Petition from Citizens of Clay County, Mississippi Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; February 18, 1875

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Petition from Citizens of Clay County, Mississippi Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; February 18, 1875

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People

Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Brennan, Denis Fox, James Gilson, Adam Hardy, Henry Harrington, H. H.Harrington, John T.Isaacs, Ben Ivy, William Orr, J. A.Osborn, I. N.Richard, H. J.Shattuck, Unknown Shipman, James H.Stevens, John A.Strong, Ephraim Strong, F. G.Sykes, Scott Tarkington, Samuel Watkins, J. A.Whitfield, Henry B.Woodmann, C. S.

Events

Crime Crime--Jail Escapes Crime--Murder Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Arrest Criminal Procedure--Charges and specifications (Civil and Criminal)Criminal Procedure--Convicted Criminal Procedure--Execution Criminal Procedure--Imprisonment Criminal Procedure--Indictments Criminal Procedure--Pardon Criminal Procedure--Pleading Criminal Procedure--Sentencing Criminal Procedure--Trial Legislation Legislation. Mississippi Political Office--Removal from office

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Chancery Courts Courts and Judicial Systems--Circuit Courts Jails Mississippi--Executive Department Mississippi--High Court of Errors and Appeals Mississippi--Judicial Districts Mississippi--Judicial Districts. 1st District Mississippi--Judicial Districts. 7th District United States--District Courts

Occupations

Clerks Coroners Judges Law Enforcement Law Enforcement--Police Law Enforcement--Sheriffs Lawyers Prison Guard Secretaries

Places

Mississippi--Clay County. West Point Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Lafayette County. Oxford Mississippi--Lowndes County. Columbus Mississippi--Oktibbeha County Mississippi--Winston County

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Imprisoned People's Families Imprisoned people

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Death

Page 1

The State of Mississippi
Colfax County

West Point
February 1875

To His excellency Adelbert Ames Governor of the State of Mississippi

The undersigned with profoundest regard for the august power we invoke with deepest reverence for the law under which we live and with no less regard for suffering interests of society, would we your humble petitioners invoke that pardoning power so peculiarly and happily the attribute of the Chief Magistrate of the State, and which under appropiate circumstances may be difrantly sought and graciously bestowed without the least damage to the prosecution of the law, or the best interests of society—Such a case your humble petitioners verily believe is presented in the Case of James Fox sentenced to twelve months imprisonment in the County Jail and Adam Gilson sentenced to Six months in the County Jail. On submitting their Indictment for escape of prisoners from said Jail to his Honor J. A Orr Judge presiding in our late County. And whereas it was clearly proven that said Fox and Gilson were sober and correct in habits, that they were assiduous and attentive to their business that they were watchful, but kind to their

Page 2

charge, and that the escape was only effected through one of those unlooked for freaks in nature and concurrance of circumstances that are scarcely to be looked for by stringent law or the most vigilent Keeper, And whereas said Fox was arested and imprisoned immediately upon said escape and has been in prison about Five months, And whereas said Fox & Gilson did neither evade nor avoid a fair and frank avowal of all the facts in said break of Jail, but as we believe truthfully and candidly submitted every fact to the Court and Country. And whereas we believe the demands of the law are satisfied and every unprejudiced mind to is satisfied that sufficient penalty has already been meeted, and the almost universal decision in this Comunity is that mercy and the satisfaction of a violated law, demands their Reprieve.

Therefore your humble petitioners would most deferently pray and petition that your Excelency may reprieve said James Fox and Adam Gilson from the penalty imposed in the suits referred to.

H. H. Harrington Clerk of the Chancy Court
Denis Brennan Co. Supt
Scott Sykes Circuit Clerk
Jno. A. Stevens Dep. Circuit Clerk

Page 3

James. H. Shipman Deputy Sheriff
Sam. Tarkington Policeman City of West Point
J. A. Watkins Coroner
F. G. Strong Magistrate district No 1
Ephraim Strong Supervises Dist ,, 1
Henry Hardy ,, ,, ,, 2
John T Harrington
C. S. Woodmann
H. J. Richard.
Ben. Isaacs

Respectfully returned.

The cases of Fox & Gilson are peculiar Each, at different times, were jailors of Sheriff Shattuck. Under his administration the new jail of Colfax has four times been emptied of prisoners by escape. Shattuck & Gilson were indicted for the escape of one set. At Aug Term 74 Shattuck was tried convicted and removed from office. His appeal is now before the Supreme Court. Gilson his Jailor was not tried with him but pleaded Guilty at Feby Term 75. He was sentenced to 6 months in County Jail.—For the last, of the four escapes, (and among the prisoners was William Ivy under sentence of death for the murder of his step son,) Fox was indicted, he being Jailor at that time, & Shattuck absent from the State, Convicted & sentenced to 12 months in County Jail.

Page 4

The defendants established good characters, and Fox proved that he was a superior jailor. I do not suspect either of them of corruption, but the testimony showed unintentional care-lessness The penalty was imposed to make Sheriff^s & Jailors more watchful in the safe keeping of felons & murderers & beleiving that the Sentences will have that effect in my District I concur in recommending the petitioners to the merciful Consideration of the Governor

J. A. Orr Judge &c

Page 5

[unclear] DIST.
[unclear]al Dist.
[unclear]ties of Lowndes,
[unclear]bbeha, Winston
[unclear]d Colfax.

[unclear]MBUS, MISS.
[unclear]mpt attention to all civil
[unclear]Courts of above counties;
[unclear]upreme Court at Jackson,
[unclear]U. S. Court at Oxford,

Special attention to Collection of Claims

OFFICE OF THE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY,
SEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT.
Columbus, Miss., [gap] 187[gap]

His Excellency
Gov^r A Ames
Jackson, Missi

Dear Sir

In reply to yours of the 18^th Inst addressed to Judge Orr enclosing petitions for Pardons sent for our Approval I herewith return them with our reasons for concurring thereto

Very Respectfully Yours

Henry B Whitfield
Dist Atty 7^th Judcl Dist

Page 6

Adam Gilson & Jas. Fox.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.
Colfax County.

From H. H. Harrington
Address West Point
Dated [gap]
Received [gap]
Answered Feb 27^th 1875

SUBJECT:

Asks pardon of Adam Gilson & James Fox

ADELBERT AMES,
Governor.

I, N, Osborn
Private Secretary.