Letter from J. L. Finley to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; March 7, 1874

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Letter from J. L. Finley to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; March 7, 1874

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People

Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Barton, J. D.Blair, Unknown Cole, W. J.Cole, Wily J.Finley, J. L.

Events

Crime Crime--Forgery Crime--Libel and slander Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Charges and specifications (Civil and Criminal)Criminal Procedure--Indictments Political Office--Appointment to office

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Chancery Courts Courts and Judicial Systems--Criminal Juries Courts and Judicial Systems--Grand jury Political Parties Political Parties--Democratic Party (U.S.)

Occupations

Collection Agents Lawyers

Places

Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Lee County. Guntown Mississippi--Lee County. Saltillo

Page 1

[note] Appendix "P."—See page 200 [/note]

Copy

Guntown Miss
Mch 7 1874

Gov A. Ames.
Jackson

Sir.

I have just learned that an attempt has been made to blast the prospects of J. D. Barton of Lee County by circulating the report that he was or had been guilty of forgery. I am taking no part in the appointment of officers as I am a dem-ocrat and feel no interest except to get good officers but would say that I am intimately acquainted with J. D. Barton and beleive him to be a man of good private character and beleive the report wholly false and gotten up in the interest of no better man if as good a one as Barton.

I am not his political friend but beleive him to be a gentleman

Yours truly

J. L. Finley

Office of W. J. Cole
Attorney at Law and Collecting Agent.
Saltillo Miss. March 12. 1874.

Governor Ames.

I hope you will not think me impertinent in writing to you a few

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facts which has been developed to me in the last five hours and that is this, though first I will state my position so that you will know where to find me I am one of those firm fire-eating Democrats and the matter upon which I wish to direct your attention is the false acquisation of or against Major J. D. Barton who is aspirant to the Chancellor's Office of this Chancery District, the charge as is rhumored here is that Maj. J. D. Barton was guilty of forgery and charges preferred against him, now to bring the matter within a nut-shell—I was at the time of this charge against Barton the officer of the Jury and heard the whole detail of the case, the charge was not suf-ficient to sustain a bill of indictment before even the Grand Jury and to give you my honest view I beleive the bill was preferred through malice to J. D. Barton. he Barton is an old lawyer and an honest and strait up-right man. that is the only stigma that ever was cast on J. D. Barton, he is as is termed a Radical and a firm one to, his politics and mine are greatly different but that is no reason why I should sit still and see Barton sland-ered, he is highly respected by both parties and I do think, the best man in the field for the office I do this through no motive more than that Barton's character should be set aright with your Hon. and all false acquisations might be blended.

Barton while it is true is a Radical and

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our politics are so different but I must say he is a gentleman in every respect and is highly respected by all the members of the Bar. he is a man that is competent to do justice by all and will do it do not think because I re-commend Barton that he is a relative for he is not I do it for the respect I have for an honest man, let his politics be what they may. I am informed that Mr Blair sprung the question on Bar-ton with your Hon. that he Barton was guilty of forgery and as I stated before I was the officer who waited on the Grand Jury at the time he was accused of forgery and there could not be a bill found against him and I beleive it to be malice on account of his politics I hope you will view the matter and favor J. D. Barton. with the office for he certainly kneeds it and is worthy of it

I am &c
Respectfully

Wily J. Cole.