Person Information

Biography

He was sentenced to prison for the crime of arson in the first degree. He participated in the house burning in which Horace B. Conklin was executed. After trying to break out from prison in September 1851, he was set to be executed as well but the community rallied with petitions so Governor Washington Hunt granted him clemency. He was sentenced to life in prison and served his time in Auburn Prison. CCS wrote in 1851 to WHS that she was glad he was granted clemency.

Letter References

Letter from Caroline Canfield Schoolcraft Beattie to William Henry Seward, December 7, 1851

Citations

Biography and Citation Information:
Biography: 
He was sentenced to prison for the crime of arson in the first degree. He participated in the house burning in which Horace B. Conklin was executed. After trying to break out from prison in September 1851, he was set to be executed as well but the community rallied with petitions so Governor Washington Hunt granted him clemency. He was sentenced to life in prison and served his time in Auburn Prison. CCS wrote in 1851 to WHS that she was glad he was granted clemency.
Citation Notes: 
18511207CCS_WHS1
Citation for Birth Info:
Citation Type: 
Newspaper Article
Journal or Newspaper Title: 
The New York Herald
Article Title: 
Life of Orcutt, Convicted of Arson – Commutation of his Punishment
Month: 
December
Day: 
6
Year: 
1851
Start Page: 
Image 7
Citation Notes: 
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030313/1851-12-06/ed-1/seq-7/#date1=11%2F01%2F1851&index=0&date2=12%2F07%2F1851&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&lccn=&words=clemency+Governor&proxdistance=5&state=New+York&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=&andtext=governor+clemency&dateFilterType=range&page=1
Citation for Death Info: