Petition from George B. Myers to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; April 2, 1874

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Petition from George B. Myers to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; April 2, 1874

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People

?, W. R.Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Barrett, Fred Buchanan, George M.Davis, A. K. (Alexander Kelso), -1884 Davis, O.Fant, James T.Featherston, W. P.Gray, Balys E.Harris, T. W.Hill, James, 1846-1903 Jones, Jacob Myers, George B.Scruggs, Walter Straw, DeWitt Watson, H. L.

Events

Crime Crime--Gambling Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Clemency Criminal Procedure--Convicted Criminal Procedure--Imprisonment Criminal Procedure--Pardon Criminal Procedure--Sentencing Criminal Procedure--Trial Social gatherings Social gatherings--Concert programs

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Circuit Courts Kentucky Library Association (Louisville, Ky.)Mississippi--Department of State Mississippi--Executive Department

Businesses

Law Offices Law Offices--Featherston, Harris, & Watson, Attorneys at Law (Holly Springs, Miss.)

Occupations

Clerks Judges Law Enforcement Law Enforcement--Sheriffs Lawyers Secretaries

Places

Kentucky--Jefferson County. Louisville Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Marshall County. Holly Springs

Page 1

[note] 4/1/74 [/note]

To his Excellency Governor Ames.

We the undersigned would respectfully ask your Excellency to pardon Balys E. Gray who was convicted at the March Term 1874 of the Circuit Court of Marshall County Mississippi of ^for^ Selling a Lottery ticket. Mr Gray was absent when he was tried—and the facts, as we learn them and believe them to be are, that Mr Gray—Simply forwarded the money to the Superintendent of the Kentucky Library assciation at Lousiville for tickets in a concert, for Several persons in this city, he recieving no compensation Therefore, but acting merely as a friend—For this he was construct to be technically guilty of violating the Statute, and was fined One hundred dollars. Believing as we do, that there was no intentional violation of law, we ask that your Excellency will relieve Mr. Gray—from the penalty imposed upon him—Regarding this application as peculiarly mentioned we cheerfully affix our names to it—

George B Myers
Clerk Circuit Court
Walter Scruggs
George M. Buchanan
T. W. Harris
H. L. Watson
Jacob Jones
W. P. Featherston
DeWitt Straw

Page 2

Without recommending the within petition for pardons—I can say, that I believe the fact to be, that Mr Gray, made up a club forwarded the money to Louisville, for other parties, & that he received no compensation for his acts in the promises—This appeared from the testimony in the case, and was presented by me, because I believed him to be guilty—of a technical violation of law—

Jas T. Fant
District attorney

I indorse the foregoing statement of Dis^t. Atty. Fant. Apl,. 1874

O. Davis
Judge&C

Page 3

OFFICE OF Featherston, Harris & Watson,
ATTORNEYS—AT—LAW,
Holly Springs, Mississippi, April 2^nd,, 1874.

To his Excellency
Governor. Ames—
Jackson Miss.

Dear Sir.

Enclosed we hand you application of Balys. E. Gray of this city for relief against a fine imposed upon him at the last terms of the Circuit Court of this County for Selling a Lottery ticket We regard this as an exceptional case in as much as from the Statement of Judge Davis and Dist Atty Fant, his guilt results from a purely technical construction fo the Statute. If the criminal intent be wanting, we do not think that the citizen ought to Suffer the penalty of the law If your Excellency can consistently intervene for the relief ^of^ Mr. Gray—The kindness will be duly appreciated both by him and

Yours—Very respectfully
Featherston Harris & Watson

(over)

Page 4

P. S.— Almost any number of our citizens would have Signed the petition if requested we are Satisfied—but it was deemed unnecessary—

F H & W

Page 5

Gray Bayliss

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

From Citizens Holly Springs
Address [gap]
Dated [gap]
Received [gap]
Answered [gap]

SUBJECT:
[gap]

For pardon of Bayles E. Gray

March Term 74—
selling Lottery tickets

ADELBERT AMES,
Governor.

FRED. BARRETT,
Private Secretary.

Page 6

[unclear]TON. [gap] T. W. HARRIS. [gap] H. L. WATSON.

OFFICE Featherston, Harris & Watson,
ATTORNEYS—AT—LAW,
Holly Springs, Mississippi, June 24^th,, 1874.

To his Excellency
A. K. Davis
Jackson Miss.

Dear Sir

Mr B. E. Gray was convicted at the last term of our Circuit Court for Selling a lottery ticket. The petition for his pardon has been heretofore fowarded and we presume is on file in the executive office to which we beg to refer you. We are Satisfied that this is an application of peculiar merit and we invoke the interposition of your Excellency in behalf of Mr Gray believing that he Should be relieved from the penalties of the conviction refered to. Any business which your views of duty may enable you to Show Mr Gray in this matter will be appreciated by himself and his numerous friends—

Very respectfully

Featherston Harris & Watson

We have not heard whether Gov. Ames took any action upon the petition, though we learned

Page 7

whether true or not we can not Say, that he had reached a favourable conclusion upon the application

F H & W.

Rec^d June 25" 74
A^d,, ,, ,, ,,

Page 8

B. E. Gray

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.
Marshall County.

From Featherston, H & Watson
Address Holly Springs
Dated June 24" 1874
Receive ,, 25" ,,
Answered ,, ,, ,,

SUBJECT:

Executive Clemency in behalf of B. E. Gray Convicted of Selling Lottery Tickets & fined $50.⁰⁰

Pardon—Wanted

~~ADELBERT AMES,~~ A. K. Davis
Adj Governor.

~~FRED BARRETT,~~ W. R. ?
Private Secretary.

Page 9

Executive Office,
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI.

To the Sheriff of Marshall County

Greeting:

Whereas, at the March Term, 1874, of the Circuit Court of Marshall County, in said State, Balys E. Gray was convicted of the crime of Selling a Lottery Ticket, and by the Court sentenced to pay a fine of One Hundred dollars

Now, Therefore, I, A. K. Davis Lieut Gov Adg Governor of the State of Mississippi, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of said State, and for divers good and sufficient reason, me, thereto moving, do grant unto the said Balys E. Gray a full pardon for said crime of Selling a Lottery Ticket and do authorize and direct you, on receipt of these presents, to ~~release him from confinement~~. ^remit said fine^

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Mississippi to be affixed this 25^th,, day of June 1874.

[seal]

A K Davis
BY THE ^Lieut Gov Actg^ GOVERNOR:

Jam^s Hill
SECRETARY OF STATE.

Page 10

Pardon of Bayles E. Gray of Marshall County
July 25^th,, 1874
Crime, Selling Lottery Tickets
Fine $50.⁰⁰

E. D