Letters from Alcatraz

by Esslinger, Michael

  One of my first acts after commutation was to catch a pair if young sparrows; they were nesting and had fallen into the little court where at this time I was permitted thirty minutes per day for exercise. They were taken to my cell and there fed by hand upon bits of my own food as they grew up they became very friendly and were taught a number of tricks. They were well educated before anyone’s attention was called to the fact that I had them; they were then shown to the deputy warden and made to do their tricks. He being a great pet lover was very much interested in them. During the discussion the idea was put over that they could not thrive for long without bird seed. The result was that I was granted permission to but bird seed – something I could not have a chance to get had I been chummy enough to ask for it. That was the first step.

  It took one year to get my first canary, another year to get my first cage which was made from a packing box with the aid of a razor blade and a nail for tools. These like the sparrows were acquired as opportunity presented or could be created, for I had to step carefully, believe me. This first permission I asked regarding the canaries was when I had the birds of my own breeding sent out.

  My first birds were common chopper canaries. The money derived from these was used to stock fancy rollers. The first cage grew to a row, to two rows, until my whole cell was covered with cages until much of my dream had come true. Until I had created a profitable bird business from the four blank walls of my solitary cell.

  I now stocked from forty to eighty high class rollers, have a new strain of my own creation well on the road to perfection and will raise and sell from three hundred to five hundred dollars worth per year. And as I live with birds I study they – probably more closely than any free person with a multitude of interests could do. This study has been very interesting and the happiest hours of my life have been spent right here with my birds. Their exacting needs, the fact that I am responsible for their health and happiness has much to do with the regulating of my own habits. Their value represents a property right; the building up of that value and its enjoyments has given me a broader view of property right than I ever had before. If a dealer ships me unfit seed or sick birds I demand correction. If it is not forthcoming I return the goods at his expense or send a wire that will eat up any profit that he had made by his dishonesty or carelessness. I know how I feel in such cases, and knowing that I don’t want people to feel so towards me is the best incentive in the world for avoiding such practice. The result is that I have not a single dissatisfied customer. But while the effort of this business upon my character and outlook has been great, these have been even greater results in other directions.

  The condition under which I keep my birds, are unique and to meet the needs of the birds decrease labor, and make the most of my available room. I have designed each item of my equipment along lines intended to make it give me the greatest service, and the greatest return on my investment and labor. This has led to a number of original features; some of which are undoubtedly patentable and of commercial value. These have been passed on for the benefit of other breeders.

  I have carried on extensive experiments in foods which have added new knowledge. Some of this knowledge has been on to the fancy: some of it of greater commercial value has been retained. One discovery relating to the relation of certain minerals to the reproduction is now being commercialized by the Miracus Bird Food Company of Clifton Hill, MO., a concentration organized for that purpose; a creation of my imagination.

  The facts merely show that I have been competent along the line to which my efforts have been devoted. They are not greatly to my credit or otherwise. Another so situated might do the same thing, but this competency is exactly of that kind that leads to the success in any field, under any circumstances. It is for that reason and also because it forms a background of what is to follow that I have gone into such details. I must now digress for a moment.

  There is a disease which is known by such various names as septic fever, cholera, canary nervosas, canary typhoid, septicemia, shipping fever and others. This disease is due to the action of two germs, one of which attacks the internal organs (those of digestion), and one of which attacks the lungs, throat, mouth, head and other parts of the body. This disease is highly contagious, and heretofore was practically always fatal. The germs have a period of from fourteen to twenty-one days of incubation. The birds infected can spread the disease from an entire bird room before they can be detected. Thus it causes great loss; frequently running into thousands of dollars and wiping out entire flocks.

  The desire is an interrupted fever on the one hand and is closely related to Diphtheria and is the same as in a human being. Croup in poultry is not identical with them; it is also more or less closely related to Erysipelas. Scarlet Fever and other diseases of this nature and has many curious points of resemblance to hoof and mouth disease among cattle. And it may here be noted that it originated in the same part of central Europe as did human Diphtheria (I wonder if the hoof and mouth disease also came from that locality, as much of our cattle did).

  On the other hand microscopic examination of the exterior shows the presence of large numbers of the germs of avian cholera of a very malignant variety. This aspect of infection shows a close relationship to such infection as cholera in both hogs and human beings as well to other contagious of the intestinal tract.

