Details:

William Howard Taft autographed handwritten legal letter (ALS) on engraved Hamilton County Solicitor’s Office letterhead, dated September 18, 1885, Cincinnati, Ohio, addressed to the Honorable Board of Commissioners of Hamilton County. In this early and uncommon legal manuscript, Taft—then serving as Assistant County Solicitor—formally recommends rejection of a damages claim filed by Pardon M. Bowen, who sought compensation for injuries to his horse and buggy allegedly caused by a defective bridge spanning the Little Miami River at Remington.

Taft’s letter demonstrates his methodical legal reasoning, citing precedent from a prior, similar case in which the County Commissioners of Hamilton County were found not liable for such damages. He concludes that the present claim should likewise be denied, offering a clear window into Taft’s early career as a careful, precedent-driven legal mind.

Accompanying the Taft ALS is a related handwritten letter dated October 31, 1885, submitted on behalf of Pardon M. Bowen by his attorney, formally reiterating the damages claim in the amount of $100 and describing the unsafe bridge condition. On the verso of this accompanying document appears a period pencil docket in Taft’s own hand, summarizing the matter as: “Claim of P. Bowen / by N. McLean / Atty. / Damages for injury / to horse on unsafe bridge.” 

Together, these two documents form a cohesive legal archive illustrating both sides of a late 19th-century county infrastructure dispute, anchored by Taft’s handwritten legal analysis and annotations.

Fine condition.

William Howard Taft (1857–1930) served as the 27th President of the United States and later as the 10th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court—the only individual in American history to hold both offices. Prior to his national prominence, Taft built his reputation as a disciplined and principled legal professional in Ohio. Documents from this early period are scarce and highly sought after, particularly those reflecting substantive legal work rather than ceremonial correspondence. This example stands as a strong and illustrative early Taft ALS, showcasing the foundations of the judicial temperament that would later define his historic career.

Authentication:
Includes a full letter of authenticity from JG Autographs, Inc.

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Reference sku: 11364 1414020-1