News Local/State

Quinn Issues Posthumous Pardons For 3 Abolitionists

By The Associated Press
 

Gov. Pat Quinn has granted clemency to more than 100 people, including posthumous pardons for three Illinois abolitionists found guilty of working on the Underground Railroad. 

The three granted Wednesday weren't part of the thousands of requests awaiting the Chicago Democrat who leaves office next month. Among those, he granted 99 requests and denied 208 for cases dating to 2008.

The crimes included burglary and forgery.
 
Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon pushed for the posthumous pardons. Her office worked on them with state historians and legal interns as a special project.

The pardons were granted to Richard Eells of Quincy and Julius and Samuel Willard of Jacksonville, who were convicted more than 170 years ago.
 
Overall, Quinn has acted on over 4,000 clemency petitions, granting 1,520.

He leaves office Jan. 12 when Republican Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner is sworn in.