Letter from Superintendent of the Mississippi State Penitentiary William Noonan to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; April 6, 1875

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Letter from Superintendent of the Mississippi State Penitentiary William Noonan to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; April 6, 1875

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People

Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Antairn, Joseph Antairn, Lewis Antoine, C. C.Bardage, Bertrand Barrett, Frederick Barrite, Unknown Benard, Paul Benit, Samuel Benniss, S. M.Benson, Jefferson Bentier, Leopold Bernard, Phillip Bouregouis, S.Bourigeous, Gil.Bourigeous, Joseph Bracy, George Bracy, Jennet Brown, Alphonse Bruns, Charles Burttini, B.Bynum, Tom Castilo, Joseph Cawing, Unknown Chaillé, Stanford E.Charlott, Charles Clark, Jacob Clayborne?, John T.Cleget, Harriet Cligut, Harry Cowan, Ewing Cunningham, Ellen Davis, Radford R.Deslonde, P. G.Doby, Grangary Doby, Milly Dubuclet, Ane Field, A. P.Flonor, Auguste Fourchy, Paul Garey, Hester Hangtiller, Samuel Harve, Ben Hendricks, George Henry, Rachel Henry, Unknown Henry, William Hill, Ben Hill, Unknown Hollins, James Hudson, E. M.Hutchers, Jullian Jenkins, Lumas Johnson, H.Johnstd, Henry Kellogg, William P.Kelly, William Kelso, Gerry Unknown Lazario, Gland Leonard, George Lewis, Risbon Loyd, Jourdan Macon, T. L.Mason, Mat Mayfield, James Mayfield, Marion McArthur, Lewis Mitchell, Thomas Moore, Edwind Morgan, Hamptin Morgan, Unknown G.Mulford, William Murphy, William Neouse, William Newton, Ellen Newton, George Noonan, William Ogden, Robert N.Owens, Luk Packard, S. B.Parker, George Parker, John M. G.Perry, Nancy Pierce, John W.Primus, Ellen Primus, Ervin Ray, E.Ray, Lueian Richard, Draton Richard, James Richard, Will Richardson, Sarah A.Ringgold, J. C. W.Rosenbury, Eliza Ross, E. F.Ross, M. B.Ross, R.Scott, J.Scott, James, Mrs.Seatt, George Self, John W.Slaughter, Minerva Slaycomb, Martha Slucrum, George Smith, George L.Smith, Mary Smith, Sam Snyder, Hester Southworth, M. A.Squires, Emelin Squires, George Toulme, John V.Toulmé, R. W.Toulmé, Unknown Turner, Martin Turner, Misouri Unknown, Edward Unknown, J. A.Unknown, Joseph Unknown, Marion Vance, M.Venable, Emily Venable, Henry Welsey, David Whalery, Agust Wharton, Jack Williams, Alfred Willis, Leston Wilson, Bing H.Wilson, Clarinda Wilson, Josephin Wilson, Mary Wilson, Sarah Wilson, Sterling

Events

Crime Crime--Burglary Crime--Intent to Kill Crime--Jail Escapes Crime--Shooting Crime--Trespass Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Acquittals Criminal Procedure--Bail Criminal Procedure--Charges and specifications (Civil and Criminal)Criminal Procedure--Clemency Criminal Procedure--Convicted Criminal Procedure--Imprisonment Criminal Procedure--Indictments Criminal Procedure--Pardon Criminal Procedure--Sentencing Criminal Procedure--Trial Criminal Procedure--Writ of Error

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Circuit Courts Courts and Judicial Systems--Criminal Juries Mississippi--Executive Department Mississippi--High Court of Errors and Appeals Mississippi--State Penitentiary (Jackson)Universities and colleges Universities and colleges--Louisiana. University of Louisiana

Businesses

Law Offices Law Offices--Husdon & Fearn, Attorneys at Law (New Orleans, La.)

