Letter from J. A. P. Campbell to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; March 8, 1865

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Letter from J. A. P. Campbell to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; March 8, 1865

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People

Anderson, E. H.Campbell, J. A. P.Clark, Charles, 1811-1877

Events

Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Imprisonment Criminal Procedure--Indictments Criminal Procedure--Pardon Criminal Procedure--Sentencing Military Events--Military leaves and furloughs

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems

Occupations

Judges Lawyers Medical Profession Medical Profession--Pharmacists Medical Profession--Physicians Selling--Liquors

Places

Mississippi--Attala County. Kosciusko Mississippi--Madison County

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Kosciusko Miss. March 8"65

Gov. Clark

Dear Sir,

I desire to intercede with you in behalf of Dr E. H. Anderson of Madison Co., who has been sentenced to three months imprisonment for selling liquor to a druggist of this place. Being at home on leave I represented D^r A. in court and after an effort to quash the indictment because it did not aver that dr A. did "Keep for sale spiritous liquors" but only charged an isolated act of sale and therefore did not bring him within the provisions of the law, (Vide 7' Sec) which effort failed, I advised dr a to submit the matter to the discretion of the Court accord-dingly a full statement on oath by Dr A. was made and hearing it the Judge was so impressed with the strength

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of D^r A's claims to favorable Execu-tive consideration as to be willing to give him an opportunity to appeal to you for relief and even to join in his application for pardon.

I have known D^r Anderson from my childhood and bear cheerful testimony to his exemplary life, and am quite sure he was never indicted before; and the act out of which this indictment grew was done with no criminal disregard of the laws or policy of our State whose worthy and faithful citizen he is.

Besides the merits of the application, I would urge on your consideration the worth of the applicant as a correct & upright man, and the fact within my personal knowledge that he is an invalid and not able to endure the penalty of the sentence, I dont say of the law,

for I do not believe that the law affixes to an isolated act of sale by one who does not "Keep for sale spirituous liquors", who is not an hibitual vender of spirits, so severe a penalty.

Pardon my presentation of the legal view of the case. Of course I know that pardon is mercy, not right and I was led ~~only~~ to speak of the legal question ^only^ because I know you to be a lawyer and capable of appreciating it and that the whole matter might be before you.

With sentiments of highest personal and official esteem I beg to subscribe myself as of old

Your friend

J. A. P. Campbell