Maryland State Archives SECRETARY OF STATE (Pardon Papers) 1837-1947, 1848.  MSA S1031, MdHR 5401-44,  2/46/2/4.

Transcript of petition from the jury recommending that the governor pardon Ann Matthews:

"To His Excellency
        P. Francis Thomas
                Gov. of Maryland, --

"The undersigned jurors in the matter of the State against Mrs. Ann Matthews charged with having on the 12th day of October 1847 enticed a slave to run away from her master, beg most respectfully to recommend unto the most merciful consideration of your excellency the application for the Traversor's pardon.  We know of no case which appeals more forcibly to the sympathies of every feeling and humane heart.  The Traversor is an aged lone woman to incarcerate whom in the penitentiary can not but be attended with consequences peculiarly painful and distressing.

"Although, in our judgement this case was one not strictly within the policy of the Law or the intention of the Legislature yet under the comprehensive terms employed
in the Act of 1843 under which she was indicted we felt the duty to convict imperative.  We, however, in view of all the circumstances in the case accompanied our
verdict with a recommendation to mercy.

"It was in evidence before us that the slave did not run away; that the accused is no abolitionist, or in any way hostile to the Institution of Slavery, or in any manner
concerned with any person or persons disposed to interfere with the relation of master and slave as it exists in Maryland.

"We therefore hope and trust that in view of these facts and in consideration of the time of life to which the prisoner has advanced and the welfare of an only daughter whom the confinement of the mother would be a most distressing and humiliating affliction, Your Excellency may deem it compatible with your public duty to interpose and in mercy save this little family from the ruin and disaster that must inevitably follow the execution of the hard sentence which the law pronounces against her."

Signed Wm E Wright Foreman
and the 11 other jurors.