Letter from Lee (former inmate) to Sweet January 5, 1925

Letter from Lee (former inmate) to Sweet January 5, 1925

Robert Lee and his brother served time at the Colorado State Penitentiary. Lee wrote to Governor William Sweet because he was “willing to crawl on his hands and knees” to testify against Warden Tynan. Lee gave Sweet permission to publish this letter because he was desperate to bring the matter to the public's attention. Lee wore a ball and chain because he refused to give up his bible. 

Transcription:

Los Angeles Calif.

January 5, 1925

Honorable William E. Sweet Gov. of Colo.

Denver Colorado. 

My dear Sir: I am in receipt of an article which appeared in the Riverside Enterprise of Jan. 5th which states that Tynan and Buchanen of the State Penitentiary at Canon City have been accused of keeping a whipping post and of ruling at the prison with an iron hand. 

My Dear Mr. Sweet, I served a seven year term in Canon City under Tynan and know something about the brutality which has been practiced at the prison. I wish to ask that if you call an investigation that you would call the following prisoners. John Cox, Jim Bradley, W.M. Hineman, Tom Watton, Clyde Pearson, Ray Long, and Harry Rose. If either Tynan or Buchanen are prosecuted for murder please call Jim Bradley who can furnish you with the names and number of the witnesses. I have long prayed that some step would be taken to move this incompetent brutal warden from the postion he now holds. It is miraculous that no one has beheaded that animal before now. I have often wondered why the rocks and mountains have not cried out in bitter protest against the brutality that was practiced there.

If there is anything that I can do or say that will help put this man out of office and bring him to the bar of justice please let me know and I will come to Colorado even tho I have to crawl on my hands and knees to get there. In the name of HIM who gave his life that we might have life push the accusation to a climax and or a last act of your administration throw Tynan and Buchanen out bodily. My brother who also served time there is now out lecturing on prison life and is telling something of the rotten conditions that exist there. Although my brother is suffering of disease contracted there because he was underfed and overworked. 

Call us call us for God’s sake, for I want the public to know about their officers who rule at Canon City with an iron hand. Please turn this letter over to the newspaper and have them publish it. In conclusion permit me to thank you for the time and patience you have spent in reading this and may I extend my heartiest thanks and best wishes for the success I feel sure you are to have in throwing Tynan and Buchanen out. 

Very Sincerely, 

Robert E. Lee

P.S That they have a whipping post and make men where a ball and chain is a well known fact. I wore a ball and chain 17 days because I refused to cease reading my bible. I had my bible burned up by one of the guards there. If you desire any information regarding the punishment method out to any of the boys for trying to serve their Lord, just write James Rayburn 300 West Broadway Newton, Kansas Rev. Armintrout of Presbytarian at Pittsburg, Kansas Rev. Jas. Sperry, Canon City. 

Robert E. Lee to William Sweet , 5 January 1925, box 1, FF 8, No. 10, William Elery Sweet Collection, MSS.613, History Colorado, Denver, Colorado.