  This disease was introduced into my flock last spring with some imported birds that I had bought. It ran through my stock like wild fire. It took fifty birds and cost me at least five hundred dollars, but it was subjected to much closer study from a sympathetic angle than ever before published. Many new facts were discovered concerning its nature and diagnosis. The existence of germ carriers had long been suspected. This was definitely established and described; but still my birds were being lost at the rate of three per day. Fully expecting to lose my entire stock, I was determined to get all knowledge possible from the experience. With this end in view, I undertook a series of experiments and based upon the theory that most doctors would call absurd. That was that there must be some substance that would kill the germs inside the birds but that would not harm the birds. I began adding germicide to their food. Frankly this was done without hope. I tried things that no sane person would try, and observed results. Driven by desperation, I found what I sought; a non-poisonous germicide, with a germ killing power comparing favorably with carbolic acid and potassium permanganate. I cured birds at the point of death in a matter of a few hours. I established the fact that this substance kills all of the germs in the digestive tract at the first administration and that it greatly reduced the number in the blood stream. Eruptive processes on the various parts of the body healed without local treatment, though as a matter of fact they healed quicker when local treatment was given.

  This is important from the bird keeper’s point of view. It is easily understood, but it is not at all, the substance used is not a selective germicide like salvarsan, but a general germicide. It kills all microorganisms both avian and mammalian. It is not poisonous to mammals as to birds. These facts have been placed before a competent bacteriologist and I am informed that such properties had not been hitherto known.

  The formula has been prepared and put on the market for the use of bird breeders and dealers; as soon as the necessary experiments can be made it will be put on the market for the poultry breeder, in forms adopted for the treatment of Roup and White Diarrhea; but this does not exhaust the possibilities of the discovery. There is no one of the diseases mentioned above but what could undoubtedly be more effectively treated with this substance than is now the case if necessary techniques were worked out. That, however, is beyond my resources and the limitation of my environment. The only tests I have been able to make have been with common coal. In this case a single treatment proved effective. There are many germicides that can be applied to the mucus membranes which will affect the same results. There are not many that can be used internally.

  Now, Sir, you have heard many a
ppeals for clemency and in each you made your question at issue as always been “What is the probability that the party in question of himself, a useful citizen if restored to society?” That question does not exist in this case. I have developed in limited environment to the full extent of its possibilities. Isn’t it logical to suppose that now at an age when all men are set in these habits that I would continue as I have for the last nine years? There are persons, some of them high in the present administration, in D.C. and who will be higher in the next administration, who think that the answer to that question should be yes. It is they who are sponsoring this move. Whether it will prove successful or not, I do not know. I do know that it is far from being the forlorn hope that some of my other efforts have seen, only to work out successful. Be that as it may:

  It has been argued that you would prove the greatest obstacle to success. Some have been so convinced of this that they have argued that it would be a foolish waste of effort to address any appeal to you whatever, that the logical thing to do was to set you down for an adverse report and try to offset same elsewhere.

  I have not been able to subscribe to that view: despite the fact that our only contract was under circumstances which could hardly be to advantage of either of us in the eyes of the other. I have always felt that you were a broad open minded man bent on discharging your duties with as high a degree of justice and fairness as is humanly possible. I cannot believe that you would prejudice any man or fail to alter an opinion of the past if facts presented convinced you that justice demanded it. It is this belief that has given me tetemerity to address this appeal to you.

  I have above mentioned the success of my undertaking. I have successful to a large extent, but I have failed also. The habits of my environment have been reached. I have established myself an earning power but the extent of that earning power is limited by the room at my disposal to a figure that prevents me from discharging any but the minor of my obligations in life. My mother who is now crowding the three score and ten mark still has to earn her living as a factory hand. If the duties I owe her are not discharged, soon it will be too late. My food business and that of my fever treatment may earn money enough, but it is doubtful if they can ever earn what they should while deprived of my personal management.

  This I would be able to discharge these obligations if free is beyond doubt, for I have already been pledged sufficient financial backing to establish a bird plant for 10,000 capacity plant- and a few people realize to profits to be made in this business by large scale production. It cost about $2.60 to raise a male bird in a cage and he is worth about ten dollars. It cost about 60 cents to raise him aviary and he is worth five dollars.

  Should you desire confirmation of any statement made herein I shall be more than glad to furnish it.

  In conclusion I wish to state that no attempt to obtain an unconditional release is contemplated. All I want all I ask is a chance to continue to develop myself along the lines indicated above. There is no reject, so long as the opportunity sought is provided. And I may add that in this respect the officials here have reasonable possible, but the two are limited with the responsibility for the management of over three thousand prisoners resting upon their shoulders. They have done well to permit me to go as far as I have. Something I shall always deeply appreciate.

  Confident that you will give the above your careful consideration and act in such a manner as you sincerely believe to be in the best intent of all of the society you are sworn to serve;

  I am with every element of respect

  Yours,

  Robert Stroud /s/

  * * *

  Leavenworth, Kansas Aug. 13th 1918

  Dear Bessie,

  I received both of your letters, and I must hand you some compliments. “The bird of paradise” made a hit and I will have to plead guilty, and promise to pull no more “tail feathers.”

