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The men attend the same church, where Black teaches one of Collier's three children in Sunday School. When Collier lost part of a leg in a farming accident several years ago, Black was among those keeping vigil at the hospital. To him, the prosecution of Collier never made sense. "Everybody down here feels he was taken advantage of by a bunch of slick-tongued lawyers and prosecutors," Black said. So Black and other supporters began writing letters seeking a pardon. Several months ago, U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway contacted Black and requested the full story. Hanaway had been asked by a pardon attorney for the Department of Justice for input about the possibility of a pardon. Hanaway said she spoke with federal prosecutors familiar with the case, with the judge, even with people in the Charleston area who know Collier. "By all accounts ... he is a pillar of the community down there," she said. Collier said he didn't hear anything else until Monday. He feels vindicated and relieved his name is cleared. "What happened really was regretful," Collier said. "I'd always be really excited to see a bald eagle. It sure never entered into my head I might kill some."
[Associated
Press;
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