Entertainment & Vices--Drug and Alcohol Consumption and Intoxication · Civil War and Reconstruction Governors of Mississippi · Civil War and Reconstruction Governors of Mississippi

Letter from J. S. Morris to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; July 13, 1868

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Ames Collection. Letter from J. S. Morris, attorney at law in Jackson, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames, writing about solicitation of executive clemency for Samuel Hughes, a freedman convicted of rape.

Fragment of letter to O. H. Crandall; August 17, 1869

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Ames Collection. Fragment of a letter from the sheriff's office of Washington County, Mississippi, to O. H. Crandall, detailing the killing of William Copeland by Edmund Rogers. (Only first page of the letter is present).

Letter from William Handlon to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; September 12, 1869

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Ames Collection. Letter from William Handlon, a prisoner at the Mississippi State Penitentiary, to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames, describing the events leading to his incarceration for manslaughter and request for clemency.

Depositions from Harriet Cook, L. Perkins, and Melinda Townsend to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; January 13, 1870

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Ames Collection. Depositions of Harriet Cook, L. Perkins, and Melinda Townsend of Yalobusha County, Mississippi, witnessed by C. C. Johnston and sworn before Mayor and Justice of the Peace William Price, to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames, attesting to the drunkenness of a Judge E. Gifford and his alleged "proposals to lie with" Melinda Townsend. (Depositions are enclosed documents mentioned in mdah_784-968-11-06).

Letter from O. Metcalfe to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; June 4, 1860

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from O. Metcalfe in Natchez, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus asking for a pardon for Mr. Perry who was convicted of simple assault.

Letter from W. A. Anderson to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; June 20, 1860

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from W. A. Anderson in Vicksburg, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus giving facts about the case of F. J. Scalland who was convicted of larceny.

Letter from A. W. Stokes to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; April 21, 1861

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from A. W. Stokes in Hernando, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus requesting a pardon for Jesse D. Willeford, convicted of assault with intent to kill.

Letter from Constantine Rea to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; June 11, 1861

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from Confederate Captain Constantine Rea at Marion, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor John Jones Pettus concerning a group of his men who deserted while at Fort Pickens, Florida.

Letter from John M. Jones, Jr. to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; October 2, 1861

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from John M. Jones, Jr. concerning a gun that he wants shipped to Memphis, Tennessee.

Letter from William Vannerson to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; October 10, 1861

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from William Vannerson at Monticello, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus requesting a pardon for Jamison Dismukes, who was convicted of allegedly shooting Robert De Shelter.

Letter from John W. Thompson to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; December 11, 1861

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from John W. Thompson in Ripley, Mississippi, requesting that a forfeiture bond against D. B. Wright be waived.

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

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from John B. Nevett in Natchez, Mississippi, requesting a pardon for Patrick Fitzgerald, an inmate at the Mississippi State Penitentiary.

Letter from Charles Campbell to Mr. Lamkin, March 1, 1862

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from Charles Campbell at the penitentiary in Jackson, Mississippi, to Mr. Lamkin requesting a pardon so that he can join the Confederate Army.

Letter from J. Drane to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; October 3, 1862

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from J. Drane at Bankston, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus, concerning W. H. Bowen, who was arrested by Confederate General Tilghman for allegedly giving alcohol to soldiers.

Letter from Captain J. B. Vance to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; January 12, 1863

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from Captain J. B. Vance, Commander of Company E, 2nd Mississippi Cavalry at Liberty, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus concerning two of his men arrested for allegedly stealing and desertion.

Letter from S. M. Meek to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; February 16, 1864

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Clark Collection. Letter from S. M. Meek at the District Attorney's office in Columbus, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark, giving the facts of the conviction of M. Joice and others of burglary and larceny.

Letter from L. Julienne to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; July 21, 1864

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Clark Collection. Letter from L. Julienne at Jackson, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark, giving an account of the recent United States Army operation in Jackson, Mississippi.

Letter from Doctor Jno. Brownrigg to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn; January 9, 1871

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from Doctor Jno. Brownrigg at Columbus, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn, informing Alcorn that, despite statements to the contrary, Columbus Mayor David L. Wallace is not drinking. Brownrigg states that Wallace was following Brownrigg's prescription that he have a beer once or twice a day. Included is a note from H. F. Hewson, private secretary to Alcorn, giving an executive summary of Brownrigg's letter.

Letter from James T. Coleman; June 8, 1870

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from James T. Coleman at Vicksburg, Mississippi, replying to an inquiry concerning the case against Parker Lacey. Coleman believes an injustice had been done by the conviction of Lacey, arguing that a companion of Lacey had been swindled out of some money and when Lacey went to recover the money from the alleged swindlers, they had Lacey arrested. Coleman believes that Lacey was convicted because he is an African American man and the alleged swindlers are white, and that Lacey's punishment was far beyond his offense.

Letter from James R. Chalmers to R. J. Mathews; June 9, 1870

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from James R. Chalmers at Austin, Mississippi, to R. J. Mathews, recounting details of the Isaac Franklin case and that he thought for what Franklin was sentenced his going to the Mississippi State Penitentiary was a hardship.

Letter from Thomas McCarren and Geo. B. McNamara to R. J. Mathews; June 9, 1870

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from Thomas McCarren and Geo. B. McNamara to R. J. Mathews. A reply written to Mathews concerning the case of William Hanlan (also known as Michael Hanlan). The letter states that Hanlan and the man whom he was charged with shooting served in the same military unit stationed in Columbus, Mississippi, in August of 1867. Both men were drunk from liquor and got into a quarrel. Hanlan went to his tent to get his rifle and shot Beau, another man, and was then turned over to local authorities in Columbus.

Letter from D. M. Dunlap to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn; March 15, 1871

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from D. M. Dunlap to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn, requesting Alcorn to use his influence to preserve the Sabbath day laws currently in place in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, which seem to keep certain types of businesses closed on the Sabbath. Dunlap states that there is a petition being circulated to be presented to the legislature to this effect.

Letter from William N. Raines to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn; April 2, 1871

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from William N. Raines to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn, concerning the removal of the current sheriff of Newton County, Mississippi. Item attached to this letter is a petition for the removal of the sheriff, signed by William Woodward and several other individuals.

Letter from U. B. Tabor to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn; December 8, 1871

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from U. B. Tabor to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn, writing again to ask for his help with a local establishment that is selling liquors. States that it is hard for him to run his factory due to the local citizens patronization of said drinking shop.

Letter from F. W. Keys to H. F. Hewson; May 23, 1871

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from F. W. Keys, a district attorney in Carroll County, Mississippi, to H. F. Hewson, Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn's private secretary, addressing an accusation against Keys of his excessive drinking, and mentioning that he has not had a drink in several days in his efforts to quit. Included is a note from H. F. Hewson giving a summary of Keys's letter.