The Christine Collins letters

Warden Court Smith

Dear Sir:

I
am taking the privilege of writing to you in behalf of my dear husband
and I sincerely hope you will not think it an imposition on your great
kindness to me.

As you already know we are really in need of Mr.
Collins’ support as I am not at all well and I find it very hard trying
to support our son and myself.

Mr. Collins is a very good man
and the mistake he made caused a great deal of suffering for me as well
as our boy. Personally, I do not feel that Mr. Collins was given a fair
trial and to my estimation the judge was very much prejudiced.

The
lawyer we had I found out later was a member of the National Guard here
as was the head of the corporation who condemned Mr. Collins. Mr Smith,
poor Mr. Collins has known nothing but misfortune since I have known
him and I think the poor fellow is to be pitied and I am so sorry that
he was convicted on circumstantial evidence.

I attended his
trial and not a witness could feel sure he identified Mr. Collins as
the man who committed the robbery and our lawyer turned traitor at the
time we needed him most.

After the trial he (the lawyer) said to me, "Now what do you think of the verdict?"

I said "I still do not think Mr. Collins guilty."

It
seems a shame a good man should waste his life in prison when he has a
family who need him so much. I am sincere and really need Mr. Collins
support, Mr. Smith.

I would be the happiest woman in the world
if my dear husband could come home to us. Is there any possible chance
of a parole for him if we never come to L.A. again? He is all we have
in this world and we would be so happy if he could come back to us
again.

You are very kind and I will never forget the kidness you have shown me in regard to the action of Mr. Spagnoli.

His
promise to you is like his promise to me. As yet I haven’t seen a penny
of the money he promised to pay me. You can readily see how [illegible]
he ever was and how crooked he is.

Mr. Collins always was so good to us. Our son asks for him all the time and is at the age now where he needs his father.

Mr.
Smith, please do not think I am [illegible] but I wish you would grant
me a great favor and give Mr. Collins a release so as he may take care
of us.

My health is failing and I feel I will not be able to
work out much longer. Won’t you
please parole my husband and make my
burdens lighter?

For our son’s and my sake, I ask this great favor and I know you will not refuse me.

Thanking you again for your great kindness, I am.