Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-03-27
The Case of DIR. Reale the Denttst-At-
tempted BI Lbery to obtain his Pardon.

The grand jury of the court Of sessions, in
Philadelphia has in late presentment stated,
that evidence had been adduced before them
of a plan to obtain from the family of DR..
Beale $4,000, for the purpose of employing
counsel, and paying the expenses Of procuring
pardon from the Governor. The communi-
cation was made to Mrs. Beale, who imme-
diately informed her husband of the PROPOSE
ton. His reply was as follows:
MoYAMEYsING PRISON, JAM 8, 1855.
Ny DEAR WIFE: Since your letter of this
morning came, have been rejecting upon the
principles involved in the proposition made by
the friend of Governor Bigler. You know how
anxious | am to get home and yet never can
consent to do anything that is not right to get
there. Now, if it is right that / should be par
doned, it is Governor Bigler's duty to do it
but if his conscience says / ought not to be
pardoned, it would be wrong in me or any
other person to gree him money TO riolate his
conscience; therefore, never can consent to
give one penny.
1t is our duty to do all we can to convince
the Governor of my innocence, and of his duty
to pardon, and leave the event to the Lord. /
have been convinced for months that Justice
and conscience are, with some men, like things
of merchandise, to be bought and sold to the
highest bidder Perhaps am too stubborn in
this matter, but / ask only what my conscience
says am entitled to. / have been uniustly
deprived of my liberty, and l cannot think Il
right to give money for its restoration, as it
must be matter Of justice and conscience with
the Governor.
Good night, my love, have to close. Your
afectionate husband,
STEPHEN t. BEALE.
These facts coming to the knowledge of the
District Attorney, he laid them before the
Grand jury and witnesses subpenad to testify
before them. 1t was proved that the plan was
concocted by one Charles G. Rhodes and Mrs.
Turner, Mrs. Beales sister-that the indiyidu-
ais to whom this plan was communicated, and
by whom ii was declined, were the Rev. John
Chambers and Mr.. Daniel Steinmetz-that
the existence of such plan was known to
those gentlemen and other friends of the pri-
soner as far back as the early part of January
but was not communicated to the public au-
thorities-that it was the design Of the parties
to this arrangement to appropriate S. 900 to
the employment of counsel, who was designated,
but there is no mode of ascertaining from the
evidence taken what was to be done with the
other $4,000.
1t appears that since the conviction of DIR.
Beale his stricken wife has been surrounded BY
harpies anxious to be employed to obtain his
release. A man representing himself as an
attorney boarding at the American Hotel, called
on her, and said that he had it in his power to
produce an affidavit which would conclusively
show that her husband was the victim of a
foul conspiracy, and would procure his imme-
date pardon. He asked for his services and
trouble, the moderate sum Of twenty-five dol
lars. After appealing to his honor as man,
and saying to him she should have but two
dollars left for the necessary expenses of her
large family, and receiving the most solemn
assurances that he would fulfil his promise,
she gave him the money, and she saw him no
more. Subsequently the other plan was sug-
gested and it is probable that by exposure
the knavery Of these pardon brokers will re.
ceive a cheeky. y. Express.