Letter from G. C. Chandler to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; May 11, 1874

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Letter from G. C. Chandler to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; May 11, 1874

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Each transcribed document contains links that connect it to other documents on the same topic in the collection.

People

Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Barrett, Frederick Bunview?, Unknown Chandler, G. C.Cooley, Unknown Phillips, Unknown Rhett, Unknown Wood, Unknown

Events

Crime Crime--Murder Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Indictments

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Circuit Courts Mississippi--Executive Department

Occupations

Clerks Medical Profession Medical Profession--Surgeons Secretaries

Places

Mississippi--Hancock County. Bay Saint Louis Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson

Vital Statistics

Death

Page 1

[seal]

Bay St Louis Miss
May 11^th 1874

Gov. A. Ames
Jackson Miss

Dear Sir

I have directed the Clerk of the Circuit Court to forward to you, certified copies of indictments found at this term of the Circuit Court against Rhett and Phillips for the murder of Cooley & Bunview? in duels in this Court. Seperate indictments were also returned against all the surviving parties, records & surgeons in these duels, ^copies of^ which I will have forwarded to you, if you desire it, after ex-amining the duelling act.

Page 2

In attempting to execute this act relating to duelling, I find that it has no provision for punishing the fighting of a duel in this state, unless the fight occured in a public place, or resulted in the death of one of the parties. And even the fourth section of the duelling act, the only one that mentions the fighting of duels in this State, was intended to put down a practice that once obtained in the country, of meeting on the streets of towns and villages by previous agreement, with seconds and surgeons near by, and fighting without the ususal formalities. But I hold

this section as applying to all fights of this character whether the usual formalities of measuring the ground and, giving the word, are observed or not. But when I came last week to execute this section in the case of Wood et als. the proof showed the duel to have been fought in a private place, and the prosection necessisarily failed. Upon a critical examination you will at once perceive these defects in this law; and I call your attention to them that you may, if you deem it necessary, take steps to have the law amended.

Very truly & Respectfuly

G. C. Chandler

Page 3

EXECUTIVE OFFICE
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI,

From G. C.Chandler
Address Bay St Louis
Dated May 11^th 1874
Received " 23^d "
Answered " 26" "

SUBJECT:

Indictment of Rhett & Phillips

ADELBERT AMES,
Governor.

FRED. BARRETT,
Private Secretary.