Sarah impressed the prison staff so much that they did something very unusual. A few weeks after she was sent to prison, they asked the governor for permission to release her. In a letter dated December 19, 1905, Alex Parsons, the Superintendent of the Penitentiary, wrote to Governor MacGregor: "The conduct of this girl since her commitment here...on a charge of concealment of birth has been remarkably good. Mentally, she is much superior to the average female prisoner. Matron speaks well of her and says 'she is respectful, obedient, industrious and well-behaved generally'." (Industrious means hard working.)

The governor wrote back to Alex Parsons. He asked Mr. Parsons to write to Sarah's father. The governor wanted to know if her family would let her come back home if she was released from prison.

Her father wrote back to Alex Parsons saying,

I beg to say that I am very thankful to His Excellency the Governor for being willing to release her, and I am also thankful to both you and the Matron for speaking so well of her. She was always a good daughter and we were fond of her... We have spent a very uneasy winter, both her Mother and myself, and we will feel only too happy to take her back to her home and treat her well as ever we did. I cannot help forgiving her, she being my own flesh and blood. Please let me know when you're sending her and I will meet her at the Station... Again thanking you for your kindness,

James Penny

Soon after, Sarah was released from prison. We do not know what happened to her after that.

Sally Thorne⁹

Sally Thorne returned from Halifax to her parents' home in a small southwest coast outport in 1909. She acted like any other young, single girl. She helped at home and spent her free time visiting with her girlfriends. Her mother, Helen Thorne, thought that Sally had gained a bit of weight, but did not suspect she was seven months pregnant.