Letter from J. J. Evans to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; April 29, 1875

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Letter from J. J. Evans to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; April 29, 1875

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People

Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Evans, J. J.Garrett, D. M.Jesus Christ Johnson, J. H.Mumford, George H.Orton, William Pratt, J. F.Rhodes, Travis Tate, Reuben Van Horne, John

Events

Crime Crime--Murder Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Commutation of Sentence Criminal Procedure--Convicted Criminal Procedure--Execution Criminal Procedure--Pardon

Organizations

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

Businesses

Telegraph Company Telegraph Company--Western Union Telegraph Company (Rochester, N.Y.)

Occupations

Clergy Clerks Judges Law Enforcement Law Enforcement--Sheriffs Lawyers Lawyers. Public Prosecutors Legislators Secretaries

Places

Kentucky--Jefferson County. Louisville Mississippi--DeSoto County. Hernando Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson New York

Social Identifiers

Imprisoned people

Vital Statistics

Death

Page 1

[seal]

Hernando DeSoto Co Miss April 29

Hon A Ames Gov. of the State of Miss.

Sir
I desire your Excelency to pardon Reuben Tate as at least to extend the time for his execution The testimony is entirely circumstantial and alltogether too slender to justify any inteligent set of jurors of convict him unless they permit their passions and perdicies to over-rule there better Judgements I have been his Spiritual Adviser, ^and^ he has professed a hope in Christ he has always said he was inocent, and to day still says the same sir I think he is an object that deserves your Excellency mercy Please let me here from you by Telegram in the matter.

Respectfully Submitted

J. F. Pratt Chy Clk
J. J. Evans Shff

over

Page 2

on Friday the 30^th,, inst between the hours of 12 M and 2 P M

your obedient servt

J H Johnson
Rep DeSoto Co

[note] 4/30/75. [/note]

Page 3

Hernando Miss.
April 27^th 1875.

To His Excellency
Adelbert Ames
Jackson
Miss.

Dear Sir.

Friday next being being; the day for the execution of the death warrant in the case of the State of Miss vs Reuben Tate convicted of the murder of D. M. Garrett, at the March Term 1875 of the Circuit Court of this County and the evidence in the matter being solely circumstantial we humbly ask of your Excellency ~~the~~ to commute the sentence from death to the Penitentiary for life, ~~believing that further devel-opments will be made~~, to await further developments in the matter.

Respectfully Submitted

J. F. Pratt Chy Clk
J. J. Evans. Shff

over

Page 4

[unclear]ESTERN UNIO[unclear

[unclear] require that all [unclear] and subject to the conditions printed thereon, which condi[unclear] [unclear]llowing message.

JOHN VAN HORNE, Gen'l Sup't
LOUISVILLE, KY.

[?]

P. S. The time being so short should your Excellency Commute the sentence please notify the Sheriff by telegraph

Page 5

[unclear]ESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY

[unclear] require that all messages received for transmission, shall be written on the message blanks of the Company, under and subject to the conditions printed thereon, which conditions have been agreed to by the sender of
the following message.

JOHN VAN HORNE, Gen'l Sup't
LOUISVILLE, KY.

1 H

WILLIAM ORTON, Pres't
GEO. H. MUMFORD, Sec'y

NEW YORK

Dated Hernando Mi Apl 30 1875
Received at Jackson Miss Apl. 30
To Gov A Ames

Have you commuted Reuben Tates sentence, please answer immediately, the mail does not reach here until after the hour

J J Evans
Sheriff

4/30/75
@ 9³⁰

20 paid

Page 6

Name Reuben Tate
No. [gap]

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.
DeSoto County.

PETITION FOR PARDON
From J. J. Evans, She'ff—
Address Hernando, Miss
Dated April 27, 1875.
Received May 1, ,,

Crime Murder
Sentenced To be hanged
Referred to Judge and District Attorney,
Returned to Ex. O. [gap]
Indorsement [gap]
[gap]
Granted [gap]
(2 Inclosure.)

ADELBERT AMES,
Governor.

TRAVIS RHODES,
Private Secretary.