#letter from prison

[itsmythang]

George Santos: "Prison Sucks"

Disgraced former Rep pens first letter from prison

George Santos sends his first letter from prison: “Nothing prepares you for this kind of an awakening. The tears came faster than I could stop them. Prison sucks.”

In his final post on X before heading into prison, this is what Santos posted with this photo of himself blowing a kiss:

Well, darlings… The curtain falls, the spotlight dims, and the rhinestones are packed. From the halls of Congress to the chaos of cable news what a ride it’s been! Was it messy? Always. Glamorous? Occasionally. Honest? I tried… most days. To my supporters: You made this wild political cabaret worth it. To my critics: Thanks for the free press. I may be leaving the stage (for now), but trust me legends never truly exit Forever fabulously yours, George.”

[therobertfrasergang]

Clive Barker, Letter From Prison (7854 Fraser)

Clive Barker is a British pop artist whose first one-man shows were held at the Robert Fraser Gallery in 1968 and at the Hanover Gallery in 1969. He was a friend to Fraser.

This is the original painting for the silkscreen print which was executed in 1971; it was owned by Robert Fraser. It was part of the Pace Gallery exhibition in 2015 (Strong Sweet Smell of Incense).

It was sold at Bonhams in 2023 for £4,080.

Bonhams : Clive Barker (British, born 1940) Letter From Prison (7854 Fraser 1969)

Letter From Prison (7854 Fraser 1969) oil on canvas 91.5 x 61cm (36 x 24in).

The letter is from Wormwood Scrubs in 1967, while Fraser was in prison there; it says the letter sent is not allowed. Transcription below the cut:

HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs 15 Aug 1967

Dear Sir,

I regret to have to return the enclosed letter addressed to 7854 Fraser as he is not entitled to receive one until he writes to you.

Should there be any urgent and important matter which you wish to convey to the prisoner before a letter is due, you should communicate with me and I will arrange for him to be informed.

Yours faithfully,

(illegible signature) Governor

[fivestarhuman]

The Next Seven

by Ross Ulbricht (2020)

Today is my birthday, my seventh in prison. More than any other day of the year, I feel the weight of the time I have lost, the years of my life I will never get back.

Time is priceless, yet it must be spent. It cannot be saved for later. These seven years are gone, spent in some of the many concrete and iron tombs that dot our countryside, spent struggling to make sense of fate and searching for meaning within the pain.

How were your last seven spent? Did you spend them in a way that reflects their scarcity and value, or were some of them wasted? How will you spend the next precious seven?

Even in prison I am faced with the same choice. Will I carry resentment or forgiveness in my heart these next seven? Will I succumb to despair or find ways to grow and flourish despite the confinement?

Every moment of every day, the choice is ours to choose life as it is, or pretend it is or should be some other way. It may be painful. It may be infuriating. It may seem utterly hopeless and ugly, but in this moment it is all we have, and we can love it if we so choose.

Choosing to love that which is unlovable transforms it, as it transforms you. It is proof that love is boundless and the highest of powers.

These next seven, I pray that we can transform a cold and dehumanizing system - one that has consumed far more than I have lost - with the power of love. I have yet to meet a person in the system - whether guard or prisoner - undeserving of love. We are all fully human, broken in our own ways, yet broken in the same way: by a lack of love.

Love does not throw life away. Love does not crush those beneath it. Love does not turn a cold shoulder or hold a grudge. Love is patient and kind. It seeks to understand and heal. Love is the key to our salvation, yet it cannot be forced or reduced to a system of rules. Love happens in that moment when you see the deep suffering of the world but keep your eyes open, when you are called to be brave and do what you can, to open your heart to others.

Love is - in my opinion - how we must spend the next seven. It is the highest value and it does not cost a thing. How will you spend the next seven?

