her to decide
whether she wishes to correspond
with YOU"