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Lot #126
Franklin D. Roosevelt

FDR and newly-appointed Associate Justice Jackson grant a rare 1941 presidential pardon for a National Prohibition Act violation

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Description

FDR and newly-appointed Associate Justice Jackson grant a rare 1941 presidential pardon for a National Prohibition Act violation

DS as president, one page both sides, 9 x 13.5, July 30, 1941. The pardon reads, in full: “Louis Sabell pleaded guilty in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado to conspiracy (Section 88, Tit le 18, U.S.C.) to violate the National Prohibition Act, and on May fifth, 1932, was sentenced to imprisonment for four months and to pay a fine of Five hundred dollars ($500.00) and to stand committed therefor; and Whereas the said Louis Sabell was received at the County Jail, Denver, Colorado, the designated place of imprisonment, on May fifth, 1932, served his term, and an additional thirty days for nonpayment of the fine; and Whereas the said Louis Sabell was discharged from imprisonment on October fourth, 1932, after taking the oath prescribed under Section 1042, Revised Statutes of the United States; and Whereas it has been made to appear to me that the said Louis Sabell, since his discharge from imprisonment, has been conducting himself in a law-abiding manner:

Now, therefore, be it known, that I, Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, in consideration of the premises, divers other good and sufficient reasons me thereunto moving, do hereby grant unto the said Louis Sabell a full and unconditional pardon for the purpose of restoring his civil rights. In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name and caused the seal of the Department of Justice to be affixed.” Boldly signed at the conclusion by Roosevelt, and countersigned by Attorney General Robert H. Jackson.

In very good condition, with three horizontal folds, one passing through Jackson’s signature, and scattered toning and soiling. The red Department of Justice seal is crisp and intact. Accompanied by three addition forms relating to the pardon.

In 1927 and 1928, Louis Sabell was convicted of twice violating Colorado’s State Prohibition Act and made a plea for “executive clemency” to Governor Carr on July 3, 1941. The governor approved the pardon based on “the said liquor laws was repealed by a vote of the people of this state, and it is no longer a criminal offense to possess or sell intoxicated liquor.” The same day Roosevelt appointed Jackson to replace Associate Justice Stone who assumed the position of chief justice from the retiring Hughes. He was sworn in as the associate justice on July 11, 1941, nineteen days before signing this document. He continued to serve as attorney general until August 25, 1941. In the meantime, FDR sent a special message to Congress on July 30 requesting enactment of a price-control bill to curb inflation as the defense bill soared amidst the Axis threat and the demand for goods at home increased. December 7, 1941 the United States officially entered World War II when the Japanese attached Pearl Harbor; Jackson, still on the court became the chief US prosecutor at the Nuremberg war crimes trials at the conclusion of war. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title:
  • Dates: #381 - Ended January 18, 2012





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