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

Ref. file C.I.B. / E.O./7/20 W.O.D. 16/22                                                    TORONTO, Ont., April 16th, 1920. Secret & Confidential                                        REPORT                                              re:                                        Kingston Penitentiary                                 Illegal Methods of Communication Acting on instructions from the Officer Commanding, Western Ontario District, I have made enquiries into the above matter. It would appear that Convict Gordon Richardon was convicted for theft of automobiles and sentenced to two years in Kingston Penitentiary. He is only a young man about twenty-one, but had previously been convicted for theft. He was a member of a gang of young thieves, who were rounded up by the city Police. His wife, who at the time of his arrest, was Miss Shearer, together with her sister were running around with the members of this gang, although there was nothing to show that they were in any way connected with the thefts. Miss Sheaer became pregnant and this was the reason that she was married to Richardson in the Penitentiary. I called on Mrs. Richardon at 67 Argyle, St., Toronto, the address given in Acting Warden Fatt’s letter, with the idea of attempting to obtain information desired, by means of a bluff as suggested in letter of the Director of Criminal Investigation. On seeing Mrs. Richardson, however, I decided that it would be unwise to attempt say bluff unless prepared to produce credentials of my supposed mission. As my instructions were to obtain this information without arousing suspicion, I therefore concocted on excuse for my call and left without interrogating her on the matter in question, and will aiwat your instruction before taking any further action. From what I can learn of Mrs. Richardson, she is apparently an honest girl, but very ;wise.’ I am of the opinion that if she was informed that no punishment would be inflicted on her husband, she would give the desired information if directly approached. Arthur Gish,  D/Corpl.                 Reg. No. 5123 The Commissioner,              Royal Can. Mounted Police,                                 Ottawa, Ont.  Forwarded 16-4-20. Neither Mr. Duncan or Inspt. Guthrie know of any ex-convict who could be to Mrs. Richardson as suggested by you. I would ask to be instructed as to whether you consider it advisable for Mrs. Richardson to be approached directly in this manner. M. Blyth, Inspector, Commanding, Western Ont, Dist.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

March 31, 1920 Re: Kingston Penitentiary - Illegal Methods of Communication Dear Sir: Attached please find copy of letter received from the Warden of Kingston Penitentiary relative to the passing of letters  from that institution in a surreptitious manner. Acting under instructions from the Deputy Minister of Justice I am forwarding this to you with a request that same be investigated and a report furnished me. I am,        Yours sincerely,                   W. S. Hughes                   Superintendent A. J. Cawdron, Director of Criminal Investigation, Superintendent, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

COPY               KINGSTON PENITENTIARY Warden’s Office                                                                          Kingston, Ont., 26th March, 1920 Dear Sir:- On or about Sunday 14th instant a letter passed out of the institution in an illicit manner. It was written by #H.260 Gordon Richardson, to his wife, who lives with her mother Mrs. George Shearer at 67 Argyle, Toronto.

This inmate was married in the prison chapel by authority of your letter 3rd February last, two or three days after receipt of same. In the letter Prisoner asked $10.00 to be sent to him, not direct but evidently to an address already known. Upon receipt of this letter the wife wrote to the Rev. M. McDonald asking if it were right to do so. In order not to excite suspicion, the Chaplain replied saying that not knowing to whom the money was to be sent he could not say, and expected a reply giving name.  As no reply has been received, I think it would be well to make some enquiry at the other end, and I believe sufficient information could be obtained to enable us to take action to stop letter carrying in this and probably other cases. You know the difficulties in handling these matters from inside. It is absolutely necessary to do nothing which might cause either the writer or the carrier to become suspicious. I have given orders, which is not unusual with me, that all correspondence of this man is to be handed to me, and in the meantime I shall do nothing which might lead either the prisoner or the officer, whoever he may be, to think that the matter is known. I think it would be advisable to keep the name of the Chaplain quite in the background. Yours faithfully,              (signed) E. C. Fatt                          Acting Warden. Brig. Gen. W. S. Hughes, D. S. O.         Superintendent of Penitentiaries

[next23-blog]

grandpa & other inmates. “postcards” from prison and siberia. 1950-70ies

[gaylizardjail]

I’m a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will.

Antonio Gramsci