Letter from Owen McGarr to R. J. Mathews; June 6, 1870

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Letter from Owen McGarr to R. J. Mathews; June 6, 1870

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Each transcribed document contains links that connect it to other documents on the same topic in the collection.

People

Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Booth, W. R.Coleman, Minor Mathews, R. J.McGarr, Owen Shackelford, Unknown

Events

Crime Crime--Murder Criminal Procedure--Acquittals Criminal Procedure--Imprisonment Criminal Procedure--Pardon Criminal Procedure--Release Trial

Organizations and Businesses

Jury Mississippi. Executive Department

Occupations

Judges Lawyers Public prosecutors

Places

Jackson (Miss.)Vicksburg (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

Criminal Status--Imprisoned people

Vital Statistics

Death

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[seal]

[note] Minor Coleman N^o 380 [/note]

N^o 380

Vicksburg, June 6^th,, 1870

Mr R. J. Mathews
Jackson,

D^r Sir,

Yours of the 4^th,, inst., in relation to Minor Coleman, has been received. I was his counsel upon the trial of the case before Judge Shackelford, and thought, upon the evidence addressed, that he should have been acquitted. Subsequently, some time during the year 1868, Iprepared a petition to that then Gov-ernor, Gen. Ames, with the view of obtaining the pardon of Coleman. The petition was Signed by nine or ten of the jury who tried him, and was endorsed by the District attorney who prose-cuted, W R Booth, of this city The petition con-tained a full Statement of the facts as developed at the trial, and went to show pretty clearly that the killing by Coleman was accidental. I had no doubt at the time that a proper case was present-ed for a pardon and felt confident that one would be printed, but for some reason Genl. Ames declined to interpose. The application to Ames should

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be on file in the Executive office, and on Exam-ination of it will inform the committee of the merit of the case. The petition was presented during the summer of 1868, and I doubt not, can be found upon search in the Executive office. I could state the substance of the Evi-dence, the statement contained in the pe-tition, having been written out when the facts were fresh in the memory of all connected with the trial, will afford the most satis-factory history of the case, and are there preserved in an authentic form, being vouched for by the jury and the District at-torney.

I think Coleman deserves a pardon. He has already been in confinement for the act more than three years. I don't think I ever heard of a case that presented stronger grounds for a pardon, and if Genl Ames had been actuated by his own convictions, doubtless he would have pardoned the accused. Ihope the committee will Examine into the matter thor-oughly and if they do so, Iam convinced the_y will recommend Coleman's release. Any fur-ther information in my possession will be furnished the committee

Respectfully

Owen M^cGarr