Evening journal., 1899-07-17
VANDEGRIFT S REPLIES
Text of His Two Letters to
Colonel L. T. Cooper.
ARE RELATIVE TO The PARDON

HE FIRMLY REFUSED TO RECON-
MEND THE PARDON. AND GAVE
THE PRISONER HIS REASONS
FOR so DoING-THE COLONEL
MADB TWO APPEALS.
An Evening Journal reporter to-day
obtained copies Of the two letters
which ex-United States District Attor-
ney Lewis c. vandegrift wrote to Col
onel Ezekiel T. Cooper relative to
recommendation for a pardon.
On June 10 Colonel Cooper wrote to
Mr.. yandegrift, asking him to recon-
mend his pardon so that the papers in
his case might go before President Nc
Kinley for his consideration. This let
ter he placed in the hands Of Recorder
of Deeds James Lord, who gave it to
Mr. Vandegrift
Eight days later Mr. Vandegrift sent
to Colonel Cooper the following reply:
Wilmington. Del, June 81, 1899.
Colonel Il. T. Cooper, N. J. State
Prison, Trenton. N. J.
Dear Sir: Your letter OF June 10
was handed 20 me by Mr.. Lord. and
had delayed answering because OF my
| desire 10 give your request therein
made the fullest consideration.
"At the time the length OF your SEN
tence was under consideration I agreed
with your counsel that so far as my
advice 10 the court was concerned |
would cooperate with them to have
the same fixed at eighteen months, and
i'm this endeavor we were successful
This length of time was the lowest
that could conscientiously agree
upon. and | did this only from a con-
sidefatlon Of all the reasons that could
possibly be urged In your favor.
IL may say that my previous knowl-
edge of you and our relations in the
lpast, these considerations were known
to me without being urged by others,
and If could should have been glad
70 have advocated that the term be still
less.
"You now ask me TO recommend to
the pardon power a further reduction
Of your term OF service, but under
the circumstances above stated ! do
not believe it would be right for me
( to make such recommendation.
: "To do SO, IL seems TO me, would be
I'm effect saying that you had been
lunjustly convicted and sentenced, and
this. you may realize II would be i'm
r possible for me TO do
e CAS- / am now and always have been
=, willing TO do anything in your behalf
that / could with propriety to agair
reduce the term beyond the Lowest
70 limit, that I thought, and still think
8 Il ought to be reduced in justice to al
!. interest concerned would not, in my
, Judgment. be a proper thing for me e
do.
IF executive clemency We're neees
e sary i'm order to affect your citizenship
r I would. after your term was up, D'
O glad to take into consideration th'
o advisability Of recommending its in
terposition.
3 II don't. however, believe your citi
{ zenship is affected, and the only ad
el vantage q pardon would now be to yol
J. would be IN curtailing for a few week
the term Of your imprisonment.
70 ''You will probably not realize HOY
hard Il Is for me to refuse your re
quest. but from the standpoint fror
which I regard my duty in the prem
ises It is impossible for me to &C
otherwise. Yours truly,
q. LEWIS c. VANDEGRlFT." !"
i This letter did not satisfy Colon'
B. Cooper. and he made one more ehoI
to move Mr.. vandegrift in his behal
y on July ] he wrote a letter and mai
Y ed It. Next day 1t reached Mr.. Vand'
grift, and on the day following the col
le respondence between the two term
= mated. the former district attorne
making this conclusive reply:
,. wilmington, Del, July 3, 1893.
m Colonel Il. T. Cooper, New Jerse
u State Prison, Trenton, n. }.
~ Dear Sir: Your letter OF July
al hand. and | appreciate the view
YOU therein express, especially yo'
appreciatlon OF what must be my col
,n eeotion of my duty in the premises.
Is "At the same time l had your pr
su vions letter under consideration 1 I
=" ceived a request from the paruohi
attorney for my recommendation al
ss for answer thereto l enclosed MN
a copv of the letter had just WRITE
on you. ,-,,-.. .
on II have only the lzindest feelings I
Won. but my conclusions as therein G
of pressed are what 1 conceive as requir
ley nv INV oath Of office and by my du
ng In 4he premises. Yours truly
Ike " sLEWIs C. VANDERBILT
It was then decided to take steps
he induce Colonel DUPONT to see Pre-
Dol dent Mckinley and urge him TO Sc
.na ol for the papers on file in the Depa'
he ment Of Justice, but, before anythi
ON could be accomplished along this III
Colonel Cooper died.
ool
to- RETURNED FROM WASHINGTON