Occupations

Attorneys General College Teachers Education Professionals Judges Law Enforcement Lawyers Legislators Medical Profession Medical Profession--Physicians Postmasters Prison Wardens Secretaries

Places

Louisiana--Orleans Parish. New Orleans Mississippi--Hancock County. Bay Saint Louis Mississippi--Harrison County. Mississippi City Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson

Social Identifiers

African Americans Imprisoned People's Families Imprisoned people

Page 1

OFFICE OF
Mississippi State Penitentiary,
WM. NOONAN, SUPT.

Jackson, April 6^th 1875

To His Excellency
A. Ames Governor

Sir

I return the enclosed par-don for George Hendricks = there is no convict of that name upon the Register of the Penitentiary. I Am Sir

Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt

W^m Noonan
Supt

Page 2

To his Excellency Gov. Adalbert Ames,
Jackson, Miss.

At the last session of the Circuit Court of Hancock County George Hendricks was found guilty of burglary, on the direct testi-mony of Paul Fourchy, Esq., a gentleman of high standing in New Orleans. The defendant has always protested his entire innocence, and is believed by the larger portion of this commu-nity to be innocent. Some of our leading citi-zens went on his bond, to enable him to make an appeal to the Supreme Court, where the judgment of the lower Court has just been affirmed. On hearing of this, George Hendricks, who had been on bail at full liberty in New Orleans, following his avocation, and feeling secure in the consciousness of his in-nocence and the hope of a reversal of the judgment, came at once to Bay St. Louis and delivered himself up.

Numbers of our best people, white and black, think that the witness, on whose testimony he was convicted, Mr. Paul Fourchy, labored under a mistake, and this case is another of those of mistaken identity so frequently occurring. There is, to say the least, a strong doubt about the matter, and the defendant, who has always borne the best of characters, and is respected

Page 3

most by those who have known him the longest, ought to have the benefit of any existing doubt. His promptly coming forward when he heard of the judgment of the Supreme Court, to give himself up, when he might have escaped, has shaken the faith of some even who formerly believed him guilty.

The undersigned, citizens of Hancock County and Bay St. Louis, would respectfully and earnestly represent to your Excellency that they believe his case to be one calling in a peculiar manner for executive clemency.

Ewing. Cowan
<h3>Toulme, John V.</h3> " ref="#S69076">John. V. Toulmé
<h3>Bentier, Leopold</h3> " ref="#S32093840">Leopold. Bentier
<h3>Toulmé, R. W.</h3> " ref="#S32093841">R. W. Toulmé
<h3>Flonor, Auguste</h3> " ref="#S32093842">Auguste Flonor
<h3>Ross, R.</h3> " ref="#S32003202">P. Ross
-content=" <h3>Ross, E. F.</h3> " ref="#S32093843">E. F. Ross
<h3>Scott, James, Mrs.</h3> " ref="#S32099889">Mrs James Scott.
<h3>Parker, George</h3> " ref="#S32093845">George Parker.
<h3>Welsey, David</h3> " ref="#S32093846">David Welsey
<h3>Cligut, Harry</h3> " ref="#S32093847">Harry Cligut.
<h3>Primus, Ervin</h3> " ref="#S32093848">Ervin Primus.
<h3>Clark, Jacob</h3> " ref="#S32093849">Jacob Clark.
<h3>Loyd, Jourdan</h3> " ref="#S32093850">Jourdan Loyd.
<h3>Doby, Grangary</h3> " ref="#S32093851">Grangary Doby.
<h3>Castilo, Joseph</h3> " ref="#S32093852">Joseph Castilo.
<h3>Willis, Leston</h3> " ref="#S32093853">Leston Willis
<h3>Charlott, Charles</h3> " ref="#S32093854">Chas Charlott.
<h3>Lazario, Gland</h3> " ref="#S32093855">Gland Lazario.
<h3>Leonard, George</h3> " ref="#S32093856">George Leonard.

