Still another incident illustrated the zeal of the President of the United States to win a conviction against Colonel Burr. It will be recalled that Dr. Eric Bollman, the German adventurer, was one of the messengers dispatched to Wilkinson with the fateful letter which Wilkinson later disclosed; that when the conspiracy collapsed Wilkinson arrested him and Swartwout and shipped them east to Washington under arrest on charges of treason. Bollman shortly thereafter went to the President and denied some of the exaggerated charges against Burr that were being published in the newspapers. Bollman’s purpose was to show that the plan did not involve a division of the Union, but only an expedition against Spain. He was received by the President in the presence of Secretary of State James Madison, who listened sympathetically to what he had to say. The President suggested that Bollman put his oral statements in writing, which Bollman did. The German admitted later that, because of his difficulties with the English language, some of his statements may have been misleading. It was his understanding that Mr. Jefferson promised not to use them against him or to let them out of his keeping. Mr. Jefferson appears to have understood differently. As early as May 20 the President wrote Hay that he was sending him some blank pardons that were to be filled out at Hay’s discretion “if you should find a defect of evidence and believe that this could supply it.” However, he cautioned Hay that they were not to be given to gross offenders “unless it be visible that the principal will otherwise escape.” Bollman evidently was regarded by the President as a man whose testimony would be sufficiently important to justify his being given a pardon should he consent to turn State’s evidence. A week after sending the blank pardons to Hay he wrote him that: “If a bill [against Burr] be found and a trial had, his [Bollman’s] evidence is deemed entirely essential, and in that case his pardon is to be produced before he goes to book.” In short, Bollman was to be offered a pardon if he would testify against Burr. But Bollman was not so keen to betray his friend. Hay filled out the pardon; Bollman spurned it. Hay then wrote the President for instructions. “You ask,” replied the President, “what is to be done if Bollman finally rejects his pardon, and the Judge decides it to have no effect. Move to commit him immediately for treason or misdemeanor.” There were times when the mild-mannered “Sage of Monticello” could be tough. At this point the side play was interrupted by the arrival of the Government’s star witness, Major General James Wilkinson, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Army. In the excitement caused by his martial entry the _subpoena duces tecum_ was brushed aside and almost forgotten.