Gardner has been confined in Isolation Quarters since his attempted escape July 18, 1928 (one year and two month). Since the completion of the stockade wall, about August 12, he has had thirty minutes exercise in the morning and thirty minutes in the afternoon of each day. Three times daily he is furnished regular meals, served to him in his cell, of the same quality as that which is furnished other prisoners in the dining room. He receives the daily papers and is given books from the library by the Chaplain. He is confined in a single cell, which is 20 ft, 5 in. long, 8 ft wide, and 12 ft high, facing the sough side of the building, with a window 3 ft 8 in wide and 6 ft 8 in high. His cell is equipped with running water. Because of his depressed attitude, it has been decided to forego his exercise for a few days; least he should attempt suicide by jumping from the second story where he is quartered.
I shall keep you informed, from time to time, as to the status of the case.
Respectfully yours,
A.C. Aderhold
Warden
* * *
September 23, 1929
Mr. A.C.A.
Re: 20850, Gardner
I also want to call your attention to a similar case in this institution some several years ago. The procedure followed for this man was to force his feedings. This was done but the amount of trauma, irritation, together with the amount of energy used by the prisoner in his struggles trying to prevent such feedings made the officials very doubtful as to whether or not very much good was gained by such procedure. However, the man was kept alive for a period of 62 days, but finally died.
In looking over the reports on Roy Gardner from the Leavenworth Penitentiary, I find a report of a similar action by him while incarcerated in that institution. At this time, October 10, 1925, Major Edgar King, consultant analyst to the Leavenworth Penitentiary, was asked to examine him. The summary of his report was: First, that Gardner was of a constitutional psychopathic, very unstable and paranoid, suffering at the time from a marked paranoid reaction motivated by the situation in which he now finds himself. Second, that transfer to Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital, Washington, D.C. was not recommended, but that a transfer to the Atlanta Penitentiary was recommended, the reason being that the present episode, or mental disorder, would possibly pass away as a result of a change in environment. It was also stated that it was possible that he may not have a further episode of similar nature, but that it was not very probable, and that if he did have a recurrence of the above mental disorder, a transfer to Saint Elizabeth’s should be recommended.
Dr. J. Galvin Weaver, a former physician to the United States Penitentiary here, was asked to see Gardner in consultation, because the case outlined above in which forced feedings were attempted was handled during his time as Prison Physician. It was deemed advisable to have Dr. Weaver see this man and perhaps receive his opinion on the advisability of forced feedings. His advice and impressions will not be given in this letter, but will be submitted in a separate report from him.
Respectfully yours,
J.B. Cross
Assistant Physician
* * *
November 12, 1929
To: Friend - Louie
Hello Friend of Mine:
Yours of Oct. 1st received on Wednesday. It went to Alcatraz first and then came here.
That five spot surely came in handy because my system craved sugar and I am spending it for candy and chocolate.
Many thanks my friend. As soon as I fatten up I will be sitting pretty, because the food here is excellent, and the doctors in charge of the hospital are the most considerate men I ever met. We are not treated like convicts. In fact we are treated just the same as other patients who are not criminals.
Here is an example of how we are treated. The other day Dr. Gilbert took me to his office for a mental examination and he addressed me as Mr. Gardner. Can you imagine a penitentiary official doing that? And what is more I smoked his cigarettes during the examination. If I held my hand on my hip until a prison official gave me cigarettes I surely would die a cripple. Dr. Gilbert is a highly educated man and a splendid fellow also.
I wish Louie you would send Dr. Gilbert a transcript of the trial in Phoenix if you have a copy of it. If not, then write up the facts in a letter and send it to him. It will help him in making up his records of me. Tell him especially about Dr. Ferguson’s testimony when he said I was insane until the pressure on my brain was removed. Dr. Lind and Dr. Gilbert are not interested in physical or legal troubles. They are brain specialist and interested in brain troubles only.
I am glad you wired Mr. Hoover because it sure got results. They suddenly got busy in Atlanta and took me out of there on the 4th of this month. The warden got a wire from Washington at 2:00 P.M. and I left two hours later that’s what I call action. What did you say to Mr. Hoover to get that much speed?
Now Louie don’t worry about me getting away from here. I am coming out of here a free man in less than two years, and I’m not “goofy” enough yet to spoil a chance like that by trying to get away.
You know Louie, I am quite a poker player, and I know the value of an ace in the hole and I am sure going to play the hand to win. The opportunity I now have to come out legally has knocked the get-away question into a “cocked hat”. So don’t worry any more about that.
Now about those five spots you have been sending me. When you send a check it has to go through the clearinghouse before I can spend it and that takes about 10 days. But if you put a bill in the letter I can spend it the same day I get it. Of course Louie, I appreciate those checks and if it wasn’t for you I never would get any smokes but I would rather have the cash.
You can tell me anything you want to tell me in your letters because our mail is not censored here and nobody will read your letters but me. If you have a couple of flannel shirts and some underwear that you don’t need I wish you would send them to me. You and I wear about the same size shirts, 16 and a half or 17. We wear civilian clothes here and I have only got what I have on my back now.
