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Letters became a lifeline to the six men newly installed in New Jersey’s Death House at the Trenton State Prison. Their communication with the outside world was made more difficult by the fact that most could not read or write, but they managed. Horace Wilson received letters from his sister Sallie Porter, written for her by her pastor and read to him by Collis English or John MacKenzie. Arcie Lee wrote letters to her brother McKinley Forrest, which his nephew read to him. And McKinley heard frequently from his daughter, Jean, who sent birthday and Father’s Day cards, as well as frequent notes telling him neighborhood news. On April 25, 1949, Mrs. Emma English wrote to Mac, as McKinley Forrest was called by his family, reassuring him about his daughter: “Jean was a happy girl when she saw all of you all. She rest fine ever since.”1 Vera Strauss, McKinley Forrest’s niece and John MacKenzie’s sister, wrote to him often, keeping him up-to-date on family affairs. Alphonso Strauss wrote, urging his uncle to“keep praying because the way the situation stands for our people today, prayer is the only thing, and more powerful than anything any one can say or do.”2 Bessie Mitchell wrote to all of the men, asking for “God to watch over you.” John MacKenzie, known as Jack to his family, wrote to Bessie on March 4, 1949: Bessie I received your letter today and was indeed glad to hear from you and also very glad to hear how much and how hard you are working for us so that we may get justice and if there is any to be got we know that you will get it for us. All of the boys say that they have faith in you and that they thank you very much for what you are trying to do for them and that they are praying and hoping that it will not be long before you and the rest of them get justice for us. Bessie for myself I am praying, also 81 chapter 4  Bessie Mitchell Finds Help 82 jersey justice trying to smile like you say but the smile is not the real thing because it is very hard to smile in a place like this when I have been put here for nothing. But I try not to worry so much about it because I guess it could of happened to anyone else as well as myself.3 Because John MacKenzie could read and write and had many relatives, he appeared to be the major correspondent of the six. He received letters from aunts and uncles, his sister, Vera, his grandmother, Nana, his cousin Abe, and from Emma English. Immediately after the sentencing, his Aunt Sarah wrote: “Jack and Mac, I am sorry that has to happen to you of all people, that was not no fair deal.”4 In December she wrote to John: “Tell Mac I say hello and stop worrying about the women folks so much. They will be here when you all come home.”5 In February Sarah told John: “We did not send you no card on your birthday not that I forgot it but why send you a card saying happy birthday to you when I no [sic] that you are not.”6 In a June letter she told him: “The chicken house boys say hello and hurry home because they miss you very much.”7 Mainly she let him know she was thinking of him: “I will be so glad when you come home. We miss you so much.”And:“I am thinking about you all every day and night which you no [sic] that I can not forget you all at a time like this.”8 John MacKenzie also heard from lawyer Robert Queen, receiving a postcard from Schenectady, New York, dated October 3: “Dear Jack: Up here for a few days of rest. We are working on the appeal night and day. It is a very big job and we may not be ready until Christmas, but we will win.”9 The men could receive visits from family, many of whom tried to come once a month, all that was allowed. Robert and Sarah Forrest visited Robert’s brother Mac regularly and asked John MacKenzie to send a special pass so they could come more than once a month. Families tried to keep the men’s spirits up, but...

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