Patricia Bryan

THE PLEA tells the story of Wesley Elkins, a young boy, who was sentenced to life in an adult prison for the murders of his abusive father and stepmother. The crime occurred in Iowa in 1889. Wesley was only eleven years old at the time of his crime. He was a small child, who weighed just 70 pounds and stood 4 feet 7 inches tall. Thanks to progressive and sympathetic prison wardens and teachers, Wesley was educated in prison and became an outspoken advocate for his release, writing eloquent letters to his many supporters. His supporters included newspaper editors, politicians, and educators. Eventually, Wesley was granted a conditional release by the governor of Iowa. We tell the story through primary source documents, legal records, and Wesley’s own letters. The book is extensively researched but reads like a novel–it is a narrative of the crime, the investigation, Wesley’s years of incarceration, the account of the legislative debates that led to a recommendation of his release, and the story of Wesley’s life after he gained his freedom.