" WHAT A DAY IS LIKE ON DEATH WATCH FOR AN INNOCENT MAN"

BY GERALD E. STANO

" I wake up at about 4:45am, wash up, make a cup of coffee, take my heart and blood pressure medication.
By then breakfast is put on your door. By now it's around 6 am.
Time for another cup of coffee. At this time, I get myself ready for another day.
I usually get my writing materials out, and answer my mail from the night before.
By the time I finish my writing it is time for lunch, which arrives at 10:20am.
After that, I watch " The Price is Right" , followed by the local news at noon.
When that is over I usually get my drawing material out and make cards for my family and/or friends.
I want to stay busy as much as possible during the day, and this helps me pass time.
During the evening hours there are only a few good programs worth watching.
Mostly, I listen to my Walkman radio, which gives me more enjoyment--cause I love music.
Sgts. make their rounds during the course of their 8 hour shifts, and at that time I can get hot water,
he ( Sgts.)--also pass out the mail, take you to the shower, gives you the phone for legal and social calls,
plus they pass out the food trays 3 times a day.
But, all during the day and night...you are thinking about your case, and when
your lawyer is getting you a stay. Plus, you are thinking about your family and how they are handling things.
You are trying to stay busy and keep laughing--but at times you just want to cry.
Yes, I have cried many nights and the reason for that is :
I am innocent of what I am charged with.
Now, just when you get ready to go to sleep, you hear alot of laughing, talking
and it's the guards on midnight shift upstairs playing---instead of taking their jobs seriously.
This doesn't help matters for you cause you have alot on your mind,
and are trying to get a good nights sleep. Then, when you finally doze off,
they ( the guards) come by for security rounds and shine a flashlight in your face to see if you are still there.
This is what a day on Death Watch is like.

Jerry 1-29-98