Lot 64
[George III] Murder Pardon By Writ of Privy Seal (1738-1820) King of Great Britain and Ireland (1760-1820). Enormous vellum document given By Writ of Privy Seal, 39 x 28 in. (framed to 47½ x 36½ in.) with a 5½ in. Privy Seal in a 6½ in. velvet-covered holder attached, "Westminster the twenty-seventh day of December in the twenty-first year of our Reign." Beautiful calligraphic script. A portrait of George III is enclosed within the large "G" of "George" at top left. A decorative border goes across the top and center and down both margins. The document refers to "the session of Oyer and Terminer held for Us at Maidstone…in the seventh day of August in the twentieth year of our Reign" at which William Houry Turton and Luke West, both of the county of Chatham, were accused of "being moved…by the Instigation of the Devil" to murder one Charles Gutherson: "…with a certain sword made of iron and steel…and upon the right breast of Charles Gutherson did strike and thrust…."
Turton was sentenced "to suffer Death" and West was acquitted of felony and murder. "But Whereas several favorable circumstances were represented on behalf of William Houry Turton…Now know ye that we being moved with Compassion have Pardoned Remitted and Released….the said William Houry Turton…[by] these our Letters Patent of Pardon." The script is somewhat light toward the end of the document and the docket at lower left is very faint. This is the first such pardon that we have seen. Fantastic eye appeal.
The provenance of this document makes it even more interesting. On May 17, 1954, in the case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, the United States Supreme Court, handed down a decision that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional, but many states were slow to implement the ruling. In February 1970, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Alfred Gitelson (1908-1992) found that the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education had engaged in systematic and intentional de jure segregation of the school system and ordered the Board to devise and implement a desegregation plan by fall of 1971. The plan was busing and it was so unpopular that Judge Gittelson was voted out of office because of his ruling. This document was owned by Judge Gittelson.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 5,000.
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