The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-10
SUBORNATION OF PERJURY.
THE CASE OF CONOvER,

WASHINGTON, August 9.-The following
document has been obtained from official
sources:
ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE, 9th August,
1661.-Mr. President: The application OF
Charles A. Dunham having been referred to
this Office, in the customary order of Executive
business, for the examination and advisory ac-
tion of the Attorney General, IL has become
my duty, during the indisposition and absence
of the distinguished incumbent of the Law De-
partment, carefully to consider the case. In
respectfully declining, as do, to offer at pre-
sent any recommendation in the premises, l
beg to submit for your consideration the rea-
sons which constrain me to reserve advice and
suspend Judgment until | shall have been fur
ther instructed by your Excellency.
Durham, the person applying for pardon, is
the same who has become notorious under the
name of Sanford Conover. He was recently
convicted of perjury in the District of Colum-
bia, and is, as l am informed, now incarce-
rated, in accordance with the sentence of the
court. His application seems to be predi-
Gated, in part, upon supposed technical ire
gularity in the constitution of the jury, and is
supported mainly by the services which he is
alleged to have rendered the cause of justice
in aiding the prosecuting counsel in the col
lection of evidence and otherwise upon the
trial of John II. Surratt for murder.
The papers upon which his application is
grounded and by which it is sustained consist
of four in parcel, which, by Endorsement,
appear to have reached the Executive Office on
Saturday, the 9th of July, 1857. The first is
dated the 22d of July, and is written upon the
ordinary note paper used by members of the
House of Representatives, with an engraved
vignette caption. The following is a copy:
FoRTIETH CONGRESS UNITED STATES, HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES, WASHINGTON, d. c., July
%, 1867 67.-Gentlemen; suggest that a peti.
tion something like the inclosed be prepared
and signed by you for the pardon of Mr.. Dun
ham. think he is clearly entitled to it, and
hope you will aid him all you can.
Respectfully, j. M. ASHLEY.
Hon. ]. Holt, Hon. A. G. Riddle.
1t would seem from an expression used in
this note that draught of a petition was en-
closed. 1t does not appear what petition was
thus designated.
The next paper is the following from late
Representative in Congress from Ohio, now a
member of the Washington Bar.
WASHINGTON, July %, 1867 TO the Presi-
dent of the United States-Sir: was early in
April last retained to aid the government in
the prosecution of John H. Surratt, and took
the general management Of the preparation OF
the case.
The labor and difficulties of the case were
great, anu the government ls unuer great ODll-
cation to Charles A. Dunham for much valu-
able information, both as to the facts and wit
nesses for the United States and for the his
tory of and facts concerning the witnesses
called for the defence. Although in Jail, he
managed to keep informed of the progress o.
the case, and from time to time communicated
important facts and suggestions, and seeming
ly for the sole purpose of fair investigation
of the case, whether it would work for hi
benefit or not. 1t seems to me that for his ser
vices in this behalf the government should