ALS

1855. Wood was the notoriously corrupt ‘copperhead’ mayor of New York city, whose term of office was marked by gang riots and corruption in the police force. His second term re-election was due to the actions of the New York gang the Dead Rabbits, who took names from the city cemeteries and added them to the voter rolls. Dean (1817-90) was a lawyer from New York; in 1855, shortly after this letter was written, he was appointed justice of the Supreme Court of New York by the governor. Wood writes the president to request that he has Dean appointed as District attorney. Apparently this letter was successful. Though there is no evidence that Dean was a corrupt judge, one would imagine that Wood would only make such a strong appeal for someone who somehow served his interests.

“It is the earnest wish of my friends in this city & especially of myself that you will confer the appt. of US District Attorney for this district upon the Hon. Gilbert Dean. Mr. Dean is a gentleman of ability, of large professional & political experience & a summit of sound national principles. . . . I shall most officially deem it a personal favor . . .”.