Letter from A. M. Olcott to Mississippi Governor John M. Stone; February 23, 1878

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Letter from A. M. Olcott to Mississippi Governor John M. Stone; February 23, 1878

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People

Burt, R. L.Hebron, John Lawrence, Sr., 1832-1906 Morris, Unknown Olcott, A. M.Stone, John Marshall, 1830-1900

Events

Convict Labor Convict Labor. Mississippi Convict Labor. Mississippi. Leasing Program Crimes (alleged)Crimes (alleged)--Perjury Criminal Procedures Criminal Procedures--Arrest Criminal Procedures--Convicted Criminal Procedures--Pardon Criminal Procedures--Release Criminal Procedures--Trial Entertainment & Vices--Drug and Alcohol Consumption and Intoxication

Military Units

United States. Army

Organizations

Courts & Judicial Systems Courts & Judicial Systems--Criminal Juries Jails

Businesses

Convict Leasing Brokers--J. S. Hamilton & Company (Jackson, Miss.)

Occupations

Judges Lawyers Medical Profession Medical Profession--Surgeons

Places

Illinois--Madison County. Alton Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson

Social Identifiers

African Americans African Americans--Historically Free and Newly Freed Mental Illness

Vital Statistics

Disease and Illness

Page 1

Upper Alton, Ill. Feb 23rd 1878

Gov Stones,

Honored Sir The kind & prompt letter written by your direction^on the 18-^ is received. I thank you more than words can express that you say "you will have Mr. Burt case investigated, and if my information is corroborated by the facts he shall be discharged from prison" Permit me to say it will be difficult for you to l earn the true facts in this case. He got among the Philistines, was a Northern man and a stranger there—not one friend to help or speak the truth for him. There is a reason to think he was drugged & hindered by others from returning in time as intended with the horse. He was not in the habit of taking strong drink. All who have known him say he had not this habit, and through his life has been prompt & in season with all business. The difficulty with his head—partial due derangement at times which he has suffered with for three years past may have caused him to forget then his time to return, but I believe some others hindered him also. Some there that he considered good true friends wrote me they respected him & hoped I would not think hard of them for not getting up a petition to clear & help him to be pardoned as they believed you would if you knew the truth if a petition was sent to you for him, but if they did anything about it they would be disliked by others there. I do not like to speak against any there. Yet do you desire the truth to be known justice and write done to this injured man. He was suddenly caught & punished severely. Kept in prison. His friends up here knew nothing of it for months after his trial & ^was^ convicted.

The trial was last Apr or May in Jackson. Judge Morris gave the decision. Mr. Burt wrote me last Oct. 7^th to write to Judge Morris asking him^I did write to Judge M^ to give him a new trial (or procure his pardon) as the trial 5 months previous was unfair for him. He was not allowed any time or way to get witnesses or proof of his innocence. The other man brought seven who testified against him, some of them swore to what was false and to things that had nothing to do with the case. but all tended to set the Jury and Judge against him. The Judge promised him to get his witnesses for him before the trial but he did not do it.

Page 2

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I do not know that Dr. Hebron will assist in getting Mr. B release he has so many duties to do, would not wait for him. he has said he would do it & advised that it be done last summer by others. Then in Dec. said he would, & believed you would grant it.

If he had had a lawyer—one friend & 25 Dollars then when that trial was he need never have been put there he wrote me. The circumstances were very trying to him it being so among strangers. You see he had no chance to speak for himself. They would not grant him justice and no friend to prove the right. He hired the horse & paid for it in advance. all the wrong there was, he delayed to return ^it^ in the time he expected to at first. I know it was wrong & had that he did the delay, and not like his usual way when well to do so, do not know why he did, but do you think for this it was right he should have been punished so severely, put in prison five years by so unjust and unfair a trial. When it was out of his power to help it, or to have done better at that time. I rejoice that you say you will give the matter proper attention. It needs it immediately. The man is suffering in mind & health—if he yet lives. We have not heard from him since Dec. 10th I write you this time to state the facts and let you know if the true facts had been acted upon at the trial justice had been allowed him he would not have been judged guilty. You may think I say too much of this. I trust you will consider wisely & truly the circumstances just as they were with this sick man (some of the time not right in mind) when he was arrested among strangers & accused of what was not true—put in prison &c.

He is hired out on plantations with negroes. cannot endure what they can who are accustomed to such service. His mind & soul suffer more by this. I cannot rest when I think of his situation there so terrible & wrong and pray earnestly & continually that our Father in Heaven will grant him release and help you to discharge him from prison. make all with him kind & just—do as they would be done by. I do not think you will ever be troubled with him again if you free him now. or that you will have caused to regret discharging him. If he has his reason will be more watchful to avoid those who would lead him into trouble. He has been severely punished & suffered by this imprisonment 9 or 10 months. I hope he may soon be released and granted his clothes he had taken, or a suit comfortable & right.

I was sick when he started last from here & did not know he thought of going or I should have tried to persuade him not to go, as I was able to many times before when he was deranged and wanted to go. I cannot tell you the anxiety I have for him, sick he may be now yet hope God will be with him to bless & have mercy for Christs sake Excuse me—I will not weary you—Shall ever feel truly grateful to you for your kind humane regard and discharge of my friend Mr. R. L. Burt. May God bless you and your State in all your interests.

Gov Stones his Excellency—With due respect : A. M. Olcott

I do not know that Dr. Hebron will assist in getting Mr. B. release he has so many duties to do, would not wait for him. he has said he would do it & advised that it be done last summer by others—Then in Dec. said he would see you,& beleived you would grant it.

Please let me know when Mr. B is released Judge Morris did not answer me when I wrote him to give a new trial—to reconsider the matter. This is a terrible calamity on a helpless man and I am truly thankful you are so good & just & will see to the case give him and me—all who suffered by it relief and peace.