Letter from John B. Nevett to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; February 12, 1862

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Letter from John B. Nevett to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; February 12, 1862

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People

Burne, Unknown Fitzgerald, Patrick McRae. John J., 1815-1868 Nevitt, John B.Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867

Events

Crime Crime--Assault and battery Crime--Bribery Crime--Manslaughter Crime--Murder Criminal Procedure--Convicted Criminal Procedure--Execution Criminal Procedure--Indictments Criminal Procedure--Pardon Trial

Organizations and Businesses

Courts Mississippi. Executive Department Mississippi. Legislature Mississippi. State Penitentiary (Jackson, Miss.)

Occupations

Lawyers

Places

Adams County (Miss.)Natchez (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

Criminal Status--Imprisoned people Nationality--Irish

Vital Statistics

Death

Page 1

[seal]

Natchez Feb. 12th 1862

His Excellency
John J. Pettus

Dear Sir

Some eighteen months before the expiration of your last term of service I had the honor of presenting you a petition signed by the many of our citizens and some of the officers of the court and jury in favor of one Patrick Fitzgerald then, as now, an inmate of the Penitentiary his case was a hard one and one which I was given to suppose you thought—one which was en-titled to executive clemency. I am under the impression you stated to me before your term of service would expire you might or would grant the prayer of the petition but that he had better remain in prison for a longer term. The petition was left or filed in the executive office, If my dear sir my impressions serve me right may I ask your benevolent attention to the subject. I am under the impression I informed Fitzgerald of purport of our interview, advised him to behave himself well and trust in your future benevolence. Have the goodness to entertain the subject when your more important duties will allow. And believe me as ever your old friend

Page 2

and ob^dt svt

John. B. Nevitt

Fitzgerald was tried in Adams County for the crime of murder and sentenced to be Hung, The circumstances of the case are as follows In an Irish row under the hill as this place Fitzgerald and one other man had a dificulty both drunk and a fight in which Fitzgerald killed his opponent—He was indicted and when the trial was called up. at the first time Fitzgerald swore he had a mature ol witness by name of Burn who had been bribed or paid off to reason in [?] and could not safely go to trial, his trial was postponed as the second before of the court he was called up but had not yet got his witness and was tried and sentenced to be hanged, Before the time [?] for him to be hanged, A petition was gotten up to gov^r M^cRae to commute his sentence Gov. M^cRae stated that he had no power to commute But in his benevolence said as the Legislature was in session he would. extend the time for execution for 60 days to give the Legislature time to act, About this time Fitzge=ralds, witness Burns having heard of the convic=tion of Fitzgerald would come to Natchez and the Lawyers who defended Fitzgerald took his deposition which stated, he was present at the killing and that the deceased and his brother both struck Fitzgerald, before he struck the fatal blow this testimony was laid before the Legislature who gave the power to commute to M^cRae your excellency can plainly see that if this testimony could have been given before the jury the case would have been only man-slaughter if not self-defense This is the testimony I have understood and believe was given and laid before the legislature with the petition to give power to commute that paper might be found in the records of the session

John B Nevitt

Page 3

John B. Nevett concerning pardon for Fitzgerald

Feb 1862
John B. Nevett
Pardon for Fitzger-ald