To James Madison from Paul Hamilton, 5 December 1810
From Paul Hamilton
Navy Depart. 5 Decr. 1810.
With much regret I perform the duty of laying before you for your consideration the sentence of a General Court martial on the case of Dennis Mahoney1 a private in the Marine Corps of the United States. I have taken the liberty of adding to the papers a memorandum of the Laws, which embrace the case of this unfortunate man. Most respectfully I am Sir yr.
Paul Hamilton.
Letterbook copy (DNA: RG 45, LSP). Enclosures not found.
1. Dennis Mahoney had been charged in August 1810 with having run a bayonet through the body of Lt. Robert D. Wainright with the intent to kill him. A court-martial in Charleston found him guilty and sentenced him to death, but with a recommendation of mercy on account of “some symptoms of insanity.” JM granted a pardon on 12 Dec. 1810, and Mahoney was discharged from the service the next day (DNA: RG 59, PPR; National Intelligencer, 20 Dec. 1810).