Mar 31, 2011 - Sale 2241

Sale 2241 - Lot 127

Price Realized: $ 270
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 300 - $ 400
(CRIME.) Redmond, Lewis R. Pair of prison letters from the famed moonshiner to a supporter. 6 pages (8 x 5 inches each) on 2 folded sheets; moderate wear. Auburn, NY, 17 August 1882 and 1 June 1884
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Additional Details

Lewis Richard Redmond (1854-1906) was a moonshiner in western North Carolina who shot and killed a U.S. Deputy Marshall in 1876, and then evaded arrest for five years while developing a national reputation as a Robin Hood-style folk hero. He was finally captured in 1881, and served three years in federal prisons until being pardoned by President Arthur.
Redmond has been the subject of several books over the years and a recent documentary, but none of his letters have been traced in the auction market or in libraries. These two letters were each written in a distinctly different hand. However, they do appear to date from the late 19th century and do come from a South Carolina family archive. The earlier letter, written in a clean hand with impeccable grammar, may be a secretarial copy, but the second letter may be in Redmond's hand.
In the earlier letter, Redmond asserts that "My record is good and you have no need to fear that the authorities of the prison will give me anything else than a good character for good conduct while here." In the 1884 letter, Redmond asks for assistance in preparing his amnesty petition, and pleads "I would like to get out of here as soon as I could, as my trouble and sick ness is using me up fast. If I have to stay here another winter I do not think I could pull through the long winter as its very cold here in the north." He later adds, "I live to see the outside again. I will endevour to repay you in some way but in here you know how I am situated." This letter is dated three days after Redmond was released from prison, suggesting an error in the month or year.
The recipient of these letters, Laura Katie Gwyn (1862-1952), was the daughter of clergyman Thomas D. Gwyn (see lot 107). A young single woman at the time, she apparently wrote Redmond a long series of supportive letters and worked actively to secure his pardon. Provenance: By descent to Laura Katie (Gwyn) Carpenter's son Paul Marshal Carpenter (1886-1970) of Simpsonville, SC, and found in his estate. with--Related letter from White House secretary Octavius L. Pruden to Kate Gwyn, acknowledging her petition on Redmond's behalf. Washington, 18 May 1883.