ryan wrote several letters to various people from prison the letter that included the commandments and maintaining his innocence is in the late opas' estate in the eleventh hour shortly prior to his execution ryan wrote letters on toilet paper inside his cell the letters were folded up and addressed to his family members opas and the anti hanging committee ryan asked father brosnan to give his letters to the appropriate persons the contents varied from person to person and it is important to note that in each letter ryan maintained his innocence and he thanked those who had supported him in the documentary film the last man hanged ryan's letter to the anti hanging committee is read out loud ryan states i ronald joseph ryan state most emphatically that i am innocent of murder ryan's wife dorothy also reads out loud part of the letter that ryan wrote to her