Dear Cordie:
It is with a sad heart and a tear in my eye I write these few lines.
It is you and Cleveland. It is to you and Cleveland that is troubling
me -- I think how happy we have been together and how sweet Cleveland
was to me and how I have to be taken from you and I just don't know
what will become of you and him.
If I could just get out I think maybe we could live together again.
I don't think Aunt Bet and others can get you afraid to live with
me -- I wish I could see them -- I would make them remember the last
time they saw me and it could be the last time they would want to
see me. I think people think I was mean to you and that you didn't
care anything for me.
Cordie -- there is a man in jail by the name of Parks - he is from
the Mississippi bottom he says if I will get some one to go with him
to Memphis he will get some saws that I can get out of here with --
the saws I can get out of here with if they are steel hack saws --
10 or 12 inches long made for sawing iron -- I never told him that
I could get anyone to go with him -- I told him I didn't know who
would do -- he says he is going to get them and bring them to me if
I can get some one to go with him and bring them back they cost 20
cents a piece.
He says it will take 12 of them to saw out -- by talking 12 he says
I can get them for $2.00. I have got 2 of my pictures for you and
Cleveland and if you don't get someone to get the saws -- if you can't
get some one to buy the saws get George to buy four half in drills
and two files and a brace and an inch auger and coal chisel and hammer
- I can get out of here if I can get them -- and send my pistol with
them and you come for it will take a good while to get out that way
but I can get out.
I think if you will see Jim Kimball and tell him about the saws
and the name of the saws and tell him to write to Neut to send the
saws to him and he can fetch them to me -- If I could have told Walker
I think he would have went out and got them for me -- Cordie send
my pistol to me anyhow if you can't send anything else and send me
a pint of whisky with the pistol if I have to fight my way out I want
to be half drunk and nothing wouldn't excite me.
Be sure and get 44 catridges for pistol and 32 winchester catridges
for Raglands pistol.
Your best lover
Will Mathis
