Petition of Captain Caleb for pardon., October 25, 1883
Petition of Captain Caleb for pardon.
Mr. Secretary of Justice:
George Caleb, a native of the State of Massachusetts, United States of America, and a citizen thereof, respectfully represents: That in December of the year last past he came to Lower California in command of the American schooner Adriana, of which he was a part owner, in the acquisition of which he had invested the savings of years and had pledged his credit, and that on his first voyage he was arrested, with his vessel, in Mexican waters, accused of smuggling, imprisoned, tried, convicted, and sentenced to lose his vessel and to five years’ imprisonment, after having expended for the maintenance of the crew of his vessel the freight which he had earned.
It would be useless to recapitulate the facts which have brought me to the prison in which I am languishing and perishing, and besides, to do so I should have to criminate others, and thus, besides being a prisoner, I should become an informer.
But, sir, I am fifty-six years of age. I have a family to support. I have lost everything I possessed, besides my credit, and the ten months imprisonment which I have suffered has reduced me to such a miserable state of health, that the doctors (who generally give hope to their patients) will not say that I will recover.
The ends which the legislator had in view have been sufficiently answered by the severe punishment which I am suffering, without its being aggravated by the death to which I shall be exposed if I am kept in prison during the whole time to which I have been sentenced, and I have faith that the President will look with humane eyes upon my position, and will exercise the holy prerogative which the law gives him to pardon offenses committed against the federal laws.
I beg you to pardon me for the smuggling committed in December of the year last passed in transporting goods from the schooner Adriana, in the bay of Pulmo, to Los Frailes, in Lower California, and that I may receive the mercy and pardon which I implore.