25 January 2000
Mr. Don Siegleman
Governor of Alabama
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104
Dear Governor:
I am a member of the International Bannister
Foundation, residing in Europe.I
have kept up with Patrick Swiney's criminal case and have been corresponding
with him while he is in prison at Atmore, Alabama.The
conditions there, as he describes them, are like a dungeon and very inhumane.I
do not understand the way of American prisons as we do not have them here
in Europe.We also do not have life
sentences here even for capital murder and our crime rates are far less
than the rates in America.We believe
in giving a person a second chance at becoming an honest and productive
citizen, and that seems to be working.
As I correspond with
Patrick, he shows me that he is a good and honest man, and I believe that
even if he did commit this crime, he has spent enough time in prison to
pay for it.However, in this case
of Patrick Swiney, I have read the evidence of his innocence and I ask
you to set him free.How can America
keep innocent people in prison?This
goes against all laws that I know of, even for Americans.
The world is watching
to see what you do about releasing Patrick Swiney from bondage.
Greetings,
Sabine [full name]
[address]
[telephone number]
