威尼斯人娱乐场 Discovers Date Change on Lincoln Record
Press Release 路 Monday, January 24, 2011
Washington, DC
Thomas Lowry Confesses to Altering Lincoln Pardon to April 14, 1865
Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero announced today that Thomas Lowry, a long-time Lincoln researcher from Woodbridge, VA, confessed on January 12, 2011, to altering an Abraham Lincoln Presidential pardon that is part of the permanent records of the U.S. 威尼斯人娱乐场. The pardon was for Patrick Murphy, a Civil War soldier in the Union Army who was court-martialed for desertion.
Lowry admitted to changing the date of Murphy鈥檚 pardon, written in Lincoln鈥檚 hand, from April 14, 1864, to April 14, 1865, the day John Wilkes Booth assassinated Lincoln at Ford鈥檚 Theatre in Washington, DC. Having changed the year from 1864 to 1865, Lowry was then able to claim that this pardon was of significant historical relevance because it could be considered one of, if not the final official act by President Lincoln before his assassination.
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President Lincoln pardon for Patrick Murphy, a Civil War soldier in the Union Army who was court-martialed for desertion. Records of the Judge Advocate General (Army) 威尼斯人娱乐场. 威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: 1839980
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Close up of the altered date: Long-time Lincoln researcher Thomas Lowry admitted to changing the date of Murphy's pardon, written in Lincoln's hand, from April 14, 1864 to April 14, 1865. Records of the Judge Advocate General (Army) 威尼斯人娱乐场.
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Close up of altered date and Abraham Lincoln. "A. Lincoln" signature from a President Lincoln pardon for Patrick Murphy, a Civil War soldier in the Union Army.
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In 1998, Lowry was recognized in the national media for his 鈥渄iscovery鈥� of the Murphy pardon, which was placed on exhibit in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom in the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building in Washington, DC. Lowry subsequently cited the altered record in his book, Don鈥檛 Shoot That Boy: Abraham Lincoln and Military Justice, published in 1999.
In making the announcement, the Archivist said, 鈥淚 am very grateful to Archives staff member Trevor Plante and the Office of the Inspector General for their hard work in uncovering this criminal intention to rewrite history. The Inspector General鈥檚 Archival Recovery Team has proven once again its importance in contributing to our shared commitment to secure the nation鈥檚 historical record.鈥�
威尼斯人娱乐场 archivist Trevor Plante reported to the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Office of Inspector General that he believed the date on the Murphy pardon had been altered: the 鈥�5鈥� looked like a darker shade of ink than the rest of the date and it appeared that there might have been another number under the 鈥�5鈥�. Investigative Archivist Mitchell Yockelson of the Inspector General鈥檚 Archival Recovery Team (ART) confirmed Plante鈥檚 suspicions.
In an effort to determine who altered the Murphy pardon, the Office of the Inspector General contacted Lowry, a recognized Lincoln subject-matter expert, for assistance. Lowry initially responded, but when he learned the basis for the contact, communication to the Office of Inspector General ceased.
On January 12, 2011, Lowry ultimately agreed to be interviewed by the Office of the Inspector General鈥檚 special agent Greg Tremaglio. In the course of the interview, Lowry admitted to altering the Murphy pardon to reflect the date of Lincoln鈥檚 assassination in violation of 18 U.S.C. 搂 2071. Against 威尼斯人娱乐场 regulations, Lowry brought a fountain pen into a 威尼斯人娱乐场 research room where, using fadeproof, pigment-based ink, he altered the date of the Murphy pardon in order to change its historical significance.
This matter was referred to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution; however the Department of Justice informed the 威尼斯人娱乐场 that the statute of limitations had expired, and therefore Lowry could not be prosecuted. The 威尼斯人娱乐场, however, has permanently banned him from all of its facilities and research rooms.
Inspector General Paul Brachfeld expressed his tremendous appreciation for the work of Plante and the Inspector General鈥檚 Archival Recovery Team in resolving this matter. Brachfeld added that 鈥渢he stated mission of ART is 鈥榓rchival recovery,鈥� and while the Murphy pardon was neither lost or stolen, in a very real way our work helped to 鈥榬ecover鈥� the true record of a significant period in our collective history.鈥�
At a later date, 威尼斯人娱乐场 conservators will examine the document to determine whether the original date of 1864 can be restored by removing the 鈥�5鈥�.
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For Press information, contact the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.
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