this place for one week as you
did. After hearing and seeing you in the chapel Sunday I came to my
cell and got to thinking. The outcome was that I could not remember
ever being touched so as I was when I left the chapel and while
sitting there hearing you talk. I fully realize what a big thing you
have undertaken. At one time I was under the impression that there
was no such a thing as a square man, but I have changed my opinion
and I am safe in saying that quite a number of other men have also
changed their mind about that same thing.

* * * * *

Men who love their fellow man are very few. When I think of you I am
reminded of a postal that I received from my brother not long ago,
after him not knowing that I was in prison. When he found it out he
sent me a postal and on it were these few words: "A friend is one who
knows all about you and likes you just the same." Well, Mr. Osborne,
I leave here on the 20th of this month and believe me--never again
for me. I have played the crooked game in every way it can be played,
most every kind of crooked game there is. Now I am done. It is a fast
and excitable game, but I come to realize that it is not living and
is bound to come to a bad end. But I want to say that prison life did
not reform me, nor will it reform any man, for no man learns good in
prison. My opinion is that the only way that a man can be reformed is
get to his conscience, wake up the man in him. You are aware of the
fact that the police make many criminals. I don't believe there is
such a thing as a hardened criminal. If the police were not so
anxious to send men to prison there would be no so-called hardened
criminals. I know what I am talking about. There are too many men
sent to prison innocently and there will always be so-called hardened
criminals until that is stopped. I done my first bit innocently.
Believe me, it is a terrible thing to sit in one of those cells and
know in your heart that you are there in the wrong. Well I wish I had
the paper to write you more for I deem it a pleasure to write you.

Yours truly,
JAMES MCCABE, No. 32.--

Soon after receiving this letter and before his release, I had an
interview with the writer. I found him a very frank and engaging person, a
crook by profession, w