Civil War & Reconstruction Governors of Mississippi Project

To His Excellency, J. M. Stone, Governor of the State of Mississippi.

The undersigned citizens of Yazoo County and state aforesaid most respectfully represent unto your Excellency that Richard Laran, a boy of Yazoo County was indicted at the May Term 1876 of the Circuit Court of Yazoo County and was at the same term tried & convicted of the manslaughter of Monroe Lee in and of said County. That Richard Laren was & is a white boy of about 17 years of age, half-witted, ignorant and poorly grown for his age. That Monroe Lee was about the same age, of more mind and of better growth and strength. Each were poor orphans living as they had lived for many years in a mile of each other and had been friends and companions in boyhood joys and associations for many years, until some week or more before the homicide in this case they casually met and had in their meet-ing an unexpected & sudden boy difference and quarrel—which passed off without any further con-test or trouble—and without any matter that should have survived the occasion & as they believe, did not on the part of Laren. Laren & his brother David, about 12 years of age, of feeble body & mind, were on their way in direct route from their home by the residence of Mrs Moore, the Aunt of Lee, & the mother of grown children & among them a son grown and of a family who kept owned and controlled the house & premises, & Lee was a mere occupant and dweller under their will & pleasure

on their way to the house and family of a M^r Mize, some half mile beyond Mrs Moore & on direct route there-for to a party of feast & dance, to which the boys and girls had been invited the night of the homi-cide—That on their way to the party after sundown, they met not far from the residence of Mrs Moore & her son, Moore ^Johnson by a former marriage—^, Monroe Lee, Theo Jones, Henry Mize, and one Rainer, boys of their daily association and who proposed to attend the party at Mize that night, and who were on their way to the house of Mrs Moore preparatory to the party at Mize's that night—Deft & his lesser brother joined with them and went to the house of Mrs & M^r Moore ^& Johnson^ to go with them & the girls of the Moore family to the party that night at Mize's. There were several girls of the Moore family expected to attend said party that night and the two Larens expected & hoped to go with the boys & girls to the party and hence joined the other boys to the House of Mrs & M^r Moore ^& Johnson^—to that end—and went with the other parties to the house of Mrs Moore, without any objection by said Lee—but Richard was advised by said Jones not to go to the house, on account of the previous quarrel between him & said Lee—but said that was all over & he would go—All went in a kindly and friendly way, with no objection by Lee—nor by Mrs or M^r ^or Johnston^. They all entered the family reception room in peace & in good order—when suddenly Lee ordered them to leave and depart, which they at once started to do, in usual haste. but before they could

reasonably get out, Lee knocked, kicked and shoved Richard & David out of the house, which neither, at the time resented, but when so expelled, Richard said to his brother David, let us go home and not keep company with any such damn set, when he & David ^started^ on their way home from the house of Mrs Moore & her son, ^Lee^ followed Richard and asked him what he meant by what he said—and Richard said if you follow me I will show you—That Richard & David was then on their way home in a different & oppo-site direction from Mize's & the party, and had abandoned the idea of the party and Mize's & the residence of Mrs Moore, and had gone on their way home and off the premises of Mrs & M^r Moore ^& Johnson^, over three ^four^ hundred yards, persued closely by said Lee & said three other boys with volleys of abuse and insults, said Lee came upon said David, knocked, kicked and cuffed him, because David said finally if you ever come into my yard I will kill you, if I can get lead enough to do it. It was then about dark—Richard went to his brother David's relief and in the strife cut & stabbed by a single blow the deceased, with a little pocket knife, which proved fatal—Richard & David both say & the latter swears that when Richard stabbed Lee, he (Lee) had passed from David, after kicking, knocking & cuffing him, to Richard Laren and was attempt-ing to beat and cuff him—when Richard in

in defence of his brother & himself from the crowd which followed him drew his pocket knife & defended himself & brother—in the dark & on their way home and persued by said Lee & the three others who gave no token of kindness or friendship—relief or aid—These are substan-tially the facts on trial—as written, certified & willing to be sworn to by Hon Ro. S. Hudson as we are advised and believe—We therefore believe that the verdict & judgment is wrong, and the judgment of the Court is far more wrong and indeed outrageous and hence cheerfully and earnestly beg your Honor & Excellency to pardon this boy; and as in duty bound will ever pray &c.

These are the facts as developed on the trial—and further that Laren was timid, & even cowardly & was often imposed upon by Le. R. S. Hudson

Geo N Parks one of Jury J A Barksdale S. W. Swayze Geo M Powell N. T. Pugh W. W. Powell J L M^cCullen W^m Battaile B Swayze T. J. Callihan W. D. Ferriss C. A. Ferriss Thos L Ferriss. J. L. [?]

