From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Ames Collection. Legal Document from the Grand Jury of Tishomingo County, Mississippi, enclosing an indictment of Samuel Hardy and Clay Little for the alleged murder of Frank McKinney.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Ames Collection. Letter containing a list of cases heard by the Mississippi State Supreme Court in the October 1875 term.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Ames Collection. Letter from Chief Clerk Henry S. Babins to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames, containing a statement of the assets and liabilities of the state of Ohio.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Ames Collection. Letter from C. A. Sullivan to Mississippi Lieutenant Governor A. K. Davis, requesting leave of absence for sixty days.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Ames Collection. Letter from James W. Short to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames, containing a transcript of a resolution adopted by Vicksburg, Mississippi, to petition the Ames for overflow aid.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Ames Collection. Petition from several citizens of Noxubee County, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames, asking for the pardon of Mitchell Easley, who was convicted of murder in April 1873.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from W. S. Baggett to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn, accepting his appointment to the office of circuit clerk of Lincoln County, Mississippi.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from J. T. Davidson to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn, sending his resignation and returning the "certificate of appointment" for the office of circuit and chancery clerk of Hancock County, Mississippi.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from G. C. Chandler to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn's Private Secretary H. F. Hewson, drawing attention to the request sent in for an appointment to the office of the chancery clerk for Clarke County, Mississippi.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter written by W. B. Ogden on behalf of Mary Camps to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn, writing to Alcorn asking him to spare the life of her son's convicted murderer and commute his sentence to life imprisonment. She pleads with Alcorn, stating that Solomon Pitts, the accused, is an "uneducated" person and not able to appreciate his actions.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Report from Mississippi Secretary of State James D. Lynch to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn, giving Alcorn a report on the condition of the secretary of state's office, the duties of office, and a brief description of his thoughts on what should be done within the office. Lynch's report especially concerns the duties of the office as they relate to the appraisal and administration of public lands.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from David H. Gregg to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn, discussing an article that appeared in the Pilot newspaper, the author of which used the pseudonym "Veritas." The article made allegations against an unnamed candidate for the office of superintendent of the Mississippi State Penitentiary. Gregg believes that the article was aimed at him, and he claims that the author is Thomas Sturgis, former clerk of the penitentiary. Gregg denies the charges and asks Alcorn to rely on the word of those who have endorsed him for the position.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from Mayor Thomas J. Binford of Duck Hill, Mississippi, to Mississippi Attorney General J. S. Morris, informing Morris that he has made application to be appointed to the office of chancery clerk of Montgomery County, Mississippi, and that he has learned that Dr. E.R. Armstead, a Democrat, has also been recommended. Binford states that Armstead is not a resident of Montgomery County but is from Choctaw County, Mississippi, by way of Texas, and that Armstead has been in Mississippi for a few months. On the reverse, in a note dated June 10, 1871, Morris refers Binford's letter to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn. Included is a note from H. F. Hewson, Alcorn's private secretary, giving a summary of Binford's letter.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from W. B. Davis to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn, sending Alcorn a copy of an indictment from the Grand Jury of Grenada County, Mississippi, against Adolphus Ruoff and Kate Ruoff for the crime of larceny. Davis informs Alcorn that Kate Ruoff is out on bond and Adolphus escaped to Kent County, Michigan, and has been arrested in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is requesting that Alcorn make a request for the return of Adolphus Ruoff.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from Wm. T. Nesbit to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn, informing him of the situation surrounding his appointment and confirmation to the office of circuit clerk of DeSoto County, Mississippi.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Legal document from H. L. Muldrow, W. S. Parks and J. S. Reid, containing a true bill of indictment against James R. Ellis, former probate clerk, for his role in the theft of a bond belonging to the sheriff. Other written legal items from other county officials included. (Item is fragile and torn).

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from Charles W. Clarke to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn, informing Alcorn that the two clerks of the county are doing well, and he hopes there is no plan for their removal, as they are both competent in handling their affairs and dealing with the citizens of the area.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from Thomas McCarren and Geo. B. McNamara to R. J. Mathews. A reply written to Mathews concerning the case of William Hanlan (also known as Michael Hanlan). The letter states that Hanlan and the man whom he was charged with shooting served in the same military unit stationed in Columbus, Mississippi, in August of 1867. Both men were drunk from liquor and got into a quarrel. Hanlan went to his tent to get his rifle and shot Beau, another man, and was then turned over to local authorities in Columbus.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from T. V. Noland at Woodville, Mississippi, to R. J. Mathews, recounting from memory the case of Res. Smith and stating that the two counts of larceny and burglary were weighed against Smith circumstantially. Although Smith was in possession of some of the items, Noland believes he most likely did not steal them. Noland states that Smith should be pardoned as he has fully atoned for his crime.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from Thomas Reed to R. J. Mathews, concerning an inquiry into the case of Tim (or Jim) Carter who had been convicted of stealing a mule and sentenced to one year in the Mississippi State Penitentiary. Reed explains that the prosecution failed to positively identify the mule Carter had supposedly stolen, and believes that the jury convicted him just for being in possession of a mule. Reed also explains that Judge Smiley had not taken the oath, and therefore the court did not have jurisdiction to hear the case and thus Carter was being held without cause and should be released.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from H. Murphy to R. J. Mathews, recounting the details of the case of Isham Walton, whom he defended, and stating that Walton was convicted of assault with the intent to kill. According to witnesses, Walton was said to have been holding a gun carelessly when it went off by accident. Murphy states that he believes the punishment for Walton was unjust. There is also a statement at the end of this letter from W. L. Walton pleading for the release of Isham Walton.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Document from L. A. Bell, clerk for Mississippi Secretary of State James Lynch, providing a short summary of a letter received from R. L. Banton requesting a copy of the Acts of the last Mississippi Legislature. (Original letter from Banton not present).

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Clark Collection. Letter from N. L. Norton at Tibbee, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark, introducing Colonel A. Brown, who is seeking a government job.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Clark Collection. Letter from Robert C. Miller, clerk of the Mississippi House of Representatives at Columbus, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark, enclosing a resolution concerning liquor manufacturing.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Clark Collection. Letter from J. G. Morey and D. B. Morey, state commissioners of military funds, to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark, concerning their investigation into use of government funds.