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Taft, William H. (1857-1930) [Presidential commutation of sentence of Robert Sawyer, convicted of murder and sentenced to death, 10 November 1905]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03579.01 Author/Creator: Taft, William H. (1857-1930) Place Written: Washington. D.C. Type: Document signed Date: 2 January 1912 Pagination: 2 p. ; 38.4 x 50 cm Order a Copy

Sawyer had been convicted of murder on the high seas in the U.S. Circuit Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. He was originally sentenced to death, but that sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Taft commuted his sentence so it would expire immediately. No reason was given for commutation. Countersigned by J.A. Fowler as Acting Attorney General. This is a printed document with blanks filled in by hand. Accompanied by red paper seal.

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
Fowler, J.A., fl. 1912
United States. President (1909-1913 : Taft)

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