Petition from Citizens of Holly Springs, Mississippi to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; January 28, 1875

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Petition from Citizens of Holly Springs, Mississippi to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; January 28, 1875

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People

Abbott, L. C.Albright, G. W.Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Benton, John S.Buchanan, George W.Crump, W.Cunningham, Robert Cutter, J. H.Davis, O.Dewey, H. S.Fant, James T.Featherston, Winfield Scott, 1819-1891 Fennell, F. M.Fennell, John D.Frank, Sam Gholson, S. C.Gill, N. G.Goodrich, A. W.Harris, J. W.Hill, N. R. B.Hilliard, Robert Hull, B. S.Johnson, Laurence Jones, W. H.Lee, B. W.Mahon, John A.Malone, Thomas G.Manning, Van H.Marshall, B. W Moseley, G. H.Myers, George B.Nabers, B. D.Osborn, I. N.Peel, A.Rogers, A. A.Scruggs, I. W.Scruggs, L. S.Strickland, William M.Walker, W. Logan Wallace, James R.Watson, Edward M.Watson, R. L.Wells, G. Wiley Williams, R.Williamson, Henry C.Wooten, Squire

Events

Crime Crime--Burglary Crime--Larceny Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Clemency Criminal Procedure--Convicted Criminal Procedure--Pardon Criminal Procedure--Release Criminal Procedure--Sentencing

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Chancery Courts Courts and Judicial Systems--Circuit Courts Mississippi--Executive Department Mississippi--State Penitentiary (Jackson)

Occupations

Clerks Education Professionals Farmers Judges Law Enforcement Law Enforcement--Police Law Enforcement--Sheriffs Lawyers Legislators Mayors Secretaries Tax Assessors

Places

Mississippi--Leake County Mississippi--Marshall County. Holly Springs

Social Identifiers

African Americans African Americans--Historically Free and Newly Freed Enslavers Impoverished People Imprisoned People's Families Imprisoned people

Page 1

[note] 1/28/75 [/note]

To His Excellency
A. Ames Govenor

The undersigned your Petitions beg respectfully to represent that at the March Term of the Circuit Court for Marshall Co 1874, Robert Hilliard and Squire Wooten were Convicted of the crime of Burglary & Grand Larceny.

That the offence (in particular) of which they were convicted was the Entering of a farmers Smoke House by night, and carrying away food and provisions to the amount of about the value of Two Hundred Dollars That the said Squire Wooten and Robert Hilliard are both men of large and very dependent families. Their familes consisting of one aged woman, their two wifes and eleven small children. Since the Conviction of the above named Hilliard & Wooten their families have been allmost entirely dependent on the Charity of their neighbors for support.

In view of the foregoing facts (as represented to us by parties who are ^in^ Every way worthy of belief,) and believing that the parties have allready suffered sufficiently for the Extent of the crime Committed, we have seen it proper to ask that your Excellency will use such power as possessed of by Law to the End that the said Hilliard & Wooten may be released from the State Penitentiary & restored to their liberty

John. S. Benton
former Owner & employer

(over)

Page 2

Holly Springs
Jany 29" 1875

To His Excellency
Gov Ames

Sir:

You will receive a petition of about same date of this note—asking pardons for two convicts now in the Penitentiary. The names, crimes, length of sentence of the convicts are fully set out in the petition, and I earnestly ask that the petition be granted.

Your obt Servt

B D Nabers

Page 3

I have a full acquaintance with most of the facts set out in the foregoing petition, and given as the petition for pardon of Hilliard & Wooten Jany 28, 1875

Geo. M. Buchanan Shff
<h3>Scruggs, I. W.</h3> " ref="#S32090764">I W Scruggs
<h3>Harris, J. W.</h3> " ref="#S72239">J W Harris
<h3>Featherston, Winfield Scott, 1819-1891</h3> " ref="#S71087">W. S. Featherston
<h3>Watson, R. L.</h3> " ref="#S103356">R. L. Watson
<h3>Fennell, John D.</h3> " ref="#S32084054">Jno. D. Fennell
<h3>Fennell, F. M.</h3> " ref="#S32090765">F. M. Fennell
<h3>Moseley, G. H.</h3> " ref="#S97226">G. H. Moseley
<h3>Strickland, William M.</h3> " ref="#S100585">W^m M. Strickland
<h3>Malone, Thomas G.</h3> " ref="#S32006187">Tho^s G. Malone
<h3>Wells, G. Wiley</h3> " ref="#S32080825">G. Wiley Wells
<h3>Gholson, S. C.</h3> " ref="#S32029594">S. C. Gholson
<h3>Lee, B. W.</h3> " ref="#S32082151">B. W. Lee
<h3>Manning, Van H.</h3> " ref="#S32090766">Van H Manning
<h3>Watson, Edward M.</h3> " ref="#S32090767">Ed. M. Watson
item/S32084062" data-tippy-content=" <h3>Crump, W.</h3> " ref="#S32084062">W Crump
<h3>Scruggs, L. S.</h3> " ref="#S32029588">L. S. Scruggs
<h3>Wallace, James R.</h3> " ref="#S32090768">Jas R Wallace
<h3>Hull, B. S.</h3> " ref="#S32090769">B. S. Hull
<h3>Dewey, H. S.</h3> " ref="#S32090770">H. S. Dewey
<h3>Williamson, Henry C.</h3> " ref="#S32090771">Henry C Williamson
<h3>Frank, Sam</h3> " ref="#S32084051">Sam Frank

N R B Hill
J H Cutter
W Logan Walker
Robt Cunningham
Assessor Marshall Co
L. C. Abbott.

Page 4

George B. Myers Circuit Clk
B W Marshall Chancy Clerk
Laurence Johnson
Leake County attorney
John A. Mahon
Co. Supt. Education
A W Goodrich Mayor
W. H. Jones City Marshal

I cannot, without violating a General rule, which I deem it proper to observe in the interest of law and justice, sign this, or any other petition for pardon. But I feel free to say, that inasmuch as the foregoing is signed by many of the leading and best citizens of Holly Springs and vicinity I think it ought to have great weight with the Governor.

O. Davis
Judge &c—

I fully concur in the above remarks of Judge Davis, and think that a petition signed by such names as this, should have great might with the Executive, The families of the convicts I understand are in distress & greatly need their services, While therefore, as a rule I never recommend Executive Clemency, still in this case, I hope as favorable Consideration will be given as is possible under the circumstances

Jas T. Fant
District Attorney

The undersigned representatives of Marshall County join in the petition for the pardon of Squire Wooten and Robt Hilliard

N. G. Gill
A. A. Rogers
A. Peel
R Williams
G. W. Albright sen 25^th Dist

Page 5

3. & 4.

Squire Wooten.
Hilliard. R

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI,
Marshall County.

From O. Davis & others.
Address Holly Springs
Dated Jan 28" /75.
Received ,, [gap] ,,
Answered [gap]

SUBJECT:

Petition for pardon of Robert Hilliard.

Pardoned.

Squire Wooten.

ADELBERT AMES,
Governor.

I. N. OSBORN,
Private Secretary.