MESRINE Jacques (1936-1979) nicknamed public enemy number on - Lot 67

MESRINE Jacques (1936-1979) nicknamed public enemy number one. 2 L.A.S. to Jeanne Schneider, Fleury-Merogis prison, October 1 and 3, 76. 4 pp. folio. Letters marked "F1". On October 1, he talks about books on prison, and comes up with an anecdote: "Do you know that Henri le Lyonnais, author of the book 'Ancien détenu cherche emploi', was with me at the depot on the day of my first arrest in March 73. He told me a bit of his story throughout the night []". He prattles on, talking about horse racing, then returns to more serious subjects such as penitentiary reform and his trial: "He hopes to 'impose' my reform before 1996 (sic). [] I wouldn't want to miss that. Especially my trial for the escape, I've got some good ones in store about prison administration. I'm going to get a kick out of these famous reforms and solitary confinement. No one can make me keep my mouth shut. I've got a tenacious grudge []"; on October 3, he was "blocked from all sides"! [In addition to this physical problem, he saw his mother and daughter in the visiting room. He also mentions the conditions of detention: "You're telling me that if the Montreal inmates were incarcerated at Fleury, things would heat up, yes, sweetie! It's certain that the vast majority of inmates in France are sheep. But it's quite possible that one day this will break out again. [] There will unfortunately be other Lisieuxes [] the violence won't be one-sided []".