Write soon.
Always your friend,
Roy – Roy Gardner
St Elizabeth’s Hospital 3/7/33
* * *
September 23, 1929
May 9, 1930
Phoenix, Arizona
From: L.S. Sonney – 15 East Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona
To: Chairman and Honorable Board of Parole
C/o Federal Penitentiary – Leavenworth, Kansas
Dear Sir and Gentlemen:
Pardon the liberty I take in addressing myself to you in behalf of Roy Gardner who is confined in the Federal Penitentiary. I am appealing to you to kindly use your consideration and give the poor man another chance, and grant him his parole and allow him return to his little loyal wife and child, who I am sorry to say are without any means of support. The wife has a slight touch of tuberculosis, and finds it almost impossible to support her little girl, but nevertheless she is making out a small pittance by working in the hospital. There is no doubt in my mind that Roy Gardner pulled many stunts, which has brought him in the shadow of the law. And it is also true that he has on other occasions made escapes from custody at the risk of life and limb. But it is also a fact that in all of his escapades, he hurt no one or did any person bodily harm, as he has been proved on every occasion that he came within notice of the law. He invariably had an empty gun.
I am the officer who arrested him in Centralia, Washington, June 1st 1921. While wearing a disguise on his face, when I walked in on him at his motel and got him under control, I myself saw that his gun was empty. Compare such a man with Jesse James who always wore two guns loaded to the brim. Roy Gardner perhaps would have been able to better prove his case were he at the time of his arrest, able to get good counsel, who could lay his case before a jury and show that he was at the time suffering from a slight ma___ caused by an accident in a mine some years previous, and which the learned psychiatrist at Washington D.C. claimed was responsible for his actions.
> Please Gentlemen, have a little consideration for the poor man, give him another chance to prove that he can be a good honest American and I know gentlemen that you will be doing a real humane act.
In my experience and travels, I have found many thousands of people who would be glad to sign a petition on behalf of this poor man Roy Gardner. If it is necessary, I can start this petition to your kindness, and I know that I can get thousands of business men, and men with whom Roy Gardner has come in contact with while enjoying honest freedom to beg of you to please give him another chance.
Please Gentlemen, Please.
When Roy Gardner’s name is brought up before you for parole, use the power for good that is within you and give Roy Gardner another chance and I know that the Good Lord above will remember you for this one great act of clemency. Thank you gentlemen in advance for your attention to this, my petition in behalf of Roy Gardner.
Truly yours,
L.S. Sonney
L.S. Sonney. The man that arrested him at Centralia, Washington June 1st 1921.
* * *
June 23, 1932
To: A.H. MacCormick
Assistant Director Federal Prisons
Washington, D.C.
To: My Dear Mr. MacCormick
I talked with Mr. Bates yesterday and he told me of your efforts in my behalf. Please accept my sincere thanks Mr. MacCormick, and be assured you will never have cause to regret any action you have taken or may take in my behalf. I hope you never find yourself in a position where you need help, but should you find yourself in that position, I surely hope to be the man chosen to help you.
Should I be fortunate enough to make a parole, would it be possible for me to secure a commission in the Federal Service? (No stool pigeon service Mr. MacCormick, it would have to be a bonifide commission).
After 11 years of constant association with Federal law violators, I have learned things that could not have been learned in any other way. I am vain enough to believe that I know the secret thoughts and actions of Federal violators from mail bandits down to dope fiends well or better than any operative now in the Federal service. I know you have some clever operatives in the service, however they have not ate and slept with and listened to the confidences of as many Federal violators as I have. Also my reputation would give me enter into most any criminal circle and I could quickly secure evidence that would otherwise almost unobtainable through the regular channels of Federal investigation.
I realize Mr. MacCormick, this is an unusual request, however the unusual is a common occurrence in my life and I have become used to it.
If in your judgment this is a proper move for me to make, and you are willing to sponsor my application, please place me in communication with the proper authorities.
Of course Mr. McCormick, this is contingent on favorable action on my parole application by the Parole Board. I also wish to assure you that I will fulfill any and all recommendations you see fit to make in my behalf, and I will render absolutely honest service on any assignment I may get if I am fortunate enough to be accepted in the Federal service.
Please communicate with me though Warden Hudspeth, thus avoiding the prison censorship. My lawbreaking days are over now Mr. MacCormick, and I will appreciate an opportunity to prove that fact to the entire world and Federal officials in particular.
