A 1p document signed by 15th U.S. President James Buchanan (1791-1868), boldly signed as "James Buchanan" at lower right. Signed in Washington, D.C. on March 20, 1860. Partly printed and partly handwritten document on cream bifold paper with a blind-embossed seal reading "Bath" at upper left. Docketed in pencil on the first and last pages. The inner pages are blank. Expected wear including light folds, minor toning, isolated edge darkening, and a tiny closed tear along a fold at lower found at lower left. Minor areas of loss found at the corners of the last page, else very good to near fine. 8" x 10." Accompanied by additional research including information from the Gilder Lehrman Collection (see scans for additional information.)

In full:

"I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of State to affix the Seal of the United States to a warrant for the pardon of John A. Litzer, David Frank, William Schmidt, Herman Julius and Charles Hoffman, dated this day, and signed by me; and for so doing shall be his warrant.

[signed] James Buchanan

Washington, March 20, 1860."

The five men pardoned by President Buchanan had been convicted of rape in the Washington, D.C. courts in March 1858. The March 21, 1860 issue of Washington, D.C.'s "Evening Star," along with contemporary transcripts provided by the Gilder Lehrman collection, provide some additional information about the case. The five men, German immigrants from Baltimore, had been convicted of raping another German immigrant named Victoria Fugleman "out on the Bladensburg road," in a section of northeastern Washington, D.C. Four of the five defendants had received a 12-year sentence, while the last, Charles Hoffman, had been sentenced to 15 years. A local Washington, D.C. resident named H.G. Lorch had lobbied for the men's release and the Attorney General's office concurred that "the evidence was not of such a character as would have justified their conviction."

President Buchanan commuted, pardoned, or rescinded the sentences of 150 individuals including the five men listed above during his four-year-long presidency, from 1857-1861. The number of Buchanan's pardons was consistent with that of his immediate predecessors Millard Fillmore and Franklin Pierce; the three presidents pardoned 154 people per presidential term on average.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!