Leon County Jail

Tallahassee, Florida

April 7, 1960

Dear Mother + Daddy Marion, 

How does it feel to be living in the outside world? Pat + I haven't lost a pound yet. Oh, by the way, my name is Priscilla Stephens, the lost daughter of Mr. + Mrs. Hamilton. (smile).

Well, my worrying parents you have nothing to worry about, we have jobs for the summer in New York. We will be working in a camp, during some kind of counseling of games + children. This kind of experience should be very interesting. The salaries range from various amounts. We are sure of one thing, we know we have jobs for summer and we will have money for the whole year term in September. Worrying parents please try not to worry.

Dr. Stevens has been here twice. I have plenty of medicine for stomach. I am doing fine. Really. I think better than I would be outside. With all the attention + everything...The teachers on campus have been wonderful. Some of them have given money, food, and they have been to see us. Yesterday and day before yesterday we received beautiful flowers.

(2)

Yesterday we received Easter lilies. Their colors are purple, yellow + white. Mother, they are beautiful. We have been getting plenty of mail + money from people all over the U.S. The reason why we haven't lost any weight is because people of Tallahassee have been bring us so much food. You wouldn't believe it, unless you saw it!!

We received all of your letters. Daddy Marion we received your sweet letter. We received Walter, yours mother, Auntie Ivory + Auntie Elizabeth.

How is grandmother? Tell her to write to me + Pat.

How are the attitudes of the folks at home? Have you had any trouble? What about the school teachers attitudes? What is Mr. Pucketts saying? Please let me know.

How is Bobbie making adjustments? Bobbie's Aunt, Mrs. Norwood sent me some food + some linen.

The people here have been wonderful. We received two letters from home. We received an autograph diary from Jackie Robinson + we received books + cigarettes from a publishing co. in N.Y.

3

every week.

We heard from your friend Naomi too. She sounds like a very nice person.

We haven't had any visitors from Quincy that I know of. Sometimes we have so many visitors that they are not all able to see us.

The lady's name we stayed with is Mrs. Irma Horowitz.

Mrs. Horowitz

33-55 14th Street

Long Island City 6, N.Y.

His name is Jack. Their little girl's name is Amy. I am send you picture of them. They are Jews. White Jews. They only had two bedrooms. One was the baby's (Amy) nursery and the other, their bedroom. They gave us their bedroom and they slept on the couch in the living room. They live in an apartment. They treated us like royal guests. It was no time before we all became like family. We have heard from Irma since we have been in here. She has invited us back to her home. We are going to write Rev. Fayson + Church.

4

We received your last letter today and I think Pat answered all questions on the phone. Today (Thursday, April 7, 1960) I am doing fine. No aches, no pains, no brains (smile). Your daughters are very, very, very fine. Thank you.

Well, I guess you all are reading yourselves sick with all the reading material Pat + I are sending you.

Today our cell looks like spring because of the four bouquets of flowers we have received, plus the beautiful doll Irvin sent Pat.

Thanks for the dress, Mom. I just know it is pretty. For some reason I have been too excited to write this letter the way it should be written. Forgive me. I stay [too] excited in this jail to write a straight letter (smile). 

The reason, I am writing to you, my worrying parents, is because, I read in a letter that you had lost a daughter by the name of Priscilla Stephens and that's my name. (smiles).

Love, 

Priscilla

P.S. Pat is making the corrections. Ha! Ha!

Patricia Stephens

Leon County Jail

Tallahassee, Fla.

Mr. and Mrs. M.M. Hamilton

749 South West Avenue 'C'

Belle Glade, Florida