414

The President - Sheet No. 8 - August 22, 1918.

five as to whom the death penalty was imposed in that Case, and the evi-
dence obvicusly justifies the conviction.

My recommendation, therefore, is that the five sentences of
death in the Washington case be confirmed, and that the death sentence in
the case of William D. Boone (Tillman Case) be confirmed, that the remain-
ing ten death sentences in the Tillman Case be commuted to life imprison-
ment, and that this action be taken by you in a comprehensive memorandum
reviewing all the cases, pointing out the gravity of this occurrence, the
propriety of the result in all these cases, and the fact that the action
taken by you as a matter of clemency in the ten cases in which commutation
is granted is not to be regarded as expressive of any doubt on your part
that full justice was done in the trials, but is a recognition of the
fidelity of the race to which these men belong, a recognition of the
valiant military service which colorod sodiers are now rendering in
France, and an expression of your hope that no such incident will ever
again disgrace the military service of the United States.

If these recommendations meet with your general approval, or if
you will indicate to me any modification of them which you desire to make,
I will be glad to prepare for your signature such memoranda and orders as
will carry them into effect.

Respectfully yours,

[Newton Baker?]

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