Two letters and a sworn statement from C. M. Thomas, W. A. M. Hemy, and A. J. Shipman to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn; January 5, 1871

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Two letters and a sworn statement from C. M. Thomas, W. A. M. Hemy, and A. J. Shipman to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn; January 5, 1871

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Document Metadata

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People

Alcorn, J. L. (James Lusk), 1816-1894 Allgood, Unknown Ames, Unknown Hewson, H. F.McGinnis, Unknown McHenry, W.McNeese, A. N.Shipman, A. J.Thomas, C. M.Turner, William Whitesides, Lewis

Events

Crime Crime--Jail Escapes Criminal Procedure--Imprisonment

Organizations and Businesses

Jails Mississippi. Executive Department Plantations

Occupations

Justices of the peace Physicians Plantation overseers Police Prison Guard Secretaries Sheriffs

Places

Alabama Columbus (Miss.)Jackson (Miss.)Macon (Miss.)Noxubee County (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

African Americans Criminal Status--Imprisoned people Historically free and newly freed African Americans

Page 1

Macon Miss. Jan 5^th 1871

I do hereby certify that I am satisfied in my mind from information re-cieved from a Colored boy now living on my plantation and who was a prisoner in Jail at the time, that the boy who was said to have been taken from the Jail of this County by disguised men, was not so taken, but made his escape by jumping from the window of said Jail

Respectfully

C M Thomas

To Gov Alcorn
Jackson Miss.

Page 2

[illegible: page folded]iff's Office,
Macon, Noxubee Co., Miss Jany 5^th 1871—

His Excellency
James. L. Alcorn Gov. & etc
Jackson Miss

Sir:—

Mr Hewson's dispatch in reference to a prisoner having been taken from my Jail by Alabamians with my consent was received at 7 P. M yesterday. I send you the affidavits of the "Guards" on duty at the time of the escape. In addition I send you statement of Ex Sheff. Thomas. As to the charge of men taking the prisoner from Jail with the Knowledge of myself, Deputies, or Guards, it is so insignificant I scarcely know what to say. A policeman of our town by the name of McGinnis told me he believed some white men knew of the prisoner's character and they had forced the Guard to give him up. I immediately investigated the

Page 3

charge and found it utterly false. McGinnis then through the instrumentally of Allgood & Ames. Set about to inform your excellency of what he believed about the matter—McGinnis was picked up as a defunct policeman from Columbus and placed on duty at Macon.

My services have sought to condense the Cloud of adversity that hung over me—(by these false reports) but I feel that the gloom is gradually giving—way before the sunlight of Justice

Respty Your Obt Servt

W M^cHenry

Page 4

The State of Mississippi
Noxubee County

Personally came this day before me A. J. Shipman an acting justice of the Peace in & for said County. A. N M^cNeese and Lewis Whitesides who being by me first duly sworn deposeth that on about the 28^th day of December AD 1870 a certain man by name Dr W^m Turner was committed to jail by the Justice of the Peace and on sunday night the 1^st day of January AD 1871 they were acting as guards around the Jail, and some two hours before day this prisoner made his escape from the jail by jumping out of the window from the second Story of the building and ran off. There was no person present at the Time, he was not taken out of Jail nor did he make his escape by the door, nor with the Knowledge of the Sheriff any deputy or guard.

A. N. McNees
Lewis X ^his X mark^ Whiteside

Sworn to & Subscribed before me this 5^th day of January AD 1871

A. J. Shipman [seal]
Justice of the Peace

Page 5

PRECIS.
[gap]

No'. [gap]

Executive Office,
State of Mississippi,
County of Noxubee

From A J Shipman
Address [gap]
Dated Jan 5 71
Received [gap]
Answered [gap]

Relative to the escape of D^r W^m Turner from jail Testimony of several parties also letter from M^c Hemy Sheriff

JAMES L. ALCORN,
Governor.

H. F. Hewson,
Private Secretary.