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Question: Old Wild West Story - Presidential Pardon, help me find it, please!?
I heard this story and I want to find a reputable source and read it!.

A man robbed a train and killed a man in the process!. He was sentenced to be hung!.

The president at the time (Chester Arthur I think) gave him a presidential pardon!.

Incidentally, the man who had been pardoned hated the president and refused!.

The supreme court had to review the case and decided that the power of the pardon comes from the receiver of the pardon!.

Therefore, the man was hung!.

Anybody know this story or can find it!? I'm 95% sure it's true, but I looked through the internet and couldn't find it!.

Thanks!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
During the presidency of Andrew Jackson, George Wilson, a postal clerk, robbed a federal payroll from a train and in the process killed a guard!. The court convicted him and sentenced him to hang!. Because of public sentiment against capital punishment, however, a movement began to secure a presidential pardon for Wilson (first offense), and eventually Jackson intervened with a pardon!.

Amazingly, Wilson refused it!. Since this had never happened before, the Supreme Court was asked to rule on whether someone could indeed refuse a presidential pardon!. Chief Justice John Marshall handed down the court's decision: "A pardon is a parchment whose only value must be determined by the receiver of the pardon!. It has no value apart from that which the receiver gives to it!. George Wilson has refused to accept the pardon!. We cannot conceive why he would do so, but he has!. Therefore, George Wilson must die!." George Wilson, as punishment for his crime, was hanged!. Pardon, declared the Supreme Court, must not only be granted, it must be accepted!.
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