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Pardon for manslaughter signed by California Governor John B. Weller

 Collection
Identifier: MG 5754

Scope and Contents

Pardon issued by California Governor John B. Weller to Reuben Bessey, convicted of manslaughter in 1855 in Tuolumne County.

Reuben Bessey was born in Massachusets in 1816. Bessey may have gone to California during the gold rush. He served two years in prison for the killing of I. N. Issgrig in a brothel in the town of Columbia. The pardon was issued subsequent to Bessey's release from prison in 1857. It was signed by Governor Weller and attested to by Secretary of State Ferris Forman in 1858.

After his pardon Bessey moved to a gold mining camp in Warrens, Idaho, where he was a member of the party that first discovered gold there. Bessey was a fiddler in a dance band that played at Charles Bemis's saloon in Warrens. He died in 1898.

Dates

  • Creation: 1858

Language of Materials

This manuscript is in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to the public. Researchers must use the collection in accordance with the policies of the University of Idaho Special Collections and Archives.

Extent

1 item : bifolium ; 12 1/4 x 7 1/4 inch

Abstract

Pardon issued by California Governor John B. Weller to Reuben Bessey, convicted of manslaughter in 1855 in the town of Columbia, Tuolumne County, CA.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Special Collections and Archives of the University of Idaho Library purchased this manuscript from Ian Brabner Bookseller, Wilmington, Delaware, in February 2013.

Processing Information

Processed in March 2013.

Title
Guide to the Pardon for manslaughter signed by California Governor John B. Weller1858
Author
Finding aid prepared by Laura Guedes
Date
© 2013
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latn
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives Repository