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The State of Alabama In Circuit Court Shelby county March Term 1836
The Grand Jury of said county charge that before the finding of this indictment that Jesse Niven assaulted and beat [steping] a slave belonging to William G. Bowden contrary to law and
against the peace & dignity of the State of Alabama
L A B Martin Solicitor of the 3rd Judicial circuit of Alabama
{The controll no offence - no resistance did he do more than was necessary to do}
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Filed in office 15th March 1856 M J O Barr Clerk
320 The State vs A&B Jesse Niven No Prosecutor Witnesses [z] Diamond George Moore, Wm.Ransom Horton, Dr Blake we the Jury from fine the defendant five dollars & find that he fought with a stick
A true Bill Wm J. Peters Foreman of the Grand Jury
We the Jury find the Defend gilty [] five dollars H.l. Haton foreman
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The State of Ala vs Jesse Niven In this case. personally came Jesse Niven to me well known & makes oath in due form of law, that in the above Sstated case the Defendant Jesse Niven who was Indicted for an assault and battery on a Negro the property of Wm G Bawdan that the time the defendant was called he was not in court that he was in no default that he lives 4 miles from the court House that he used all the dilegence he could to get here and that he never authoryed W G Bawdan to put in the plea of guilty for him that if Bawdan So under Stood him he was mistaken that he,d councel employed and he is informed that his councel object to the plea that the Bawdan assured his council that he was authuryed to put in the plea of guilty, and that If he ever authoryed Bawdan to put in his plea he is not concern of the fact there was a conversation between him & Bawdan but he now fully concent on his part that at the suggestion of Bawdan he said he would come court and If he could off fur get the thing fixed to [?] how he would rather keep a small few than [?] be [tracible?] that he has a good defence as he believes--and is [?] and he further States that great injustice has been done him in the premises and that it is not guilty as he is informed and believes and he now, asks your honor for a fair hearing. and submits the above affidant for a new trial in his case. sworn to and subscribed before me this the 18th day of September 1836
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Jesse Kings affidavit for new trial
Filed in clerks office this 19th sept 1856 in J R Barr clerk
1852 1852 Wm P Reaves the new Sheriff of Shelby