8 June 1861
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
Document signed
Title: [Presidential pardon of Benjamin Wood, who had been convicted in December 1857 in the District of Columbia of manslaughter].
Wood was pardoned by Lincoln because it is believed that he was insane at the time of the offense, because it was his first offense, and because the jurors at his trial and others had petitioned for his release. Countersigned by Secretary of State William Seward.
GLC02789