From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from H. S. Van Eaton at Woodville, Mississippi, to R. J. Mathews, recounting the case of Elisha Boker and stating that he ought to have never been convicted, stating that the prosecutor had gone to the cabin of Boker looking for a woman that was staying there. When Elisha came out, the prosecutor tried to attack Elisha with a long piece of iron. Van Eaton claims Elisha defended himself with a knife, cutting the prosecutor. Van Eaton also accuses the witnesses in the case, all African Americans, of being prejudiced against Boker. Van Eaton requests executive clemency for Boker.
From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Ames Collection. Letter from Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames at Jackson, Mississippi, to the Superintendent of the Mississippi State Penitentiary, granting pardon to Elisha Baker to be released from prison.