Presidential & Political Memorabilia & Autographs Letter Regarding the Pardons for Lincoln

Presidential & Political Memorabilia & Autographs Letter Regarding the Pardons for Lincoln Assassination Conspirators Dr. Mudd, Edmund Spangler and Samuel Arnold Justice Department Attorney J.H. Campbell here signs a letter typed on Justice Department stationery dated 3 August 1897, to Lincoln trial witness Louis Weichmann regarding the controversial pardons of Dr. Mudd, Edmund Spangler and Samuel Arnold. Letter in purple type reads, ''Sir: Yours of the 29th ultimo, addressed to the Attorney-General, has been referred to me. You request that you be furnished copies and dates of pardons, and orders relating thereto, in the cases of Dr. Samuel Mudd, Edmund Spangler and Samuel Arnold, who were convicted of conspiring to murder President Lincoln. I have the honor to advise you that the records of this office show that a petition for pardon of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd was filed January 11, 1869; that on January 16, 1869, the papers were transmitted to the President [Andrew Johnson] by his order. There appears to have been no endorsement made by the President upon the papers but the records show that the pardon was granted February 8, 1869: The application for pardon of Samuel Arnold was filed with the President February 27, 1869. On the same date they were referred to this Department with the following endorsement: 'Executive Mansion February 27, 1869. Respectfully referred to the Attorney-General, who will issue a pardon in this case. By order of the President…The application for the pardon of Edmund Spangler was filed February 10, 1869…[signed] J.H. Campell''. The three suspects in question were sentenced to life in prison at Fort Jefferson but pardoned by President Andrew Johnson. Historians still argue over Mudd's involvement in the plot to assassinate Lincoln. Each page measures 8'' x 10''. Creasing and paperclip impression, else near fine condition.