31 March 1930

Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Jose F. Gandara, convicted of conspiracy to start a military expedition against Mexico 3 December 1927]

Jose F. Gandara was convicted by the U.S. District Court of Arizona of conspiracy to "set foot or provide means for a military expedition against a friendly power, the republic of Mexico." He was sentenced to two years in the McNeil Island Penitentiary and a $1,000 fine. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the judgment. Accompanied by printed pamphlet, writ of certiorari denied by the U.S. Supreme Court, and two typed letters signed from Manuel C. Tellez, Ambassador of Mexico concerning Gandara's citizenship.

GLC05964

11 March 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authorization to the Secretary of State to affix the Seal of the United States to the pardon of Nathiel W. Watkins].

Watkins was the half-brother of Henry Clay, who had commanded a corps of Confederate Missouri Guards at the beginning of the Civil War. Document is perforated for inclusion in binder.

GLC05968

7 August 1841

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Lorenzo Dow for the murder of a ship captain].

Countersigned by Secretary of State Daniel Webster. Dow was convicted for the murder of Captain William C. Langdon of the Brig "Francis" while at sea and sentenced to be hung. Pardoned because he was "...a fit subject for the interposition of the Executive Clemency."

GLC05976

17 September 1942

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945

Document signed

Title: Pardon of California judge Gavin Craig convicted in Italo Petroleum case

The judge was convicted of "Conspiracy to endeavor to obstruct justice...." in the Italo Petroleum Case. With pardon attorney's warrant and file of supporting original petitions.

GLC05912

20 September 1866

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of S.S. Lee for offenses arising from the rebellion]

This document is a Presidential pardon of S.S. Lee for offenses committed during the Civil War. It is filled out and signed by Andrew Johnson as President and countersigned by William H. Seward as Secretary of State. Accompanied by a white seal.

GLC05782

19 July 1804

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of James Snow for perjury].

Countersigned by Secretary of State James Madison. Snow was convicted of perjury in Alexandria, Virginia in 1803. Jefferson pardoned Snow for "divers causes and considerations."

GLC07146

24 May 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Ezekiel D. Dyer for fraud].

Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward. Dyer was convicted in December, 1859, and sentenced to the jail at Plymouth, Massachusetts. He remained in prison after completing his sentence because he was unable to pay his fine. He was pardoned at the request of Massachusetts politicians, Senator Henry Wilson, and representatives Alexander H. Rice, Charles R. Train, and H. L. Dawes. B. F. Hallett also requested Dyer's pardon.

GLC07314

15 December 1911

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of Charles L. King, convicted of Army desertion on 23 April 1908 and sentenced to two and one half years at Fort Leavenworth]

Sentence published in General Orders, No. 65, Department of the East, 30 April 1908. Secretary of War recommended pardon, which was granted by William H. Taft. Partially handwritten. With James Finch (signed), pardon attorney, warrant for pardon. Countersigned by George W. Wickersham, Attorney General.

GLC07318

17 June 1926

Coolidge, Calvin, 1872-1933

Document signed

Title: [Presidential commutation for Arthur Franzblau, convicted of mail fraud 24 February 1924 in New York]

Arthur Franzblau was convicted of using the mails in a scheme to defraud in the U.S. District Court of Southern New York and sentenced to one year in the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia. He appealed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals on 2 February 1924 where his case was still pending. Coolidge commuted his sentence to one day in the custody of a U.S. Marshal; no reason given. Countersigned by William D. Mitchell, Acting Attorney General. Printed document with blanks filled in with type.

GLC07326

13 August 1868

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Manuscript document signed

Title: Pardon of Leonhart F. Reik, convicted of a violation of Internal Revenue laws.

Convicted of violating Internal Revenue laws; sentenced to pay a $1000 fine and to be imprisoned until fine is paid. Pardoned after spending some months in prison and proving entirely unable to pay the fine due to poverty, and by recommendation of the U.S. District Attorney, A.S. Ridgby, the Mayor of Baltimore, most of the jury who convicted him, and many respectable citizens. (c/s William H. Seward)

GLC07329

10 May 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to the pardon of George Ward]

Ward was convicted of highway robbery; the jurors petitioned Lincoln for Ward's pardon.

GLC07361

27 April 1865

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph

Title: [Albumen of Samuel Arnold]

Inscribed on verso: "Samuel Arnold. Conspirator. Imprisoned for life at Ft. Jefferson Fla. (Dry Tortuges) Pardoned by President Johnson. Released March 21, 1869." Photograph shows Arnold wearing a dark coat, vest, and tie; facing slightly to the right. Arnold is imprisoned aboard the U.S.S. Saugus.

GLC07738.02

7 August 1865

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon and authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to the pardon of Lawson Eastham, charged with treason].

