To Joshua F. Speed1Jump to section
Executive Mansion,
My dear Speed Washington, March 17. 1863.
I understand a Danville, Illinoisian, by the name of Lyman Guinnip, is under an indictment at Louisville, something about slaves. I knew him slightly. He was not of bad character at home, and I scarcely think he is guilty of any real crime. Please try if you can not slip him through. Yours as ever A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ALS-P, ISLA. No reply from Speed has been found. Lyman Guinnip, a dealer in agricultural implements at Danville, Illinois, had served as colonel of the Seventy-ninth Illinois Volunteers from August 28 to October 17, 1862. He was indicted October 24, 1862, together with one C. G. Bradshaw for aiding a slave to escape; John Smith Speed, brother of Joshua, was foreman of the grand jury. The Circuit Court Order Book No. 9 records the disposal of the case in the May term of court, 1863: ``The defendants having in the three foregoing cases deposited in court thirty-six hundred dollars in lieu of bail for their appearance and having failed to appear and suffered a default on motion of Commonwealth by attorney It is ordered that the Trustee of the jury fund pay over to him one thousand and eighty dollars being the thirty percent damages on said forfeiture which was accordingly done.''