Telegram from William Haywood to Fred Moore
12/17/1918
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This telegram comes from William “Big Bill” Haywood's inmate case file from Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. He sent it to Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) attorney Fred Moore.
Haywood was the leader of the Western Federation of Miners and a founding member and leader of the IWW, commonly referred to as the "Wobblies." He assembled unionists, and intimidated company bosses for improved labor conditions. He was convicted of obstruction of military service and sedition under the Espionage Act of 1917 and sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
Also included in Haywood's inmate file are his "mug shot"; "record sheet"; "rap" sheet of arrests, convictions, and incarceration; commitment order; fingerprints; Bertillon measurements (an anthropometric identification system); record of items received; and other documents. See the entire file in the National Archives online catalog.
Haywood was the leader of the Western Federation of Miners and a founding member and leader of the IWW, commonly referred to as the "Wobblies." He assembled unionists, and intimidated company bosses for improved labor conditions. He was convicted of obstruction of military service and sedition under the Espionage Act of 1917 and sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
Also included in Haywood's inmate file are his "mug shot"; "record sheet"; "rap" sheet of arrests, convictions, and incarceration; commitment order; fingerprints; Bertillon measurements (an anthropometric identification system); record of items received; and other documents. See the entire file in the National Archives online catalog.
Transcript
NO. 02201Dec 17 1918
Warden, U. S. Penitentiary
I respectfully request permission to send the following telegram, collect [crossed out: the cost to be charged to my account.]
(Signed) Wm D Haywood No. 13106
[line]
C.O.D.
[in pencil] 13106
Fred H Moore
916 NMCA
19 South Lasalle St
Chicago Ill
Confession of error involving constitutionality of Espionage Act before United States Supreme Court yesterday, released many defendants in South Dakota cases, Is this effective in our cases without appeal
Wm D Haywood
[line]
Permitted: Fletcher
Act. Warden
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of Prisons.
National Archives Identifier: 55282014
Full Citation: Telegram from William Haywood to Fred Moore; 12/17/1918; Inmate Number 13106; Inmate File of William Haywood; Inmate Case Files, 7/3/1895 - 11/5/1957; Records of the Bureau of Prisons, Record Group 129; National Archives at Kansas City, Kansas City, MO. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/haywood-telegram-moore, May 2, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.