  I have reason to know that the Dr’s. view of that clipping is erroneous. Yes Mrs. T. sure made some “bonehead” plays, and when she appointed herself my spiritual advisor I was not present. I guess you know that I am egotist enough to consider myself well off to take care of my own spiritual well being. I appreciate your attitude on prayer more than anything I have read in many a day. To me, to wail to my creator over what is not his fault would be disgusting and lower me in my own self esteem and if you think I would trade your wholesome comradeship for a bunch of that “sob-Sister religion” you just try me and see how quick I will jump on your neck. No if a man has not got the nerve to stand on his feet he deserves to go down. My case was fought this last time on that theory by my instructions and I have the satisfaction to know that my defense made a better impression this time than ever before.

  Our views of death are much the same, only I want it to be night, outdoors and in the snow, and if I could pick the method it would be from loss of blood or freezing. I want to be alone and on my back so I can see the stars. That is all due to my esthetic taste. I saw a man in that position once and the cruelest act that I ever witnessed was some would be friends taking him to a Doctor.

  The only answer I can give to your question of “reward” is, that the same thing makes them do that, as makes them think of a nice friendly pick in a corner when they sing of “the streets of gold.” In fact I think the golden streets were put there to suggest the pick.

  Your prediction was correct. I spent a most enjoyable afternoon over those criticisms and had many a good laugh – To think that I considered your first choice as being to rotten to even pick to pieces. I’m very glad you sent them for they showed me how poor some of my expressions look after they get cold. I will make a bet though and that is that either the house on Chester Street or the little maverick comes out first.

  I hope that you don’t find your studies disappointing. So much of that correspondence stuff is useless on the faculty of self teaching and then they really don’t need it only to keep the honest with themselves. That gives them always a good check on what they are doing.

  I sympathize with the cucumbers and don’t blame them for bucking against such a combination as heat, bugs, and worst of all “bug juices.” It would discourage most any self respecting plant. Better luck next time though.

  When I got your letter telling of your lovely swim it was 112º in the shade outside and believe me Bessie, there isn’t as much air in a cell as there is outside. I have swam in the rain and know just how nice it can be. It was some satisfaction to know you thought of me, for you couldn’t have thought of me in connection with anything I would have enjoyed more.

  I don’t blame you for not have heart enough to exercise this weather – it takes all the nerve I have to stay with it. I take it as soon as I wake up. That be yes little

  Well Bessie there is no news as yet about the care. I am getting on as well as can be expected. It is too hot to study much, but I have been spending a little time writing Guitar accompaniments for some of the music I have. Another fellow down here has a Guitar and we play them together (or try to). Most of the time we are really a long ways apart, but even at that it helps some.

  Say let me know how Johnson comes out as I haven’t been able to see anything of his case in the paper. Mrs. Leasures letter is amusing. I received dozens like it the first time I was sentenced. One woman wrote me twice and insisted I tell her anything that would add to my comfort. She understood anything. I told her; Bull Durham and brown papers – she didn’t answer my letter. I would have liked to have seen her horrified look as she read it.

  You need not mind about “Patsy” for I am getting the proper news. I have been greatly interested in “Fill,” and her constant qualification that he is “pretty good for a boy.” Her egotism is delightful and she always seems to justify it.

  So long Bessie,

  As ever Robert.

  * * *

  4-18-20

  Warden Anderson

  Esteemed Sir:

  Perhaps you will think strange that I did not write to U S P before in order
to save a life but I wrote to the Dept which was the proper thing I believe.

  I was the direct cause of Stroud killing Turner although innocent of any part in the actual crime.

  The whole thing started in the barber shop the day before the killing. Turner told me to get in a “pig scraper’s” chair and, as I held an important clerical position I defied him and waited for my own barber.

  Turner then angry, afraid to put me in for fear of my superior took his anger out on Stroud who sat near waiting and silent. There was very little said and Turner did all the talking, (abusive it was). It was what he was afraid to say to me but meant for me to hear to show his fearlessness.

  I’m sorry, I never harmed a person in my life, but if you will ask Stroud about this he will tell you it is the truth. I started the whole thing and I cannot bear to have that poor devil suffer so much on account of my refusal to obey Turner.

  Very Sincerely L W K

  The Leavenworth dining hall where Stroud fatally stabbed Officer Turner.

  * * *

  March 13, 1920.

  Mr. A. V. Anderson,

  Warden,

  Sir:

  Since you have placed a death watch upon me, I have been deprived of pen and ink for writing; I have spoken to Mr. Fletcher about it and it appears that the only valid objection he makes, is that you have ordered that I be so deprived. And at Mr. Fletcher’s suggestion I am writing you this note – he has promised to speak to you again about the matter.

  Now, Sir, it seems that your only object in depriving me of this privilege is a fear that I contemplate self-destruction, and a desire to be on the safe side in case anything of that nature should happen. And I will be frank enough to say that I don’t relish the idea of being the principle actor in the show contemplated but let that be as it may. Your fear in regard to the pens is groundless. For I will give you my word – and keep it – that, should anything of that kind come off, I will not take advantage of this privilege to bring it about.