Bertrand Bardage
Mrs Toulmé
Ben Hill.
Ben. harve
B Burttini
Jefferson Benson
James Richard
Jas Mayfield
Marion Mayfield
Rachel Henry
Minerva Slaughter
Harriet Cleget
Mrs. H. Johnson
Clarinda Wilson
Jennet Bracy
Marion ?
Ellen Primus
Martin Turner

Page 4

Georg Leonard,
Henry Johnstd Surity
Thos Mitchell,
Saml Hangtiller,
Sarah Wilson,
William Kelly,
Sam Smith,
George Slucrum,
Ellen Newton,
Mary Smith,
George Seatt,
Jams Hollins,
Hester Snyder,
Hester Garey,
Phillip Bernard,
Eliza Rosenbury,
Risbon Lewis,
Lueian Ray,
Paul Benard,
Charles Bruns,
M. B. Ross,
Alphonse Brown,
Agust Whalery,
Jullian Hutchers,
Mat Mason,
William Neouse
George Bracy
Luk Owens
Alfred Williams
S. Bouregouis
George Squires
Hamptin Morgan
Lumas Jenkins

Edward ?
Emelin Squires
Milly Doby
Nancy Perry
George Newton
Josephin Wilson
Misouri Turner
Martha Slaycomb
William Henry
[?] Henry
Lewis M^cArthur
Joseph Antairn
Lewis Antairn
Sterling Wilson
E. Ray
Saml Benit
Draton Richard
Will Richard
Edwind Moore
Miss J. Scott
Henry Venable
Emily Venable
John W. Self
Bing H. Wilson
Mary Wilson
Gil. Bourigeous
Joseph Bourigeous
[?] g morgan
Mrs Sarah A. Richardson
Mrs Ellen Cunningham

Page 5

Now sir for my family Cares. please Do The very best you can for me of you Please. What you can not do ask D^r Barrite to assist me, as he tould me That he Would do all That Was possible to be done for me. tell D^r Barrite That I am now in prison at Miss. City. hoping you—Will not Think The aid from you Will be any Thing Worng or displeasen in The sight ^of^ almighty God. please refered The Gov. attention to my pettion. In So doing You might do me a great deal of Good.

Very respectfully
Your ob^t servant

George. Hendricks

To The Care of M^r W^m Murphy ^Esq^
Harrison. Co. Miss. City

[note] 3/29/75. [/note]

Pardon—

A. A.

Page 6

Miss. ^City^ March 24^th 1875

M^r Hill

Dear friend, a few hurried Lines to You, asking Your Kind attention also Calling ^your^ attention to M^r Cawings letter, & I hope to trust God you Will Consider my Condition Which is undeserveable. to me. Sir, I hope you has not forgotten The promies You Stated to me, When I Saw you last. I understud The Case Went a gainst me, up There, so I Came over to the bay of St. Louis—

In order not to put my bondsmen to any trouble, & now I am in Jail Waiting for my removeal. Sir, I has never done no one any Worng. indeed I has never taken But a very little intereast in politic only Except on grand occasions. I am a Working man & a man That always try to show Willy respect to all men It matter not Whom It may be. White or Colored. Every body That know me are able to State The same facts. I has a Wife & 4 little Children. Which are helplis one are not able to keep The other.

Page 7

His Excellency Adelbert Ames
Governor of the state of Mississippi

The petition of Geo Hendricks a colored man, respectfully represents, that in the month of May 1873, at Bay St Louis Hancock county Miss, he was tried on the charge of Burglary convicted, & sentenced to five years imprisonment in the Peniteniary.

