Mr. Seward to Sir
F. Bruce
Department of State, Washington,
June 21, 1866.
Sir: I have the honor to invite your attention
to the petition of Mrs. Sarah O’Malia, of Louisville, Kentucky, who
states that her husband, Patrick O’Malia, a naturalized citizen of the
United States, was carried away by the Fenians while on a spree and was
subsequently captured near Fort Erie by the Canadian authorities. I
presume he is now held in custody in Canada. Upon this assumption and
the distress occasioned by the occurrence to his family, I am induced to
commend the petition to your kind consideration, and its subject to the
clemency of her Majesty’s authorities.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
obedient servant,
The Hon. Sir Frederick W. A. Bruce, &c., &c., &c.
Mrs. O’Malia to Mr. Seward
Louisville,
Kentucky,
June 18, 1866.
Commonwealth of Kentucky, County of Jefferson:
Your petitioner, Sarah O’Malia, would respectfully represent to you
that her husband, Patrick O’Malia, is a citizen of the United
States, born in Ireland; that he served in the Union army during the
late war of the rebellion.
She states that he recently went from Louisville, Kentucky, with an
expedition into Canada, and was captured by the Canadians near Fort
Erie.
She states that her said husband had no arms in his hands (as she is
informed) when in Canada or when captured, and that he did n( t
belong to the Fenians, but was taken away by them while on a spree,
having been made drunk by them for that purpose.
She states that she is very poor and entirely dependent, and that she
wishes to know whether the United States will interfere in behalf of
one of its citizens in this state of case.
Humbly petitioning, she subscribes herself
His Excellency William H. Seward, Secretary of State of the United
States.
