The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-08-27
REVELATIONS!
COnOVer Turns ON Ashley and Ex-
poses His Plots!
How Butler and Ashley Hop
ed to Get up ssTesti mOny."
RADICAL INEAMY EXPOSED.
sc. sc. sc.

&c. &c. &C.
WASHINGTON, August 9-The follow
ing document has been obtained from Of
| fetal sources:
ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE,
August 5.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: The application of
Charles A. Dnnham having been referred
to this office in the customary order of
Executive business, for the examination
and advisory action of the Attorney Gen.
eral, it has become my duty, during the
indisposition and absence of the incum-
bent of the Law Department, carefully to
consider the case. In respectfully de-
cliping, as / do, to. offer at present any
Recommendation in the premises, I beg to
submit to your consideration the reasons
which constrain me to reserve advice and
suspend judgment until [ have been fur
ther instructed by your Excellency.
Durham, the person applying for par
don, is the same who has become notori.
GUS under the name of Sanford Conover.
He was recently convicted of perjury in
the District Of Columbia, and is, as | am
/ Informed, now incarcerated in accordance
with the sentence of the Court. Hisap-
plication seems to be predicated, IN part,
upon supposed technical irregularity in
the constitution Of the jury, and is sup
ported mainly by the services which he is
alleged to have rendered the cause OF
Justice in aiding the prosecuting counsel
lin the collection of evidence, and ether
wise upon the trial Of John Fl. Surrati
for murder.
! The papers upon which his application
is grounded, and by which it is sustained,
consist of four in a parcel, which, by en-
dorsement, appears to have reached the
office on Saturday, the 9th of July, 1867
The first is dated the 22d of July, and il
written upon the ordinary note paper used
1by members of the House of Represen.
tatives, with an engraved yignette cap
ton. The following is copy:
FoRTIETH CONGRESS UNITED STATES, }
! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
i WASHINGTON, D. G., July 22, 1867.
| GENTLEMEN: suggest that a petition
something like the enclosed be prepared
and signed by you for the pardon of Mr.
Dnsshham. I think he is clearly entitled
to it, and hope you will aid him all yol
can. Respectfully. j. NJ. ASHLEY.
Hon. j. Holt.
Hon. A. G. Riddle.
1t would seem from an expression use'
in this note that draught of a petition
was enclosed. 1t does not appear wha
petition was thus designated.
The next petition is the following from
late representative in Congress fror
Ohio, now a member Of the Washington
bar.
WAsH1NaroN, July 20.
To the President of the United States: 4
SIR: was early in April last retained
to aid the Government in the prosecution
. of John HI. Surratt, and took the genera
: management of the preparation of tn
case.
The labor and difficulties of the cas-
J, were great, and the Government is unde
great obligations to Charles A. Dunbar
for much valuable information, both as t
the facts and witnesses for the Unite
States, and for.the history of and fact
, concerning the witnesses called for tn
). defense. Although in Jail, he manage
to keep informed of che progress OF tn
, case, and from time to time communlca
ted important facts and suggestions, an
: seemingly for the sole purpose of
fair investigation of the case, whether
would work for his benefit or not.
seems 30 me that for his services in thi
behalf, the Government should mark il
appreciation of them in way not to- b
mistaken. Respectfully,
A. G. RIDDLE.
Nothing is among the papers from th
Office of the District Attorney, or frol
: any Of the counsel in the Surratt trial,ez
r cepting Mr.. Riddle.
The next recommendation is from th
Bureau Of Military Justice:
0 WASHINGTON, July "a, 1867.
q Iconcur with the Hon. A. G.. Riddl
lin his estimate Of the value and import
ance of the service rendered by Charlie
A. Dunham, as set forth in the foregoin
e letter to the President. A principle G
5 public policy leads Governments to Ell
courage, by all honorable means, thos
lcharged with crimes to make disclosure
Q which may, and often do, result in vi
masking even greater offenders than thos
who make them, and hence when the
\ are found to have acted voluntarily, an
under good faith, the highest public col
: siderations require that .helr conduct sha
+ be generously appreciated, The scryic'
Of Dunham, with the details of whic
lMr. Riddle must be entirely familiar,
one OF the counsel in the case, seem
n have been performed without solicitatie
i and in the interest of truth and justice,
, connection with one of the most impor
8 ant trials which has occurred in the hi
tory of the country and although his di
+ closures were not directly connected wit
the criminality of which he himself b
been convicted, yet it is believed tn
n they do not the less bring his case with
Of the spirit and reason Of the rule OF polit
,f referred to, and hence it is for the Elk
cutive to determine how far they shall
= accepted at once as a proof Of his repen
Is ance, and as an atonement to the law I
5, whose violation he stands condemned.
j. Holt.
1t may be proper to remark that t
e. recommendation of the Judge Advoca
n- General is written on one leaf of the san
: -lla.f-..l ~ of M P;ddle and n