Letter from J. A. Orr to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; April 28, 1874

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Letter from J. A. Orr to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; April 28, 1874

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People

Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Compton, Unknown Noonan, Unknown Orr, John A.Stewart, Isham

Events

Crime Crime--Assault and battery Crime--Intent to Kill Crime--Shooting Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Charges and specifications (Civil and Criminal)Criminal Procedure--Indictments Criminal Procedure--Pleading Criminal Procedure--Release Criminal Procedure--Trial

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Circuit Courts Courts and Judicial Systems--Criminal Juries Mississippi--Executive Department Mississippi--State Hospital Mississippi--State Penitentiary (Jackson)

Occupations

Law Enforcement Law Enforcement--Prison Guard Law Enforcement--Sheriffs Legal Profession--Judges Medical Profession Medical Profession--Physicians Secretaries

Places

Mississippi--Lowndes County. Columbus Mississippi--Noxubee County. Macon

Social Identifiers

African Americans Criminal Status--Imprisoned people Criminal Status--Imprisoned people's families Illiterate persons People with disabilities People with disabilities--Deaf persons People with disabilities--Mute persons

Page 1

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Columbu^s Miss. Apl 28^—1874.

Dear Governor.

The newspapers correctly reported me at the recent term of Noxubee Circuit Court, as a nonplussed Judge, and I have not yet escaped from the dilema.

A deaf, and dumb colored mute, 24 years of age, was indicted for an assault & Battery with intent to Kill. He cannot read, & is wholly untaught. Several interpeters, including his mother, were sworn. When the indictment was read to him, & he was Called upon to plead, the interpeters reported that he understood the charge, and that he decried the Shooting, & the plea of "Not Guilty" was entered.—The next step taken, was to enquire if he was satisfied with jury, and here the interpetres all broke

Page 2

down, our old friend Isham Stewart among them. Stewart when jailor some years ago had charge of him as a prisoner, and can communicate with him rapidly on common place matters.—But Dumb Alex. could not be made to understand that 12 men were to try him, & that he had the right of challenge. I could not allow the trial to proceed, for I will not try, and condemn a man who is utterly unconscious of the forms or substance of a trial. Some of the English authorities furnish precidents under similar circumstances, for discharging the prisoner. That, I was unwilling to do, for he was guilty, not only of the charge for which he had been indicted, but he is a dangerous, vicious character—has shot, and shot at several other persons, and is the terror of the neighborhood.

Not knowing what to do with him, I have instructed the Sheriff of Noxubee County to deliver him to the Superintendent of the Penitentiary, when he call^s for convicts now awaiting his order at Macon, to be by him delivered to D^r Compton of the asylum—if those officers will receive him, with your approbation, where after some moral, and mental training, it can be ascertained, if the Deaf & Dumb asylum can ever develop him into any usefulness.—

Desperate criminal as he now is—I could not recommend him to the Deaf asylum, but I guess D^r Compton can make him useful with safety, and ascertain if any thing can be made out of him. I have requested M^r Noonan to confer with you, & respectfully ask your better judgement, & direction in the premises.—

Your friend

J. A. Orr

Page 3

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

From Judge J. A. Orr
Address Columbus
Dated April 28" 1874
Received May 1^st,, ,,
Answered ,, 13,, ,,

SUBJECT:

A non plussed Judge

Deaf & Dumb Colored Mute

[gap]

ADELBERT AMES,
Governor.

[gap]
Private Secretary.