Manuscript 1 - Page 14

3 Month 25^th 1845

Laurens St who would be willing to give him a home till he can get into business, but is afraid that his character would suffer by entertaining a person who had been a convict in the State Prison. He applies for assistance. Not having brought any recommendation or testimonial of his good conduct while at Sing Sing from any officers there, I informed him that I would immediately write to some of them and requested him to call in two or three days.

26^th

Samuel B Russell about twenty years and 6 months old was born in New Hampshire and removed to this city with his parents about eight years ago, where they now reside. It is said his parents are respectable, but very poor. He was convicted in this City of grand larceny on the 12th of 3 mo: 1844 and sentenced to Sing Sing for four years and 6 months – and was discharged the 21st inst, having been pardoned by the Governor, on the ground that he was innocent of the offence of which he was convicted, and of good conduct while in prison. Richard H Manning is acquainted with the family and corroberates the foregoing statement. Samuel is a Shoemaker and wants employment which he can procure if he can get a set of tools. There seems to be a fair prospect that in future he will be more carefull [sic] of his company and pursue a life of honest industry. For although innocent of the crime of which he was convicted, his associates, previous to his incarceration, were amongst the dissolute and vicious. It is believed that his conviction was effected in consequence of his not having suitable legal assistance. Soon after the trial, circumstances were developed that satisfied the Court of his innocence and they joined in an application to the Executive for a pardon. From the account given by Russell’s mother it would seem that the prosecutor expected to extort money from him or his friends, but when he found that he could not succeed in that object, he also joined in a petition for a pardon. Russell’s parents have expended all the money they could command in obtaining his release. I have