Very truly yours,
ROY GARDNER
* * *
September 28, 1932
To: Roy G. Gardner # 17080
Box 50 – Leavenworth, Kansas
From: L.S. Sonney
Dear Friend Roy:
I just received your letter and was very glad to hear from you. Yes, I have been coming east for a long time but you know how it is there is all ways something else before leaving home. I’ll be coming east about the 15th of next month. I have the ex. Chief of Police of Tulare, which he wants to buy one half of my wax show, and I just have to wait. You know Mr. Hudspeth your Warden didn’t send me any pass in order to see you. He stated in one of his letters that relatives are only allowed to see you. Too bad we are not brother-in-laws, according to his rules and regulations. Today I am writing to the Attorney General to see why I can’t be allowed to see you if that don’t give me any results, I will write direct to our President Hoover like I did before. You know I sure was surprised of you sending my letter to your wife. I always thought that you was a silent type. I have been telling people that when I turned you over to Marshall Hollahan he asked you, where did you get that gun that you stuck up his two deputies with? And your answer was, Marshall you never will know. Many people got a great kick out of that saying you never was a stooly, so I wish you would explain to me the reason why you sent the letter to your wife. I sure felt fully sorry, you should never have sent the letter to her and today I am in belief that something has come up from Napa preventing my visit. About your parole, you had better lay low and try to stay out of the hole otherwise you will lose by it.
I am sending you a five spot so you can smoke some Lucky’s. I hope you didn’t change the brand of the cigarettes that you used to use.
The talking pictures are wonderful. You will be surprised when you hear the melodrama voice of the famous Will Rogers. He sure makes you laugh when he opens up that nice looking mouth of his. Well this will be all for now, hoping to hear from you soon.
Your friend,
L.S. SONNEY
625 Stanford Ave
Los Angeles, California
* * *
February 31, 1933
To: Roy G. Gardner #17080
Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas
Mr. Gardner:
In searching my letter records that I always keep, I found some of your valuable promises that you have gave me for the last 11 years. I also want you to notice especially Letter No. 8, where you asked me that question. I didn’t give you the answer that time because I thought I was dealing with a square shooter, but after having spent a couple of thousand dollars and a lot of time begging a lot of influential people and got you out of a lot of trouble. You changed the tune as soon as the real parole was coming up. You began to leave the friendship off. Remember that I have all the letters you have sent me and if you don’t keep your promises, as you have told me for the last 11 years, I am going to make it a little hard for you.
This will be all for now, hoping to hear from you by return mail.
Sincerely yours,
Louis S. Sonney
P.S. Am sending some of the copies of letters I have received from you when you was in need, by imploring the Blessings of God.
NOTE ON BOTTOM OF LETTER
This letter is proof that Sonney will go to any extreme to injure me in the estimation of the Parole Board. If he cannot use me as a freak in his road show, he will try to block my release on parole.
ROY GARDNER – March 7, 1933
To: Warden,
Apparently this fellow is going to try to go over your head and get permission to visit me. If he shows up here with a pass to see me, tell him I am in conference and cannot be disturbed.
I don’t want to see him. He got me “in bad” once before in 1924 by going over Warden Biddle’s head, and I don’t want a repetition of it now.
If you want additional reasons for barring him, consult Warden Zerbst. He made a gun play at Warden Zerbst at the other prison in 192 __.
Respectfully submitted.
By: ROY GARDNER
* * *
March 25, 1933
To: Warden
From: Roy Gardner
Warden if you are going to continue feeding us sausage and hot cakes for breakfast, I am going to decline a parole because I don’t believe they feed like that at Boulder Dam.
I got that same identical breakfast (sausage, hot cakes, syrup, bread, butter and coffee) on a dining car in January 1930 and it cost the U.S. Marshall $1.25.
Keep the good work up Warden. The better class prisoners in here are for you 100 percent.
Sincerely yours,
<
br /> ROY GARDNER
* * *
Dollie Gardner
February 12, 1934
From: Mrs. Dollie Gardner
Imola, Napa, California
To: Mr. Stanford Bates
Department of Justice
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
I am taking the liberty of writing you concerning my husband Roy Gardner #17060, a prisoner incarcerated at present at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Mr. Bates, I know that I have not much of an argument to put up in his favor as his record, especially on paper, is not a good one. Yet he will soon be gone 14 years, and I am so tired of just waiting with nothing to look forward to. So I take the liberty of writing you concerning Roy’s parole. He is a man 50 years of age, and if he is ever to stage a comeback in private life, it will have to be done in the next few years. Maybe I am over confident in feeling that I can help to make Roy a good useful citizen.
I have raised our daughter, she being a baby when he went away, she is now in her 17th year and a lovely girl. I have lived a good life and I feel that I am a little more deserving than to have Roy returned to me decrepit old man to care for the rest of his days.
Mr. Bates, I realize that you have society to protect, and in face of the prevailing crime wave I ask you to consider paroling Roy and sending him back to us.
I made a visit to Washington, D.C. in Roy’s behalf some years back, and recall the kind courteous treatment that I received at the Department of Justice, so it is with a friendly feeling I address you.
Sincerely,
Dollie Gardner
* * *
March 5, 1934
To: Dollie Gardner
From: Director Stanford Bates
My Dear Ms. Gardner:
I personally received and considered your letter of February 12th. I am sorry that I can give you no definite information as to the possibility of parole in your husband’s case. As you know that must be decided by the Board of Parole, which is established for that purpose.
Letters from Alcatraz Page 21
