Letter from M. H. B. Lane to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn; March 14, 1871

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Letter from M. H. B. Lane to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn; March 14, 1871

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People

Alcorn, J. L. (James Lusk), 1816-1894 Ballard, Unknown Chrisman, J. B.Ford, T. S.Hewson, H. F.Lane, W. H. B.Magee, Unknown McGee, Unknown McMillan, G. S.McNair, John E.Taylor, Bentonville

Events

Crime Crime--Arson Crime--Assault and battery Crime--Contempt of Court Crime--Shooting Crime--Threat Finances Finances--Collecting of accounts

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Mississippi--Executive Department

Occupations

Clerks Law Enforcement Law Enforcement--Sheriffs Legal Profession--Judges Legal Profession--Lawyers Secretaries

Places

Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Lowndes County Mississippi--Marion County. Columbia

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Columbia Miss. March 14^th 1871.

To His Excellency
J. L. Alcorn
Jackson Miss.

Hon^l and Dear Sir.

I am Sorry to trouble you with this communication, But Justice to my friends & self suggest the propriety of my doing so. Mr Bentonville Taylor came into the Clarks office ^this morning^ and found the Deputy Clerk & myself peacably at our work, He without the least provocation, as I conceived, and so did others think that heard him, comm-enced abusing me, and threaten shooting out my Brains, using the most profane & vulgar language that could possibly fall from the mouth of man, I ordered him out of the office, but it done no good, he still continued his abuse until Col. M^cGee who came into the office with him, persua-ded him off, as he left he said he would go to Jackson to use his own language & "have every Damned officer in the County

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lifted from office;" Mr. Taylor is greatly behind in money matters with the county as well as individuals, of money collected as an attorney; B. Taylor is proof against any efforts that can be made by the county or individuals to get money out of his hands. But by his Duplicity he took the advantage of the Board of Supervisors, and got the Board to pass certain orders in his favour. as soon as the Board could be called together and the Deception shown them which Taylor had practiced on them to the great prejudice of the county. Those orders were recinded; He charges the sole cause of the revoking of those orders upon Sheriff Magee & myself, as for what Mr Magee done towards influencing the Board, I know not, But as for myself, I done all that I could and urge them to do so, believing it to be of no advantage to the county, but greatly to the interest of Mr Taylor to the amount of some $1500. or $2.000. As an officer of the County I felt bound to try and protect its interests, It was for this act I Received

the abuse alluded to... Before I dismiss the subject of this communication allow me to state farther that Mr. Taylor came into my office ^some 2 or 3 mos since^ in my absence and requested my Deputy to make some entry or charge upon the Records of the Court, which the Deputy refused to do, Taylor abused him very much, and drew his pistol on the Deputy and threatened his life but the Deputy though an old gray-headed man soon made him put up his weapon, He suc-ceeded in 1869 in getting Mr Ballard while clerk to make a very serious change in the Records of the Court, which Taylor persuded Ballard he had a right to do.

The truth of the whole matter, Governor; is this, if Mr Taylor can use an officer as a Tool to carry out his nefarious schemes, he cares not what evil might be entailed upon the officer, all would be right with Taylor. The courts have find Taylor as the Records show for several years past for contempt of court, and threatning to burn up the Records of the office &c. but has never succeeded in getting a dollar. I refer

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you, to Hons John E. M^cNair, G S. M^cMillan also J. B. Chrisman Esqr. T. S. Ford and other gentleman of the Bar, where they have practiced with him in the adjoining Counties.

I now conclude Governor by asking you, that, should Mr. Taylor attempt to have any of our county officials Removed from office & should you be at all disposed to listen or pay any attention to what he may say to our prejudice, permit us to show as we can by more than four fifths of the citizens of the county that our general course as officers has been well approved, It is true there was some complaint against the Sheriff some time since, Yet his late acts, and readiness to exert his influence to the interest of the county has enabled him to gain the good will of all with whom he has to do.

I am Dear General very
Respectfully your
obt svt

W H B Lane

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PRECIS.
[gap]

No! [gap]

Executive Office,
State of Mississippi,
County of Marion⁠—

From W. H. B. Lane
Address Columbia
Dated March. 14/71
Received —
Answered —

Complains of abuse from B. Taylor. Requests Gov. not to remove any officers at said Taylor's instance

JAMES L. ALCORN,
Governor.

H. F. HEWSON,
Private Secretary.