Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln to William H. Bissell, 22 March 18581
Lincoln, March 22– 1858His ExcellencyW. H. BissellDear Sir
Samuel Jones and James Jones, at court here last week, were found guilty of stealing five shoats, or small hogs– I have been appealed to, to say something in favor of their being pardoned– They are father and son– I know nothing to say, except that he is an old citizen (I mean the father) and his neighbors appear more anxious that he and his son should be pardoned, than I have known in any other case– This is really all can say– I was not concerned in the trial; and consequently did not listen to the evidence–2
Your Ob^t Serv^t[Obedient Servant]A. Lincoln–

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[ enclosure ]
03/22/1858
Davis, David Bissell, William H.
Lincoln.
March 22^d 58Gov^r[Governor] BissellDear Sir
I tried the case referred by M^r Lincoln– The evidence clearly justified the verdict of the Jury— & there is no legal reason for granting a new trial–3

He is The father is somewhat advanced in years— with a family chiefly of girls— & the mother dead– He is a man of some property–4 The son is about 22 years of age

The neighbors, think that if there is a pardon granted now— that (if the father & son have been guilty heretofore)— Hereafter5 they will become honest citizens–

From the universal feeling, it would seem to me that executive clemency would not be misplaced–
Your obt ServtDavid Davis–PS– I think the bar and the officers of Court have generally concurred with the citizens in a petition for their pardon6

1Abraham Lincoln wrote and signed this letter.

2Samuel Jones and his son James Jones were sentenced to a year in the Illinois State Penitentiary by the Logan County Circuit Court in March 1858 for the theft of five hogs worth $10. Almost immediately following the verdict, the prosecuting judge, attorney, and witnesses recommended clemency to Governor William H. Bissell. In addition, members of the county bar, court clerks, the sheriff, and numerous citizens of Lincoln, Illinois, petitioned for their release. One month after the verdict, Bissell granted the pardon.
Lincoln et al. petitioned for pardon of Jones & Jones, Martha L. Benner and Cullom Davis et al., eds., The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, 2d edition (Springfield: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 2009), https://lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/Details.aspx?case=141543.

3Two witnesses of the theft testified against the Jones men.
Witness Affidavit, Document IDs: 2804 and 2805, Lincoln et al. petitioned for pardon of Jones & Jones, Martha L. Benner and Cullom Davis et al., eds., The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, https://lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/Details.aspx?case=141543.

4Samuel Jones was about forty-three years old in 1858. In 1860, Samuel Jones owned real and personal property valued at $3,330. He had eight children, and five of them were girls.
U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Logan County, IL, 63.

5“thereafter” changed to “Hereafter.”

6David Davis wrote and signed this enclosure, including the postscript.