Petition of James Snow, with Jefferson’s Order, 9 July 1804
Petition of James Snow,
with Jefferson’s Order
The Humble petition of James Snow
Humbley sheweth,
That Your unfortunate petitioner is a prisoner confined in the Gaol of Alexandria on a fine of One hundred Dollars. Your unfortunate petitioner is truely Sensible of his errors, which he has been led into from his Youth & indiscretion, by designing Men, Your petitioner has been confined Twenty Months without the Smallest prospect of relif but from the Clemency of Your Excellencey, and being confined in a Gaol in the prime of Youth, having no powers to Serve my Country or myself as a Good Citizen aught to do, Humbley pray that Your Excellencey, will pitty my condition, and forgive my offence, And Your Petitioner in Duty bound will ever pray,
James Snow
July 9th. 1804
The Undersigned Judges of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia have been applied to by the above petitioner James Snow to recommend the remission of his fine.—
We Know of nothing in his Character or Conduct to entitle him In point of Justice to such remission; on the Contrary we consider that his crime, which was, perjury, was properly punishable by imprisonment, putting in the pillory and fine. the Term of the imprisonment by the first part of the sentence is expired, and he is now confined on account of the fine. We are satisfied that he has no means of paying the fine, and in consideration of that circumstance, of the length of his imprisonment, of the expence incurred thereby to the United States, and of the possibility of his reformation, we are induced to recommend and do respectfully recommend to the president the remission of his fine as prayed by him in order that he may be discharged from further imprisonment—
W Kilty
N. Fitzhugh
[Order by TJ:]
Let a pardon issue
Th: Jefferson
July 17. 04.
RC (DNA: RG 59, GPR); in a clerk’s hand, signed by Snow; at head of text: “To His Excellencey Thomas Jefferson President of the United States”; recommendation of the judges in a clerk’s hand, signed by William Kilty and Nicholas Fitzhugh.
unfortunate petitioner: during its June 1803 session at Alexandria, the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Columbia found Snow, a “yeoman,” guilty of committing perjury at the November 1802 trial of William Galloway. The court sentenced Snow to six months’ imprisonment and one hour in the pillory and fined him $100 (Tr of circuit court proceedings against Snow in DNA: RG 59, GPR, attested by George Deneale, 12 July). TJ issued a pardon of Snow’s fine on 19 July (FC in Lb in same).