Letter from H. Murphy and W. L. Walton to R. J. Mathews; June 9, 1870

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Letter from H. Murphy and W. L. Walton to R. J. Mathews; June 9, 1870

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People

Mathews, R. J.Murphy, H.Walton, Isham Walton, W. L.

Events

Crime Crime--Assault and battery Crime--Intent to Kill Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Clemency Criminal Procedure--Indictments Criminal Procedure--Release Criminal Procedure--Sentencing

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Criminal Juries Mississippi--High Court of Errors and Appeals Mississippi--State Penitentiary (Jackson)

Occupations

Clerks Legal Profession--Lawyers Medical Profession Medical Profession--Physicians

Places

Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Monroe County. Aberdeen

Social Identifiers

African Americans African Americans--Historically free and newly freed Criminal Status--Imprisoned people Enslavers

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N^o 98

Aberdeen June. 9. 1870.

R J. Mathews Esq.
Clerk &C,
Jackson Miss

Dr' Sir

Yours to D^r W L Walton the former owner of Isham Walton a Coler d man in the Penitentiary has Just been submitted to Me having been one of the Attorney's for his Defense,

The facts are about this. he was indited for an Assault with intent to Kill—most all the witnesses deposed that he was holding the gun Carlessly when it went off—accidently that he Jumped up at the time and exclaimed that it was an accident—We so thought as attorneys, and would not as we believe been convicted Even by a white Jury but for the bitter and unrelenting prosecu-tion of a white man who was his bitter Enemy—We could have reversed the vidict in the Supreme Court, but he

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was unable to pay us anything in the Court below—and we refused to pay our Expenses at the supreme Court—The Jury Even asked the Clemincy of the Court—and altogether we feel that for this charged crime we believe his punishment unjust.

Verry Respectfuly

H Murphy.

Dr—Sir

Yours to hand. I raised Isham Walton—he was a good Man ordinarily a little high strung—I think any misconduct of Ishams was brought on by a White man in the naborhood—& that at a time when his people knew little of Law. I think his punishment already adequate to any offense committed—and would be pleased to see him released.

Very truly

W L Walton

~~Joshua~~ ^Isham^ Walton
N^o 98