The Trail of The Dead Years "Dudding's Gripping Story of His Own Life Experience is Stranger Than Fiction, Truer Than Life... by Dudding, Earl Ellicott (William Winfred Smith, A.M., LL.B., Editor) - 1932

Huntington, WV and Washington DC: Prisoner's Relief Society, 1932. 1st Edition . Hardcover. VG+/Poor. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. See photos for condition details. Hardcover with dust jacket. DJ is tattered with edges torn and pieces missing. Code on the lower of front flap was crossed out with another code stamped above it. Exterior boards are clean and show almost no wear. No signatures or bookplates noted. Front end page shows faint evidence wear a price was once penciled along top edge. Binding is good, no hinge cracks, no torn or loose pages. Small piece of rear section of dust jacket is detached has seen in the photos. A few pages near the back of the book have a small section of the lower corner edge folded in, which likely was like this from the publisher. First edition thus.

Huntington/Washington: Prisoners Relief Society, 1932. *Price HAS BEEN REDUCED by 10% until Monday, April 29 (sale item)* x, 342 pp., hardcover, previous owner's name to front pastedown, light wear to covers else text clean & binding tight (lacks dust jacket). - If you are reading this, this item is actually (physically) in our stock and ready for shipment once ordered. We are not bookjackers. Buyer is responsible for any additional duties, taxes, or fees required by recipient's country.

Huntington, WV & Washington DC: Prisoners Relief Society, 1932. First Printing. Hardcover. Very good. 8vo, publisher's dark blue cloth gilt, about very good, some mottling and discoloration to covers, contents tanning. 342 pp. Account of West Virginia character. Earl Ellicott Dudding was born on October 16, 1871, in Putnam County, West Virginia. In 1909, Dudding killed his uncle and began a five-year sentence in a penitentiary in Moundsville, West Virginia. The experience set his life on a new course, and following his release, he established and served as director of the Prisoners' Relief Society. Letters from imprisoned North Carolinians drew Dudding's attention to the state prison system during the administration of Gov. Thomas W. Bickett. State leaders bristled at the "outsider's" criticism of the prison system, leading to many press battles with the Prisoners' Relief Society. He died in Marlboro Meadows, Maryland, on July 23, 1973.

Huntington, WV & Washington DC: Prisoners Relief Society, 1932. First Printing. Hardcover. Very good. 8vo, publisher's dark blue cloth gilt, about very good, no jacket, light sprinkling of tiny white spots on cover, spine a little dull, small patch of discoloration to rear board, contents very good, old owner's name on flyleaf, some tanning. 342 pp. Account of West Virginia character. Earl Ellicott Dudding was born on October 16, 1871, in Putnam County, West Virginia. In 1909, Dudding killed his uncle and began a five-year sentence in a penitentiary in Moundsville, West Virginia. The experience set his life on a new course, and following his release, he established and served as director of the Prisoners' Relief Society. Letters from imprisoned North Carolinians drew Dudding's attention to the state prison system during the administration of Gov. Thomas W. Bickett. State leaders bristled at the "outsider's" criticism of the prison system, leading to many press battles with the Prisoners' Relief… Read More

Prisoners Relief Society, Huntington, West Virginia, 1932.. Hardcover. Fine/No Jacket. Royal octavo, hardcover, fine in treated black boards with gilt lettering. Collectible. No dj. Illustrated from Photographs and Etchings. Dudding's Gripping Story.Illuminating and Startling are his Theories of the 'Chemistry of Sin', Crime, Punishment, Birth Control, 'The Land of Eternal Dreams'. He gives his theories about crime, punishment, prison reform, marriage, divorce, birth control, the future life, and other subjects - following research, investigation, experience, and personal contact with convicts, both in and out of prison. 342 pp. with index

Huntington, WV: Prisoner's Relief Society, 1932. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Collectible - Near Fine. 6.5"x9.25"x1.25". 342 pgs. Navy cloth boards with gilt letters on front and spine. No DJ. Spine straight, binding tight, pages clean with mild tone. Wear to bottom edges. Illustrated from photographs and etchings. Foreword by William Winfred Smith, Editor 5/20/1932. Poem pages have been dog-eared. List of poetical selections. Appendix-Prison Directory. Reference Index. Dudding's gripping story of his own life experience is stranger than fiction, truer than life, sadder than death, more triumphant than fame and fortune. Illuminating and startling are hs theories of the chmeistry of sin, crime, punishment, birth control, the land of eternal dreams, and numerous other vital subjects. Dudding was founder of the Prisoners Relief Society.

Huntington, West Virginia:: Prisoner's Relief Society,, 1932.. First edition.. publisher's embossed cloth in dust jacket.. Fine in a dust-soiled jacket some shallow chipping and edgewear.. 8vo,. Illustrated from Photographs and Etchings.. Edited by William Winfred Smith.

Huntington, WVA: Prisoners Relief Society. VG+. 1932. 1st Edition. Hardcover. First edition bound in dark blue patterned cloth with gold lettering. A VG+ copy in a VG- dust jacket. Some dusting to the book's covers and light tanning to its pages. The dust jacket has chips to its corners. Fraying to the head and heel of its spine. Dust soiling to the jacket 's spine and panels. The author's name is stamped on the front fly a long with a printed four page letter from the Prisoners Relief Society explaining the Society's goals, a four page promotional printed sheet with praise for the book, and a reproduction of a West Virginia 'Cabe ll Record' that features an article on the book and it's author. All t hree promotional items have been folded and laid inside the book. Dudd ing founded The Prisoners Relief Society after spending five years in prison for manslaughter. .

Huntington, West Virginia / Washington D.C.: Prisoners Relief Society, 1932. Hardcover. Good/No Jacket. Signed by Author(s). Inscribed by Dudding on ffep (see note below). Boards in blue cloth with gilt lettering on spine and front cover. Spine ends a bit frayed. One inch sections on top and fore edges of front board have been chewed. Inner hinges cracked, but firm. Pages clean. About 60 photographs and a few other illustrations. Index. x, 342 pages. 9.25 x 6.25 inches. A scarce inscribed and signed copy. Dudding's personal account of his conviction and imprisonment and his efforts, following his release, to reform the penal system and prison management for the benefit of the inmates and for their financially impacted families. He also puts forth his theories of criminality (including biochemical predilection for crime) and discusses topics like alcohol, prohibition, and birth control. Earl Ellicott Dudding (1871-1973) was the head of the Prisoners Relief Society and which he founded in… Read More

Huntington, WV & Washington, D.C.: Prisoners Relief Society, 1932. 8vo. x, 342 pp. With numerous photo plates, text illustrations. Textured blue publisher’s cloth, gilt lettering stamped on front cover & spine (very minor shelfwear), w/ d.j. cover art image of the West Virginia penitentiary gate (minor chipping head & foot of spine, wear to corners), VG/VG copy. First edition of this gripping memoir by former prisoner convicted of manslaughter describing the deplorable conditions of West Virginia Penitentiary which Dudding describes as a vermin-infested “damnation.” Of particular interest are his extended essays on metabolic imbalances, poor brain chemistry, and drug abuse as contributing factors to crime, along with unwanted pregnancies, and marrying too young, often resulting in delinquent progeny.