Letter from James R. Cavett to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; January 27, 1876

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Letter from James R. Cavett to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; January 27, 1876

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People

Allgood, J. B.Cavett, James R.Connor, W. M.Rhodes, Travis White, T. J.

Events

Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Charges and specifications (Civil and Criminal)Criminal Procedure--Declined to prosecute Finances Finances--Default Legislation. Mississippi Legislation. Mississippi. An Act to reduce taxes &c (1875)Political Office--Removal from office Political elections Political elections--Mississippi Political elections--Mississippi. Election of 1875 Taxation Taxation--Mississippi

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Circuit Courts Courts and Judicial Systems--Grand jury Mississippi--Executive Department

Occupations

Clerks Law Enforcement Law Enforcement--Sheriffs Secretaries Tax Auditors Treasurers

Places

Mississippi--Noxubee County. Macon

Page 1

[seal]

Macon Miss
Jany 27^th 1876.

Dear Sir,

Your favor of the 24^th Inst. rec^d in which you desire to obtain the facts in the case relative to Sheriff Connors settlement with the Board of Supervisor's of Noxubee County, and your Connection therewith, so far as known by me.

I will state that I was employed as clerk, in the Sheriffs Office by Mr. Connor and had entire control of the finances! In the month of June 1875, after I had made final settlement with the Auditor, for the Taxes of 1874, I endeveared to make a final Sett-lement with the County Treasurer but failed from the fact that he refused to take certain claims Allowed the sheriff by the Circuit Court—These claims were refered to the Board of Supervisors, by the Treasurer, and they (the Board, passed an order an spred it upon the minuits, declining to have any thing further to do with the sheriffs accounts. This Action of the Board of Supervisors prevented a settlement.

The President of the Board, (J B Allgood)

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and Sheriff Connor were opponants for the Sheriffs Office, and unfrendly. Allgood required the Treasurer to make a report of the balance due by the Sheriff, (which report did not show the correct balance,) and he (Allgood) transmitted a copy of said report to the Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933|Govenor]], with a request (as I understand) that he would take action thereupon under, "An Act to reduce Taxes &c Approved March 5/75." The Sheriff incidencially hearing of this secret move of Allgood's, requested me to visit the Govenor, and explain to him the reason why the settlement was not made, which I did, and informed the Govenor, that Connor, was ready and willing to settle, and that he (Connor) was not a defaulter.

The Govenor then consented to delay any action at that time, and hoped that Connor would make the settlement. After some weeks Connor was sued in the Circuit Court, and also was informed that the Govenor was again importuned to remove him. I again vistied Gove Ames, and requested him not to take action, That I had no doubt but what the Circuit Court would settle the whole controversy—

The Govenor informed me that unless Connor

settled the whole matter at Court, that he would be Compelled to remove him.

I told him that Connor was more than anxious to settle, and there no obsticle in the way of a settlement at Court. The case was not settled at Court, and a short time after court, the Govenor inf-ormed Connor through a Communication to me, that he was Compelled to take action. I again visited the Govenor, and carried with me the report of the Grand Jury on the case, which stated in substance that on a fair settlement with the Sheriff, there would be but a small balance either way between him and the county, and also gave him a full statement of Connors effort to have a settlement.—The Govenor then seemed convinced of Connors ability and desire to settle, and asked me to request the Treasurer to withdraw his charges against Connor and let the matter be settled in the Courts, stating that he thought it wrong to be runing two saws against Connor—In the meantime the Election Came off amidst a goodeal of excitement and no further action has been taken in the matter so far as the Govenor is concerned.

The New Board of Supervisors since

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then installed into Office, has taken action on Connors accounts, and the whole matter is now in a fair way of adjustment and settlement.

Respectfully

James R Cavett

State of Mississippi
Noxubee County

Personally Came before me T. J. White Clerk of the Circuit Court, in and for the County and State aforesaid J R. Cavett, who being by me swor on oath says that the foregoing statement is true and correct.

[seal] CIRCUIT COURT * NOXUBEE COUNTY, MISS. * [/seal]

T. J. White
Clerk Circuit Court
Noxubee County Miss.

I, W. M. Connor, Late Sheriff of Noxubee County, having read the above and foregoing statement, made by J. R. Cavett, do hereby certify that it embraces a true statement of the Govenors connection with my case so far as they came to my knowledge.

W M Connor

To Adelbert Ames.
Gov Mississippi

Page 4

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI,

Noxubee County,

From T. J. Cavett
Address Macon
Dated Jan'y. 27^th 1876
Received _" 28 _{" "}
Answered [gap]

SUBJECT:

Detailed account of attempt to settle with County Treas'r. for year 1874—on a/c of W. M. Con-ner Sheff &c.

(Inclosures [gap])

ADELBERT AMES,
Governor.

TRAVIS RHODES,
Private Secretary.