Biography
George O'Connell was an Industrial Workers of the World member from Imperial, California, prosecuted in the federal government's mass Sacramento IWW case during the First World War. Convicted of conspiracy arising from the union's anti-war activity and its organizing, he was sentenced in January 1919 to ten years in federal prison. He was held from at least August 1918 and served at Leavenworth Penitentiary as inmate 13576 until his release on December 22, 1923. The Industrial Worker of May 1923 gives his birthday as May 30; no birth year is recorded.
The National Archives confirms the inmate number, and the Department of Justice collection at Cornell holds a fourteen-page file covering his clemency application and his conduct at Leavenworth.
The released prisoners quoted by Shields recall O’Connell’s continuing Leavenworth confinement and his response to speculation about release: Father Time would take care of it. The article places him among the Sacramento men still held and awaiting freedom; it does not announce a pardon or actual release.
The March1922 official report lists George O'Connell in List1 of convicted prisoners or parolees. The government entry reports Conspiracy and violating the espionage act, etc. a sentence of January 17, 1919, 10 years, Leavenworth.. Imposed terms, projected term-expiration dates, parole eligibility and intervals on bond are different measures; none is entered as a complete actual custody total. This attributed government entry is retained alongside the independently established individual chronology. [PDF14]
Government Prosecutions under the Espionage Act, Senate Document159 (March1922), PDF page 14.
