Petition from Citizens of Holly Springs, Mississippi to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; September 16, 1874

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Petition from Citizens of Holly Springs, Mississippi to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; September 16, 1874

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People

Abernathy, Sam Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Arneman, Amelea Arneman, Emilie Arneman, George Barrett, Frederick Buchanan, George M.Compton, William M.Davis, A. K. (Alexander Kelso), -1884 Davis, O.Featherston, Winfield Scott, 1819-1891 Furr, C. T.Gill, N. G.Harris, T. W.Hill, James, 1846-1903 Mahom, John A.Myers, George B.Watson, R. L.

Events

Conventions Conventions--Mississippi. Constitutional Convention (1868)Crime Crime--Assault and battery Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Arrest Criminal Procedure--Charges and specifications (Civil and Criminal)Criminal Procedure--Clemency Criminal Procedure--Convicted Criminal Procedure--Imprisonment Criminal Procedure--Pardon Criminal Procedure--Release Criminal Procedure--Sentencing Criminal Procedure--Trial Finances Finances--Debt relief Intoxicated

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Circuit Courts Jails 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 Medical Profession Medical Profession--Physicians Prison Guard Secretaries

Places

Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Marshall County. Holly Springs

Social Identifiers

Impoverished People Imprisoned People's Families Imprisoned people

Page 1

[note] 9/16/74 [/note]

To His Excellency Adelbert Ames
Governor of the State of Mississippi.

The undersigned citizens of the city of Holly Springs in said State, would respectfully represent unto your Excellency, that George Arneman of this place was arrested, tried and convicted on the charge of having committed an Assault & Battery on his wife some two or three weeks since.

The magistrate before whom he was tried sentenced him to imprisonment in the county Jail for forty five days, and to pay a fine of One Hundred dollars—He has been in jail since the 25^th day of August 1874.

Your petitioners would represent that said Arneman is a quiet orderly, peaceable and industrious citizen, but when under the influence of intoxicat-ing liquor, becomes passionate and violent. They would further represent that he was under the influence of liquor when he committed the Assault & Battery for which he is now in prison but they are informed and believe that he does but seldom drink, or become under the influence of intox-icating liquors. Your petitioners would further state, that the said Arneman and his wife, have become reconciled and she has entirely forgiven him

Page 2

for the Assault & Battery on her, and they are now anxious to live together happily and harmoniously as man and wife, he pleding himself to a course of strict sobriety. Your petitioners therefore ask the interposition of your Excellency^s^ clemency to the extent of releaving the said Arneman from the remainder of his imprisonment, and they further ask that the fine imposed upon him be reduced from One Hundred dollars to ten dollars and the costs incident to his trial.

Your petitioners do this because he is a poor man, has a wife and two children to support, and they believe that he will live a quiet orderly and sober life hereafter.

Very Respectfully,

W. S. Featherston
R. L. Watson
T W Harris
Geo. M. Buchanan Sheriff
Geo B Myers Circuit Clerk
N. G. Gill
O. Davis. Circuit Judge &c.
C T Furr Jailor
John A Mahom. Co. Supt

Page 3

I the wife of George Arneman fully concur in and endorse the statements contained in the foregoing petition, And I earnestly request the Governor to pardon my husband, and let him return to his wife and children, for they need his services.

Very Respectfully,

Amelea Arneman

test Sam Abernathy

Page 4

[unclear]RIS. [gap] R. L WATSON.

^OFFICEOF Featherston, Harris & Watson,
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW,
Holly Springs, Mississippi, Sept 16^th 1874.

Hon A. K. Davis, Lieut Gov &c
Jackson

Dear Sir—

A few days ago through D^r Compton, we forwarded to Gov Ames a petition signed by many of our prominent citizens, amongst them Hon O Davis, Judge of this Circuit Court District praying favorable action of the Executive in the case of Geo Arneman—The petition sets out all the facts in the case—D^r Compton writes us that Gov Ames is not in the city; Will you please examine the papers in the case, which we presume are on file in the Executive office and take such action in the matter as your sense of justice may dictate—Acknowledging the many Acts of courtesy heretofore shown us we are,

Respectfully Yours

Featherston Harris & Watson.

