IFYOU WANT TO MAKE CRIME PAY, GO TO LAW SCHOOL

Former Boston mobster Whitey Bulger’s advice to three Lakeville, Massachusetts teenage girls

James ‘Whitey’ Bulger, the notorious former Boston mobster, was on the lam for 16 years before he was apprehended in California in 2011. In 2013, he was convicted on federal racketeering charges that included his complicity in eleven murders. Bulger, 85, has been roosting in a Florida federal lockup pending an appeal of his conviction.

Three 17-year-old students at Apponequet Regional High School in Lakeville, Massachusetts chose to write Bulger as part of a nationwide school contest. They requested his opinion on his legacy and advice on leadership. To their amazement, Brittany Tainsh, Michaela Arguin and Mollykate Rodenbush received a handwritten reply which Bulger penned in February. But instead of writing about his legacy and leadership, Whitey advised them not to waste their lives.

Here is what Whitey Bulger wrote:

Feb. 24, 2015

1:10 a.m.

Hello, Brittany:

I’m sorry but I can’t help you with your school project — There are many people more deserving of your time and interests. I’m a myth created by the media to help them generate Revenue and to hurt a relation because they didn’t appreciate his independence and daring to support an agenda they opposed.

May I suggest you and Molly create a website about the heroic service men of Mass. that are patients in, for instance, Walter Reed Veteran Hospital — good men isolated from society due to war wounds — life for some in pain and loneliness — hearing from school girls that care would do wonders for their morale and recovery.

Don’t waste your time on such as I — we are society’s lower, best forgotten, not looked to for advice on “Leadership”. I’m a 9th grade dropout from school and took the wrong road — my brother 5 years younger applied himself in school and worked hard and spent 40 years in Mass State House and retired and was the President of Mass Senate in State House for second term and President of U. Mass after Retirement. Had 9 children all college graduates and 4 lawyers among them. A Better Man than I.

My life was wasted and spent foolishly, brought shame and suffering on my parents and siblings and will end soon — Advice is a cheap commodity some seek it from me about crime — I know only thing for sure — If you want to make crime pay — “Go to Law School.”

Brittany Best of Luck in the future to you and Molly and Michaela.

Sincerely James Bulger

While Bulger did not give them what they wanted, he did give them some very good advice. I especially liked the line: I know only [one] thing for sure — If you want to make crime pay — “Go to Law School.” Ain’t that the truth!