, 1876-09-24

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CHICAGO, Aug 10, 187B.-1o Ills E1cei!tney ..
S. Grant, President Of the United States: Ny at
tenon hns been given to the conduct Of the prose-
cago,-in what are called s'tha whisky cases, ~
and especially to the sentence OF a. z. Aes1ng,
His sentence struck my mind land think the mind
ton With Others, ind vastly more severe. be was
put on the witness stand in the prosecution OF
Mnnn-I read hie testimony with care-1 have no
hesitation in saying that taking it ali in a It was
palpably the most frank and uureserved Of that OF
any witness who examined. 1tcarred on its face
andin al its parts Inherent epidenee Of ns truh, Hs
unquCli fea truth. could not find In the history
Of these trials any ground for the comparative
severity OF his sentence, other than the iact fnat
evening after months absence- learn that ap-
plication has been made to your Excelency Tor tue
pardon, either absolute or qualified Of Mr. Hes
ing. and perhaps Of others. write this letter
think that in The case Of A. G. Hesiue case il
presented fit for the exercise Of Executive clemcn
others, that A. c. utsing be pardoned, or at least
that his punishment be very greatly mi1ignted, and
his imprisonment be shortened.
The moral effect Of these prosecutions IN pre-
venting future violations Of The Law has spent tte
forca No public good CAL now be accomplished
by the further imprisonment Of . man who has
been honest and truthful enough to testify to the
whole truth. All which is respectfully submitted
by one who has known you long, and has ever been
to yon true personal frsnd and wouia not
in the discharge Of the responstble duties IN your
path. 7. LYLE D1ckEr.
CHICAGO, H., Sept 8, 1s76.-1Ne Hon. Al
phonso Taft, Attornty- General Of United States,
IFGshngk0n-DEAK Sir: I wish to say word
upon the subject Of an application whieh en- in
clelnency in behalf of A. C. Hesing, looking to a
modification Of the degree of big punishment under
conviction in what are called the ''whisky
had the honor Of addressing to the President
note on that subject few weeks ago which may
that letter learn thnt the sentence in Mr.. Hes
ing's case rests upon his plea Of guilty to two
counts Of indictment charging hin 3, With the viola
Others pleaded guilty, as understand, to charges
Of the sdn.e grade and under Ike inducements held
out to them by the officers Of the Coy,
merely a nominal pnntshment- On the record
on, informed. In so fur as any proofs o. showing,
at the bearing, concerned related to the o1eses
Of which they had pleaded guilty, there Was moth
ing to aggrayate the otfenses OF Mr. Hesing be-
mcnt Of every one connected with the prosecution
and defense Of these cases, the judgment Of the
years Imprisonment, while Others who had pleaded
guilty to like charges, and in relation to whom
there was nothing less nggravatng and nothing
more in mitigation, were sentenced to imprison-
mcnt ranging from one day to three and six
months, and none to exceed six months except one
other party and Mr. Hesing. understand that
Tue attorneys IuE Lut NOFEIAulcHsY WIZ AhN IoA-
Quoted the prosecutions and negotiations, were
surprised at the severity ct Mr.. Hesing's sentence,
and regretted that this discrimination had been
made against him.
know Of nothing in any way bearing upon these
cases which coald hare effected this result, unless
it may he the fact that Mr.. Hesing WAS called as
witness by the defendant in the prosecution
against Nj. Mum. I read the testimony in that
case with care. 1t surely apparent to ordinary
minds, and perfectly transparent to every eaga-
cious mind accustomed to weigh testimony, that
a1r. Hcsings testimony WIS simply unadunerafed
TRUTH He was no volunteer witness. Tic was
compelled by law to tell the truth 1t was his duty
to tell the truth. When the punishment Vt Offend
ers il rendered more severe merely because they
fail to tell the truth when testifYlng in court
great error is committed This testimony had no
features tending to chow that the ofcnses Of which
Mr. aesing had pleaded guilty wcre MOI more 81 aggfa. &
demands the exercise Of Executive clemency in
behalf OF Mr.. Hesins- Respectfully,
T. LYLE D1CKET.