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Wonderful Autograph Letter Signed, two full pages, d. June 24, 1954, to M.E. Stroud, Metropolis, IL. Very interesting content, reads in part: "…feeling like a fighting cock… I mopped my floors so often, for exercise, you could eat of of it… some of the biggest publishers in the business are interested in the book… two older brothers were so crooked they could not lie straight in bed… that guy can fix a murder rap as easily as a price for a drink… Love Bob, Robert Stroud #564". He signed his name once again in full at the top of page one. Normal aging and handling, overall, fine. SOLD  |
Robert Stroud (1887-1963). Murderer
and Ornithologist. Arguably the most famous prisoner in the history
of the federal prison system. Best remembered as "The Bird
Man of Alcatraz." At the age of 19 he worked as a pimp in
Alaska. Killed a bartender who owed $10.00 o his friend Kitty
O'Brien. The friend spent the nuight with Kitty and refused to
pay her. Strous was convicted and spent 12 years in prison. Just
before his release from Levenworth in March 1916, in front of
1200 convicts, Stroud stabbed and killed a prison guard. For
this he was convicted and sentenced to die at the gallows. Because
of his work with canaries and an expert in their diseases his
mother appealed to President Wilson to seek commutation. Through
the president's wife a special Presidential commutation was granted
just 8 days before his scheduled execution. He was granted life
imprisonment with a stipulation that he be placed in solitary
confinement for the remainder of his days. Died in Alcatraz of
old age. 
Stroud notoriety grew over the years. He was the
subject of a book, an award winning movie starring Burt Lancaster,
and countless newspaper and magazine articles about his deeds
and amazing accomplishments in the study of disease among birds.
He wrote two books on the subject.