To James Madison from Richard B. Mitchell, [ca. 3 July 1815]
From Richard B. Mitchell
[ca. 3 July 1815]
The petition of Richard Bennett Mitchel respectfully sheweth—That your petitioner was indicted in the June term of the year 1814 before the circuit court of the United States for the district of Columbia & county of Washington for an assault committed on Oliver Pollock, that his sole motive in committing said assault was to preserve the peace & quiet of the family, your petitioner’s mother in law Mrs: Pollock being then dangerously sick & being very much disturbed by the noise & cries of the said Oliver, regardless of the condition of his wife, & frequently indulging himself in the intemperate use of spirituous liquors, That no persons were by at the time the assault was committed & the only evidence of the commission of the assault was given by the said Oliver himself who was in a high state of irritation against his wife & your petitioner, & gave a very exaggerated account of your petitioner’s conduct. That your petitioner was found Guilty & sentenced by the court to pay a fine of fifty dollars. That the said Oliver Pollock now joins with your petitioner in praying that the said fine may be remitted;1 & Your petitioner humbly prays that your excellency will please to remit the said fine on payment of all the costs & charges of the prosecution. And your petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray &c:
Richard B. Mitchell
by his attorney.
RC (DNA: RG 59, Petitions for Pardon, no. 301). Undated; bears a 3 July 1815 note signed by William Cranch, Buckner Thruston, and James S. Morsell: “The undersigned Judges of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia respectfully represent to the President of the United States that they are satisfied of the truth of the facts stated in the aforegoing Petition and beg leave to recommend the case of the Petitioner to the consideration of the President”; and JM’s initialed note: “Let a pardon issue.”
1. Filed with the petition is a 19 June 1815 statement signed by Oliver Pollock at Baltimore (2 pp.), releasing Mitchell “from all claims to damages and costs,” and asking “that any fine which may be or May have been imposed on the Said Mitchell for such assault may be remitted,” Pollock “having received full Satisfaction therefor.”