G P Stubblefield F. J. Pepper [?] S Moseley John Warnack F [?] R M Bringforth J C Bringforth William Walker Robt Thomas Lomam Strong James Clark P. Price C. Walker

A Born Lewis Cook Fred Johnson A Brown Smith Henry Robson Dave Robson Flander Hyman J CLes Ward Thomas Callis Henry Callis Mose YarBer John. Johnson Ike Sissom Allbert [?] S Henry Dickson P John Anderson Bill Cellia Tomas Cellia Alfar Pimburton Harison Owns Gabe Hunter

To His Excellency J.M Stone Jovena -& the Hon the [?] - of the state of Miu. The [?] member of the Columbus Bar, ucomund toyou Janes M. Arnold, asa (not sure). table

4/18/1876 [Written in pencil]

ADELBERT AMES _{J. M. Stone} Governor of the State of Mississippi,

To the Sheriff of Hinds County, Or to the Sheriff of any other County -- GREETING:

Whereas, His Excellency the Governor of the State of Louisiana has made known to me that Albert Wright, stands charged with having committed the crime of Larcency (as set forth in the annexed copy of an affidavit, which is hereby certified to be authentic,) in the State of Louisiana on the [Space] day of [Space] 18[Space];

AND, WHEREAS, It appears that said Albert Wright has fled from justice, and is to be found in the State of Mississippi, where he has taken refuge;

AND WHEREAS, the Governor aforesaid, has demanded of me the arrest and delivery of said Albert Wright to H. B. Beard whom he has appointed agent to receive and convey said Albert Wright to the jurisdictional limits within which he stands charged.

Now, Therefore, I, ADELBERT AMES, _{J. M. Stone,} Governor of the State of Mississippi, do, by virtue of the power vested in me by the Consitution and Laws of this State, direct and require you to arrest the said Albert Wright, and deliver him to the custody of the said H. B. Beard, the agent appointed by the Governor of Louisiana, to the end that he may be conveyed to the jurisdictional limits where he stands charged.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, Witness my hand and signature, and the Great Seal of the State of Mississippi hereunto affixed, this 18th day of April 1876.

J M Stone By the Governor:

James Hill SECRETARY 0F STATE,

[State Seal]

ADELBERT AMES _{J. M. Stone} Governor of the State of Mississippi,

To the Sheriff of [Space] County, Or to the Sheriff of any other County -- GREETING:

Whereas, His Excellency the Governor of the State of Georgia has made known to me that Holy K. Groughf, stands charged with having committed the crime of murder (as set forth in the annexed copy of an affidavit, _Indictment, which is hereby certified to be authentic,) in the County of Worth, in said State, on the 20th day of November 1862;

AND, WHEREAS, It appears that said Holy K. Goughf has fled from justice, and is to be found in the State of Mississippi, where he has taken refuge;

AND WHEREAS, the Governor aforesaid, has demanded of me the arrest and delivery of said Holy K. Goughf to A. B. Kence, whom he has appointed agent to receive and convey said Hoby K. Goughf to the jurisdictional limits within which he stands charged.

Now, Therefore, I, ADELBERT AMES, _{J. M. Stone,} Governor of the State of Mississippi, do, by virtue of the power vested in me by the Consitution and Laws of this State, direct and require you to arrest the said Hoby K. Goughf, and deliver him to the custody of the said A. B. Kence, the agent appointed by the Governor of Georgia, to the end that he may be conveyed to the jurisdictional limits where he stands charged.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, Witness my hand and signature, and the Great Seal of the State of Mississippi hereunto affixed, this 19th day of September 1876.

J M Stone By the Governor:

James Hill SECRETARY 0F STATE,

[State Seal]

EXECUTIVE OFFICE, STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, [Space] County.

From Address Dated Sep't 18th, 1875. Received Answered

SUBJECT

Writ for Arrest of Hoby K. Gaughf, charged in Worth County, Georgia, with Murder.

(Inclosures)

J. M. STONE, Governor.

KINLOCH FALCONER, Private Secretary.

ADELBERT AMES _{J. M. Stone} Governor of the State of Mississippi,

To the Sheriff of [Space] County, Or to the Sheriff of any other County -- GREETING:

Whereas, His Excellency the Governor of the State of Georgia has made known to me that Hoby K. Goughf stands charged with having committed the crime of Murder (as set forth in the annexed copy of an affidavit, _indictment which is hereby certified to be authentic,) in the County of Worth, in said State, on the 20th day of November, 1862;

AND, WHEREAS, It appears that said Hoby K. Goughf has fled from justice, and is to be found in the State of Mississippi, where he has taken refuge;

AND WHEREAS, the Governor aforesaid, has demanded of me the arrest and delivery of said Hoby K. Goughf to A. B. Kence whom he has appointed agent to receive and convey said Hoby K. Goughf, to the jurisdictional limits within which he stands charged.

Now, Therefore, I, ADELBERT AMES, _{J. M. Stone,} Governor of the State of Mississippi, do, by virtue of the power vested in me by the Consitution and Laws of this State, direct and require you to arrest the said Hoby K. Goughf, and deliver him to the custody of the said A. B. Kence, the agent appointed by the Governor of Georgia, to the end that he may be conveyed to the jurisdictional limits where he stands charged.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, Witness my hand and signature, and the Great Seal of the State of Mississippi hereunto affixed, this 18th day of September 1876.

J M Stone By the Governor:

James Hill SECRETARY OF STATE,

[State Seal]