Civil War-dated partly-printed document, three pages, 8.5 x 7, September 23, 1863. Document issued by the "New York County Substitute and Relief Committee," being a "Certificate in favor of Drafted Member in Indigent Circumstances, showing that he has obtained a Substitute and that he is entitled to have the Money therefore paid by the Comptroller." The certificate affirms Robert McCormack as the draft substitute for Arthur Glynn, who is “in indigent circumstances and has a family wholly depending on him for support.” Signed at the conclusion by Mayor George Opdyke, Comptroller Matthew Brennan, and two supervisors. In fine condition.
The document includes two affixed receipts indicating that McCormack was paid the requisite $300 substitute charge, both of which either mention or are signed by Theodore Allen, ostensibly the noted New York area saloon keeper, criminal, and former butcher's boy for the notorious Bill ‘the Butcher’ Poole. In 1864 he was arrested for participating in a ‘bounty swindling’ fraud scheme, in which men accepted cash bounties for voluntarily enlisting in the Union Army under assumed names before absconding to repeat the process and collect more money. Allen drew a revolver and attempted to shoot the arresting officer, but the gun failed to fire. Allen was later released and was never convicted for the alleged offenses.
