Miriam Van Waters Papers. Reformatory for Women at Framingham, 1876-1970. Subseries 3. Student correspondence, 1936-1971, n.d. Correspondence: C-Cl, 1932-1970. A-71, folder 278. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge,

(COPY) April 19/ 51

MISS O'KEEFE, REPORT ON MARY CANTWELL ***************** I THINK I SHOULD REPORT FOLLOWING TO YOU, THIS AFTERNOON MARY ASKED ME TO CLOSE HER WINDOW AFTER I CLOSED IT AND LOCKED THE GRILL SHE SAID " I TRIED TO UNLOCK IT WITH MY TOOTHBRUSH BUT GUESS IT WASNT SMALL ENOUGH". AFTER I LOCKED IT BACK I COMMENTED ON HOW QUICKLY SHE HAD PUT THE TWO PICTURE PUZZLES TOGETHER. SHE SAD SAID " YOU KNOW IT IS FUNNY I CAN PUT THE HARDEST THINGS TOGETHER (PUZZLES) BUT I JUST CANT LEARN TO DO THE THINGS EXCEPT THE THINGS I SHOULDNT DO. I

LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE LIKE RIDING FREIGHT TRAINS" WHEN I OFFERED HER SOME MORE PUZZLES SHE BACKED UP AGAINST THE DOOR AND SAID " I DONT WANT YOU TO GO OUT THERE, I WANT YOU TO STAY HERE WITH ME. SHE PUT HER HANDS ON MY ARM AND AGAIN SAID"I WANT YOU TO STAY HERE WITH ME NOW"AND ST STILL WITH HER BACK AGAINST THE DOOR SO I COULD NOT GET OUT-- THEN SHE SAID " YOU KNOW I COULD MAKE YOU STAY HERE WITH ME I AM VERY STRONG YOU KNOW I WEIGH 189 POUNDS"

DURING THE TEN OR FIFTEEN MINUTES SHE STOOD AGAINST THE DOOR SHE TOLD ABOUT COMING HERE IN HANDCUFFS, THE TERRIFIC TEMPER SHE HAS WHICH ALWAYS GETS HER INTO TROUBLE. SHE SAID SHE HIT HER MOTHER SEVERAL TIMES AND THAT HER MOTHER DIED "I GUESS FROM ITS AFFECTS"

TALKED ABOUT HER LITTLE GIRL (3)WHOM SHE LOVED AND SAID "SHE MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME. IM GOING TO SEE IF I CANT HAVE HERE COME HERE AND BE WITH ME THEN I KNOW I COULD SETTLE MYSELF DOWN AND BE GOOD AND KEEP OUT OF TROUBLE. SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THEM NOT WANTING HER TO HAVE IT AFRAID SHE MIGHT HURT IT WITH HER TEMPER. SPOKE ABOUT

TAKING UP NURSING MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT TRYING TO SLIT SOMEONES THROAT WITH A KNIFE. DIDNT GET JUST WAHT IT WAS AND DID NOT ASK HER TO REPEAT BUT TOOK IT AS A REFERENCE TO HER TEMPER.

FINALLY SHE STEPPED AWAY AND CAME WITH ME TO GET THE PUZZLES; ON RETURNING TO HER ROOM SHE TOOK THE WOODEN BAR OFF THE INSIDE DOOR AND SAID " I THINK I WILL TAKE THIS TO MY ROOM WITH ME SO YOU CANT LOCK ME IN," BUT SHE GAVE IT BACK TO ME.

EACH THING SHE SAID AND DID SHE WATCHED ME AND WONDERED WHAT IMPRESSION SHE WAS MAKING TO SEE IF I WAS AFRAID. SHE SOPKE AT ALL TIMES INA SOFT VOICE AND SMILED WHILE TALKING BUT HER EYES HAVE A VAGUE AND PECULIAR LOOK WHICH MAKES ONE WONDER IF PERHAPS SHE MIGHT CHANGE SUDDENLY TO A FIT OF TEMPER AND VIOLENCE--

SHE HAS ASKED FOR A SCISSORS TWICE TODAY. I HAVE TOLD MY HELPERS NOT TO GIVE HER ANY. MY HELPER REPORTS WHEN SHE SAID "GOODNITE" MARY REPLIED " I WONT BE HERE IN THE(AM) MORNING "

SIGNED -------- MABEL OSGOOD

APRIL 19;51

APRIL 19; 51

MARY CANTWELL-- ************ REFUSED ALL FOOD EXCEPT AM COFFEE/ REMAINED SULLEN AND UNCOMMUNICATIVE-- ASKED FOR BOOKS ON ANATOMY AND CHEMISTRY-- LATER IN THE DAY SHE WAS VISITED BY THE LIBRARIAN RE. BOOKS AND SHE PICKED UP HER CHAIR BRANDISHED IT IN THE AIR AND THREATENED TO THROW IT IF ANYONE OPENED THE DOOR--

ESTHER LEGASY HAS FAIRLY GOOD CONTACT ( AT LEAST SHE GETS AN ANSWER) AND I THINK THIS SHOULD BE THE ONLY ONE FOR NOW WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ANNEX OFFICER/

M.O'K

HAVE ADDED THIS CONDUCT TO REPORT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE SHOULD WE NEED IT--

[upside-down at bottom of page:] APRIL 19; 51

{Mary Cantwell}

APRIL 20; 51

DR. VAN WATERS,

THERE IS NO DOUBT BUT THAT MRS OSGOOD HANDLED THIS MOST SKILFULLY AND MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF VIOLENCE-- I HAVE ASKED DR HOBBS AGAIN (YESTERDAY) TO SEE MARY AND I AM SURE THAT WHEN SHE DOES WE WILL GET AN OPINION--

M. O'K

QUITE AN EXCELLENT CASE HISTORY (THE WILDEST MURDERS HAVE BEEN COMMITTED WITH A SMILE AND IN A SOFT VOICE) [exclamation point and small drawing of face added in pencil]