Andrew Johnson granted Lawson a full parson and amnesty for all the offences he comitted. Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

GLC06408

22 April 1919

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Document signed

Title: [Sentence commutation for Fernando Robert Edward Ludicke, convicted for violating the Espionage Act on 18 September 1918]

Fernando Ludicke, alias Robert Edwards, was convicted of violating the espionage Act of June 15, 1917 in the U.S. District Court of Western Pennsylvania and sentenced to 18 months to be served in the Maryland State Penitentiary at Baltimore, Maryland. Wilson commuted his sentence to expire immediately; no reason given. Countersigned by A. Mitchell. Printed document with blanks filled in with type.

GLC06598

27 July 1869

Chamberlain, Joshua Lawrence, 1828-1914

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [unknown] re: leaning against signing a pardon.

Written to an unknown colonel, as Governor of Maine.

GLC06603

1878

Flipper, Henry O., fl. 1878

Book

Title: The Colored Cadet at West Point. Autobiography of Lieut. Henry Ossian Flipper...

First edition printed by Homer Lee & Co. Flipper, while not the first African-American to attend West Point, was the first to graduate. He was assigned to the all-black 10th Cavalry Regiment. Accused of embezzling army funds at Fort Davis, Indian Territory, he was exonerated but convicted of lying in a court-martial and dishonorably discharged. Flipper kept trying to clear his name until his death in 1940, but it was not until 1976 when he was officially exonerated. On 19 February 1999 President Clinton pardoned Flipper. LCP Negro History no. 143, Brignano 76, Schomburg D81-528,…

GLC06832

11 April 1865

Newspaper

Title: Richmond Whig. [Vol. 1, no. 7 (April 11, 1865)]

Union-occupation issue, covering the fall of Richmond shortly before and the surrender of Robert E. Lee two days before. The front page contains biographical sketches of Confederate generals killed at Richmond or Petersburg, or who played an important role, including A.P. Hill, William H. Fitzhugh Lee, Gen. Pegram. On page 8 appears the correspondence between Lee and Grant, giving the terms of surrender at Appomatox. An article "The Duty of the North" by Henry Ward Beecher pleads pardon for the rebels. INK BLURRING from poor registry of the printer's forms. UNOPENED.

GLC06843

18 August 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Captain Donnell

Writes to Captain [possibly Nathaniel] Donnell to argue on behalf of a John Moder, a soldier who serves under Donnell. Moder recently deserted, but he came back, which allowed him to receive a free pardon for his desertion. Prior to this event, he bargained with a Corporal Kelly, Corporal Woodstock, and Colonel Popkin for his depreciation notes, and they were sent to Captain Donnell. According to Moder, Captain Donnell will not give Moder his notes because of his desertion, even though he has been pardoned. Shaw argues that Moder is "fully convinced of and truly sorry for his error," and…

GLC02437.01531

6 April 1858

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Document

Title: A Proclamation...concerning the Utah War and its necessity.

Printed declaration by President Buchanan proclaiming that a state of rebellion exists in the Territory of Utah, and offering a pardon to all citizens who submit to the authority of the United States government. The present proclamation mentions Mormon resistance as well as part of Buchanan's plan for peace.

GLC05708

20 April 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to the pardon of Joseph Shoemaker].

GLC05227

15 June 1865

Johnston, Joseph Egleston, 1807-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel Ewell

Possibly to Richard S. Ewell. Johnston's wife, Lydia Mulligan McLane Johnston, wrote to Ewell two days before. Discusses the travels of other acquaintances in Virginia, including Mr. Paxson. Writes, "...we are here- Mainly in the hope that such an addition to the natural attractions of the place might bring you to join us- The society of another unpardoned rebel like you would make me contented as long as you might choose to stay. If you can't come, which the death of greenbacks may make possible, you must give the feeble indemnity of longer and more frequent letters- a fuller…

GLC05254

24 July 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to a warrant for pardon of Felix Mullen].

Felix Mullen had been convicted in the District of Columbia for burglary in December 1861. He was pardoned by Lincoln after he had petitioned arguing that the jury was in ignorance of the law and said he would return to his military duty with the 10th New Jersey Regiment.

GLC05184

10 September 1865

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of John G. English for rebellion].

Signed by Andrew Johnson as President. Countersigned by William H. Seward as Secretary of State. English's plantation was in Aberdeen, Mississippi. White seal on second page. Document was originally folded into sixths.

GLC05460

8 March 1878

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to the pardon of eight men].

Conditional pardon for John P. Muncie, Lewis Spencer, John M. Hibbard, William Griffin, William W. Workman, Henry Holzhauser, Samuel Walters, Eugene Slinker, John Frazier and James M. Norris.

GLC05489

1 May 1908

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of George W. Peters, who deserted the navy on 27 March 1897 by Theodore Roosevelt]

Deserted the vessel the "Puritan" who re-enlisted twice--28 March 1898 and 5 September 1901 aboard the Richmond--as George W. Rogers, and served normally until discharged. Pardoned based on service to country and recommendation of the Acting Secretary of the navy. Partially handwritten. Accompanied by discharge pouch (housed separately). Countersigned by Charles J. Bonaparte.

GLC05653.01