[Correspondence]: Letters from Two Brothers in Prison (1932-1940)

SEMAK, Peter and Alexander

Published by Eastern State Penitentiary and New Eastern State Penitentiary (Graterford), Philadelphia, 1940

About this Item

12 letters from Peter Semak, and 4 letters from Alexander Semak (with copies of two letters commending Peter Semak for work he did in prison) to a wealthy and socially prominent Philadelphia woman Francis W. Wharton, the wife of Henry Wharton, who was the owner of a coal company. Old folds from mailing, small nicks and tears, each with the prison censor's stamp, a couple have the original envelopes. The Semak brothers were the sons of Yugoslavian immigrants in Philadelphia, and apparently had a previous connection to the Whartons. In his earliest letter Peter Semak (1913-1983) outlines his criminal career: joy riding (or automobile theft) for which he spent three years in prison, and then receiving a five-to-twenty year sentence for "larceny and holdup" (presumably armed robbery). Peter seemed well-read and reasonably literate and continuously thanks Mrs. Wharton for books and magazines. He mentions his job as a clerk or secretary for the assistant warden, and relates various events in the prison including a riot which caused him to lose his job, because it would be inappropriate for him to take shorthand testimony from other prisoners. His overall motive, beyond asking for money to be sent to his account so he can buy necessities, is to enlist Wharton's help in having his sentence commuted by the Governor, and he politely peppers her for requests for help (apparently he had some effect as his case was brought up for a commutation hearing, but the case was continued rather than concluded). Research reveals that Peter Semak eventually escaped from Graterford in 1939, was captured in Ohio later that year, and the 1940 census find him as an inmate of the Fairview State Hospital for the Insane. The older brother Alexander (1909-?) apparently met Mrs. Wharton during a prison visit with his brother and also lobbied her for her help in commutation, but we were unable to find what the results of her efforts. A total of 14 letters from two brothers in prison and some related material.

Seller Inventory # 405000

Bibliographic Details

• Title: [Correspondence]: Letters from Two Brothers in Prison (1932-1940)
• Publisher: Eastern State Penitentiary and New Eastern State Penitentiary (Graterford), Philadelphia
• Publication Date: 1940
• Binding: Unbound
• Condition: Very Good