Letter from J. M. Howry to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 18, 1860

Documents
Letter from J. M. Howry to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 18, 1860

Document Network
Document Metadata

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

People

Bryant, Boyd F.Howry, James M.Neilson, W. S.Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867

Events

Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Clemency Criminal Procedure--Pardon Wars and Military Conflicts--Seminole War, 2nd, 1835-1842

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Criminal Juries

Places

Mississippi--Lafayette County. Oxford Mississippi--Pontotoc County Mississippi--Tallahatchie County

Social Identifiers

Imprisoned people Military Families

Page 1

My Dear Governor, [gap] Oxford 18 March

The appeal made to you for the exercise of the pardoning power in favor of Boyd F. Bryant of Tallahatchie County, by hundreds of his acquaintances in Tallahatchie & Pontotoc counties has come to my knowledge.

I have ^read^ the statements & accompanying affidavits thereto, and am personally acquainted with most of the signers, and I very cheerfully unite ^with^ the petitioners in appealing to your Excellency for his pardon,

I have known M^r Bryant for about 20 years—He resided for along time within 20 miles of this place—He is an industrious, energetic & respectable man & was dealing with a desperate man when he got into the difficulty. [gap] I am satisfied that Bryant did not regard his case as one of a serious nature, & was taken much by surprise (as were The community) when the testimony of the single witness against him was disclosed to the jury. [gap] I will not attempt to enumerate the points involved in the merits of his application but will simply say to your excellency

Page 2

that I know many of the signers to the petition are moral & law abiding men; & would not attempt to shield a guilty convict from punishment if they ~~did not~~ believed he deserved it.

I would not press this application for your clemency did I not believe you ought to exercise it. You will gratify a whole community & with so few exceptions, that it amounts about to unanimity, if you grant this pardon.

If I could see you, I would plead for his release & would urge many reasons which I have not time to write [therin?],

I refer you to the letter of Mr Neilson who was a fellow soldier with him in the Florida War,

M^r Neilson is My Brother in law.

your friend
J. M. Howry