Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-26
CONVICT SELLS LETTERS OF
MADALYNNE OBENCHAIN

some time in February. Oh, If
could only write as would talk to
you.
"Your letter was full of questions,
too, dear Paul. I wish you could look
deep into my eyes for all the an
swers.
"How good this day has been to
met
Eyes, I am thinking, thinking
hard - Of everything -others-yes
Paul, please help me to be kind-to
do all I should debut when have
paid in full-let me feel the promise
of the rainbow.
II am willing to die land am not
speaking lightly If only one earthly
dream can be realized. If the dream
consists Of years-or a monitor
even an hour-I will take it-and
live for that now.
II am fighting-and waiting-but
maybe will find my way into dark
ness-who knows what the outcome
will be?
"Goodnight-I hesitate in saying
tt want to linger now as did the
night the bars were between us.
i am yours,
'MADALYNNE."
And then PauPs answer:
The Man Writes
Eyes, the night you said good-by
to me shall forever remain indelibly
stamped in memory. AS I look back
to that moment o fall moments, as I
now infinitely review the picture of
you and standing there so near to
each other and yet SO far apart, I
wonder just what would have hap
pened if the bars between us had
vanished? At that time would
have felt embarrassed, but now
well, I am sure you are thinking
what I am thinking"
Later, in referring to himself,
Roman said, crest assured that
right here you have reached the end
Of your rainbow.
zone thing want to impress upon
your mind: Please trust me fully. No
matter what you do or where you
go when you are through with all
this, please keep in touch with ME.
Perhaps, some day when you grow
tired Of everything. will meet you,
and then
Heart Of my heart, there are
numerous kinds of loves; but for the
love like my love for you--a love
which had no beginning and which
could never die -ah, dearest mine,
for promise of q love like that
could endure most anything.
IT would give all the world OF
gladness just to be able to grasp you
in my arms and press you tightly to
my pounding heart, and kiss you and
hug you---and-and take you away
from all this! The remainder of my
days I would spend forgetting the
past and making you the happiest,
erstwhile sad and misunderstood,
big-little girl in this wide and wicked
universe"
In one of Mrs. Obenchain's letters
to Roman she asks:
will you please answer this ques-
tion-are my letters to you de.
stroyed? After the one experience 1
had with letters am sure you will
forgive my asking you"
Mrs. Obenchain refers to the cor
respondence which she had with
Kennedy. Her ardent love letters
to him were brought before the
courts attention a few months pre-
vious.
Turns States Evidence
And Paul Roman is turning states
evidence-has brought upon himself
the condemnation of his cell com.
panions. He has been hung in ef-
figy by his fellow prisoners. At lib
erty for the time being, he is vir.
tually a prisoner. Detectives have
been assigned to guard him against
| the fury Of the mob.
Outside the court room window
may be seen the eager crowds press
ing madly against the doors, press.
ing, pressing nearer and nearer in
order to rush upon the ''turn-coat'
as he energies from the court room.
The state has been placed in q
dilemma-to either grant a convicted
burglar his freedom before he has
even served the minimum Of his sen.
tence, or invite his death in return
for his efforts in behalf of the prose-
cution. 1t may be that the state
will have to farm Roman out to
some other institution, at distance
from California, in the hope that the
prejudice against him will not be
so intense there.
For awhile the curtain must be
rung down. Fatae and justice must
work out the final outcome Of this
dramatic situation.
But for Paul Roman, burglar
convict, who penned glowing love
letters to celebrated Divorce and
suspected murderess, and then be-
trayed her, there remains nothing
but the fiery, intense hatred of his
fellow prisoners and countrymen,
who believe that "honor among
thieves" is essentially potent.