ALS signed “Al,” eight pages on both sides of four lightly-lined 5 x 8 sheets, February 18, 1973. DeSalvo attempts to explain the trouble in Walpole prison, announces upcoming surgery on his shoulder, expounds more fatherly advice to Wyatt and plants a seed of possible doubt or confession as to his association with the murders. “What you read in the paper, concerning what is going on in Walpole, is only a cover up story! ‘to restore what order?’ They are the ones chaining men to the beds, beating them, no shower for over a month, food that even pigs wouldn’t eat…This new Supt. makes Hitler look like a school boy! Need I say anymore?…In today’s paper it says Sen. Backman went into Walpole to inspect the conditions; he found them to be unbelievable, worse than he could put into proper words. Shameful…. I always try to avoid any kind of trouble. I never put my hands on anyone, unless they put their hands on me…In time I want very much to explain really what happened to change my whole life. A clue, is my wife, whom I loved so much, and yet hated, but couldn’t harm her even though in my mind it was her I wanted to __. I just wanted her to love me… I keep looking at you…I know in time I will have a full photo showing you from head to toe just for me to look at each moment of the day…WOW!! Darn right! Your going to look like a baby doll! Love Ya!! Mm Mm!…Did you know that I had never been in prison before in my life. I am respected by all cons in here, and all over…Before I close this letter, let me write what a (prisoner is) see if your able to feel and understand as in prison a little bit better. (A prisoner) starts to become one of the worlds most -- professional time killers!” He adds a postscript before his signature, “Penthouse magazine wants to do a story on me, along with all the other offers. If I can be free, I agree Vivian, to ‘confess to nothing.’” In fine condition. Accompanied by the original certified mailing envelope, addressed in DeSalvo’s hand. R&R COA.
