Letter from Justice of the Peace A. R. Howe to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; December 25, 1869

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Letter from Justice of the Peace A. R. Howe to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; December 25, 1869

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

People

Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Crandall, O. H.Howe, A. R.Mattox, George McGowan, Unknown Vance, Unknown

Events

Crime Crime--Rape and Sexual Assault Crime--Shooting Crime--Theft Criminal Procedure--Arrest Criminal Procedure--Escapes Criminal Procedure--Sentencing

Organizations and Businesses

Courts Courts--Circuit Courts Farms Military Districts--4th (Miss.)Mississippi. State Penitentiary (Jackson, Miss.)

Occupations

Constables Judges Justices of the peace Sheriffs

Places

Como (Miss.)Jackson (Miss.)Panola County (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

African Americans Criminal Status--Fugitives from justice Criminal Status--Imprisoned people

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[seal]

Como Panola Co
Dec 25^th 1869

Bvt Maj Gen A. Ames
Commdg 4^th Milt. Dist

Dear Sir

Judge Vance presiding over the last Circuit Court in this county sentenced a batch of prisoners some six in number to the State PEn, at Jackson. Last night hearing that one of them named Geo. Mattox sentenced for one year for the crime of rape ^had escaped and was in the vicinity^ the Constable of this district as in duty bound attempted to arrest him, he fought very hard and succeeded in getting away from the officer.

Later in the night having ascertained his whereabouts, he obtained a posse and caught him, but while on the way, although his hands were tied he managaed to get a club and and with it to Knock the officer (who by the way is an old man) senseless from his horse, stole his pistol from his belt and snapped the same several times at said

A. R. Howe's Letter

This letter answered Dec 31^st 1869

Crandall

Page 2

officer, and then made his Escape going back again to his house

He loudly defied the law &c

One hearing of the occurrence of the night, I immediatly detaild, by virtue of my offices of Magistrate another Constable with posse, and they ~~were~~ are now in pursuit. I offered, on my own responsibility $100 reward for his capture dead or alive, which reward unless you as Governor see fit to authorise, I must pay in the Event of his capture. I feel the importance of his being taken for he has long been known as a desperate man, and since his return has sent word to the family of the girl whom he raped that he had returned and would make them suffer for prosecuting him. He has ~~also~~ stated that all the other five who Sheriff Mcgowan took to Jackson ^with him^ had Escaped and were now in the County. If he is not reptured with at least a portion of the others I fe we shall have a bad condition of affairs, and that the law will be

less respected than Ever before

Hoping to hear from you Son in regard to this matter.

I remain with great personal regard, Yours Truly

A. R. Howe,
Justice of the Peace

P. S.
He, George Mattox stated to the negroes when he returned, that he and the others, "bought their way out" That they had been sent to work on Government farms, picking cotton and from thence had Escaped