That the verdict of the Jury was wrong unjust, & in direct contradiction, to the preponderance of evidence, as will more fully appear by reference to annexed record of suit; but that the motion for arrest of Judgement, was overruled by his honor the Judge, & that petitioner was obliged to take a writ of Error; which writ, may not be heard for some years—Petitioner also avers, that being a poor man, he cannot fee a lawyer to represent his interest before the court of Errors & appeals—& is therefore fearful he will not be able to prosecute this writ. Petitioner, declares that he cannot leave Bay of St Louis on account of his bail bond, tho his necessities require he should seek some other place, in order to gain a living—

That your Petitioner was charged at the same time with having fired with intent to Kill, at the Prosecutor and that tho' the charge made, formed part of the "Res Gestae", in the subsequent charge of Burglary, that the Jury then

Page 8

empanelled, refused to beleive the same, [page torn] acquitted your Petitioner.

That a new Jury was then empanelled to try the accusation of Burglary, & that tho' there was no new evidence adduced, nor other witnesses brought forward, he was found guilty on the testimony of one witness; the same who had exhausted his evidence before the first Jury—; & that too when it was plainly shown, that the Prosecutor, had more than once varied in his testimony as to the identity of your petitioner, as will more fully appear by an examination of the record in this case Petitioner avers his perfect & entire innocence—Declares he is an idustrious, sober, & honest man, & that this conviction its annoyances & injurious results, not only affect his welfare and peace of mind, but millitate against his young & helpless children, whose only support & protection he is.

Further he declares that he is well known & much respected, by both white & colored men of Prominence in the state of Louisiana in which state he has lived for many years, & that he subjoins the accompaning list of names, who unite with him in humbly entreating that your Excellency will regard his case, as one in which Executive Clemency can most properly be used, & that your Excellency acting under the authority delegated to you by the constitution of the state, will pardon the

Page 9

offense as proved by the verdict only and restore your Petitioner to his former status as a free man, untainted by conviction—and for all equitable releif.

respectfully submitted—

Geo. Hendricks

Robt N. Ogden
T. L. Macon
S. M. Benniss
John T Clayborne?
John W. Pierce.
Gerry [?] Kelso Senator
C. C. Antoine Lt Gov
J. A. [?]
Radford. R. Davis
Ane Dubuclet
W^m Mulford.
J. C. W. Ringgold Post Master
M. Vance
P G. Deslonde Sec State
John M. G. Parker
S B Packard
Geo. L,, Smith

A. P. Field
Atty Gen
Jo^s [?]
W^m P. Kellogg—
M A Southworth
Tom Bynum
Jack Wharton
Prof. Stanford E. Chaillé M. D.
Medl. Dept. Univ. La.

Page 10

To the foregoing petition I subscribe my name and earnestly solicit the granting of the prayer. Because I had long known George Hendricks to be an honest man, at great personal inconvenience I left New Orleans and gave him my best services in defending him. Had I ever had a doubt of his innocence (which I never had) the evidence at the trial would forever have removed it. Accused of breaking into a dwelling house in the night time and shooting at the prosecutor, he was indicted for burglary and shooting with intent to kill. The District Attorney tried the latter indictment first, which resulted in an acquittal, by a Jury of ten white and two negro men, in less than half an hour's deliberation.

A new jury was specially summoned to try the first indictment for burglary, and to the amazement of everyone a virdict against the accused of guilty was rendered. The prosecution was carried on with excessive bitterness throughout, and in the first trial two District Attorneys and special counsel prosecuted. An innocent man is by this verdict and sentence made a victim of judicial or legal error; and, in my opinion, the Executive could not more nobly serve the ends of justice than by a pardon forwith.

Respectfully submitted

E. M. Hudson
of Hudson & Fearn, Attys at law
6 Carondelet street

New Orleans, La
November 13^th 1874

Page 11

17
Geo. Hendricks

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.
Hancock County.

From Geo. Hendricks
Address Bay St. Louis
Dated [gap]
Received Nov. 16" 1874
Answered [gap]

SUBJECT:

Asking pardon

Pardoned

ADELBERT AMES,
Governor.

FRED. BARRETT,
Private Secretary.

[note] 3/29/75. [/note]