Page 5

[page torn]ERSTON. [gap] T. W. HARRIS. [gap] R. L WATSON.

^OFFICEOF Featherston, Harris & Watson,
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW,
Holly Springs, Mississippi, Sept 10^th 1874.

Dear Doctor—

We enclose you a petition which we ask of you at your earliest convenience to present to the Governor in relation to the unfortunate case of George Arneman.

You know him well and we send it to you because you can inform the Governor that the facts as to his character habits &c are correctly set forth—He and his wife have become reconciled, in fact it was whiskey & not George Arneman who committed the assault.

He heartily and with humiliation, deplores his unmanly act, and promises never never to be guilty of the like again, and never to touch a drop of ardent Spirits again—

They hope for his release and so do we all and an opportunity given him to show to the community that he is a reformed man—Please attend to this at once—

Your friends

Featherston Harris & Watson

Page 6

Respectfully forward-ed—I have known George Arneman ten or twelve years and concur with Messrs F. H. & W in their estimate of his character.

W^m M Compton

Page 7

George Arneman

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.
Marshall County.

From F. Watson & Harris & Others
Address Holly Springs
Dated Sept 10^th & 16^th,,
Received ,, 19^th,, 1874
Answered ,, ,, ,,

SUBJECT:

Asking Ex Clemency in behalf of G. Arneman now in County Jail for Assault & Battery upon his Wife.

Not Granted

~~ADELBERT AMES,~~^A. K. Davis^
Actg Governor.

FRED. BARRETT,
Private Secretary.

Page 8

Holly Springs Sept 21^st 1874

Gov A. K. Davis
Jackson

Dear Sir

I have seen your letter to Featherston Harris & Watson in reference to my husband George Arneman in which you say you dont think the case is a fit subject in which to execute executive clemency. I and the two children are very much in need of his services, we are very poor and I have no other means outside of his services by which bread can be had for them—Besides he has felt deep contrition for his act and I have freely forgiven him—Surely Your Excellency will not make me and the children be the real suffer-ers in this unfortunate matter. He was always kind to me when not under the influence of liquor, and was very seldom under that influence. Without his services and care we do not know what is to become

Page 9

of us, without means and without friends [unclear] are able to assist us—I pray your Excellency to grant his pardon and remit the fine. The officers of court here and many of the good citizens do think your benevolence in this matter would be charity to the innocent. Trusting you will do at once, for every moment is precious to me.

I remain Respectfully,

Emilie Arneman

P. S. Every body in this community I think will or would join with me in this request were I to apply to them—

The above is to my Knowledge is the genuine letter of Mrs Arneman and I am fully acquainted with the facts set forth therein and know them to be true

Geo M Buchanan Shff

Page 10

Executive Office,
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI.

To the Sheriff of Marshall County.

Greeting:

Whereas, at^on^ the 25^th day of August ~~Term~~, 1874, of^by^ the Justices Court of Holly Springs, Marshall County, in said State, George Arnerman was convicted of the crime of Assaul & Battery upon his Wife, and by the Court sentenced to Imprisonment in the County Jail for Forty five (45) days and pay a fine of One Hundred dollars

Now, Therefore, I, A. K. Davis, Lieut Gov Actg 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 reasons, me, thereto moving, do grant unto the said George Anerman a ~~full pardon~~^remission of the fine^ for said crime of Assault & Battery and do authorize and direct you, on receipt of these presents, to ~~release him from confinement~~.^remit said fine of One Hundred dollars^.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Mississippi to be affixed this 24^th,, day of September 1874.

[seal]

A K Davis

BY THE ^Lieut Gov Actg^ GOVERNOR:

James Hill
SECRETARY OF STATE.

Page 11

Remission of Fine in Case ofGeorge Anerman of Marshall County

Sep^t 24^th 1874

E D