Letter from Thomas Reed to R. J. Mathews; June 9, 1870

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Letter from Thomas Reed to R. J. Mathews; June 9, 1870

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People

Carter, Jim Jones, Unknown Mathews, R. J.Reed, Thomas Smiley, Unknown

Events

Crime Crime--Theft Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Amnesty Criminal Procedure--Convicted Criminal Procedure--Imprisonment Criminal Procedure--Release Criminal Procedure--Trial Legislation. United States. Congress

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Circuit Courts Courts and Judicial Systems--Criminal Juries Mississippi--State Penitentiary (Jackson)United States--Congress

Occupations

Legal Profession--Judges Legal Profession--Lawyers

Places

Mississippi--Jefferson County. Fayette

Social Identifiers

African Americans

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[seal]

Law Office of REED & JONES,
Fayette, Miss., June 9' 1870

R. J. Mathews Esq

D^r Sir'

[Yr?] [offr?] making enquires about the case of Jim Carter cld, convicted at our last Cir' Court & sent to the Penitentiary for One Year, [?]' rec'd, The Evidence in his case was uncertain, in this, "The prosecutor proved the loss of a Mule, but failed to positively indentify the mule that Jim was seen riding, as the Mule he had stolen from th^em, ^prosecutor,^ The circumstances attending the having a mule in his (Jim's) possession, were the only grounds upon which the Jury could have claimed the right to find their verdict There was 10 col'd & two white on the Jury.

(I do not think that under the law there was a sufficient identification of the stolen Mule to convict,) & I moved for a new trial upon want of evidence, & because

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the Court had no Jurisdiction, The Judge Smiley had not taken the oath, & filed the Same in State Department as required, by the Act of Congress admitting the State of Mississippi. See Act of Congress passed 28' Feb, 1870, My opinion is that he is in custody without cause, & ought to be reprieved.

Yr Ob. svt,

Tho,^s Reed

N^o. 2,

Jim—Carter
N^o 2

Thos Reed
Atty
Fayette