National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-06-07
Mrs. Cobb, the Pardon Broker, and
Friend of President Johnson.


written book in which he gives a
narrative of a great variety of ex.
periences during the war. In this
book General Paker gives detail
ed account of his experience with
MIS-. Cobb, the noted pardon broker.
He believed she was obtaining par
dons by imposing upon the Presi-
dent, and he went to work to expose
her. A person pretending to be Il
rebel visited Mrs. Cobb, to employ
her to procure for him a pardon.
What followed is thus told by Gen
Baker:
Capt. Howell stated his case to
Mrs. Cobb. and she agreed to pro
duce ''tull, complete, and uncon-
ditional pardon for all his past of
fences" as the contract reads, for
the sum of three hundred dollars.
1t is proper here to remark, that the
usual routine at the Executive man
sion and the Attorney Generals of
fee, in procuring pardon'S. requires
from two to five weeks, a record OF
the names of the applicants being
placed on the books OF the Attor-
ney Generals office. which names
are taken up in their order and dis
t,n AF fts,,. nd I,..a ny
consideration, however. Mrs. Cobb
agreed to procure the pardon III
question in twelve hours, as ap-
pears from the following contract:
WASHINGTON. ID. c., Nov. >. 1850.
For and in consideration of the
sum Of $500 paid to me by Captain
Clarence J. Howell, | hereby agree
as follows, to wit: TO take from
Captain Howell his statement i'll
regard to his case, and procure for
him the full and complete pardon for
his past offences. The money to be
paid as follows 500 in hand, and
the remaining 5000 on delivery of
his pardon ON Monday evening, at 6
O'Clock, p. IN. ! further agree that
in case | do not succeed in getting
the pardon as agreed, will return
to him the 800 received of him.
(Signcd) Mrs. l.. l.. CoBB.
The above contained the follow
ing receipt on the back;
WASnINGTON, ID. c., Nov. >, 1865.
Received on the within. 500.
(Signcd) MRS. L. l.. CoBB.
This occurred on the 7th of No.
Vembcr. TO secure positive and in
diSputable evidence against Mrs.
Cobb, took six so Treasury notes
and marked them i'll the presence OF
five persons, that they might be iden-
tilted as the bills paid for the par
don. On the evening of the 9TH.
when Howell was TO have it, accom-
panied by a detective officer, | went
with him to the Avenue House
where he was to receive the docu-
ment, determined, as soon as the
money was paid by him to Mrs
Cobb, and he had the pardon in his
hands, to demand of her the mon
cy. AS shown by Mrs Cobb's teS-
timony, the pardon was not pro
cured on the 1th, she alleging that
the President was sick, that Mr.
Seward was not in the city, and
that friend of hers III the Treasury
Department, who assisted her, waS
also absent from the city, in New
York, but on the following evening
she would certainly have the par
don ready. Accordingly, Cn the
evening of the Sth, | again visited
the Avenue House with IA detective
and the moment Howell paid th,
money to Mrs. Cobb and received
his papers, entered the room an'
demanded from Mrs. Cobb the $500
She ut once recognized me, and re
marked she chad mctAe before
informed her that ] had been watch
ing her for several days, | believed
| was posted as to her Goingsat The
White House, and said, "lou shal
not impose upon the President by
your presence. He, doubtless re
CARDS YOU as an honest woman, an'
when he is made aware of your rea
character. and the business in whicl
you are engaged, | think you vii
not be permitted again to visit TIN
White House, She refused to re
turn the money, when ! asked he
to 90 with me to my Office; sh
consented, and asked me if ! hat
any objection to her husband goini
with us; ! replied, "Certainl.
not,' and, entering the carriag
with Mr.. and Mrs. Cobb, went f
my headquarters. ] took Mrs Cob
into my private Office, and request
eel here to return to me The none.
paid her by Howell, stating TO he
distinctly that it was my money ;
had marked it for the purpose q
entrapping her; { he person TO
whom she had obtained the pardo
was not Capt. Howell but Cap,
IIinc had devised this plan t
ascertain how and through wlla
means she obtained pardons sh
should not impose upon the Pres
dent any longcr, and | should Ia
all the facts before him ut once
awaiting his decision in the matter
She became very much excited am
extremely abusive, declaring tha
she had obtained a great many pal
dons from the President, and sh
should continue to obtain them q
long as she could find customers
she and the President had n perfe,
,,J.ratandiuu aud hp darn unt -,