Pardons, paroles, and clemency files, 1849-1853.

ArchivalResource

Alabama. Governor (1849-1853 : Collier). Pardons, paroles, and clemency files, 1849-1853.

Pardons, paroles, and clemency files, 1849-1853.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122562483

The Governor is the chief executive of the state whose function is to administer the laws of the state. One of the activities used to accomplish this function is the pardoning of individuals convicted or fined in all criminal and penal cases, except those of treason and impeachment. This series contains letters from the convicted parties, letters and petitions from their relatives, friends and fellow citizens, and supporting legal documentation concerning pardons, paroles and remission of fines imposed. The most common crime is murder, followed closely by assault with intent to kill. One of the noteworthy cases of murder involved Peter Hamilton's slaves, Big Joe, Little Joe, Bill and Jack, who killed their overseer with a hoe in Greene County. Also receiving much public interest are Henry Gee, sentenced in Pickens County, and Nathan H. Crist of Mobile County. Gee, who stabbed William Neal in Sumter County, was sentenced to life imprisonment. In addition to those supporting Gee, many letters and petitions opposed the petitions for his pardon on the grounds that he was a "notorious desperado" and had threatened those who convicted him. Nathan Crist, alias N.P. Colemen, was sentenced to death for strangling Theodore Nye and received support from his many relatives and friends in Ohio. One of the most noteworthy cases of assault with intent to kill occured in Marion County when Sam, a slave of M.P. Price, was sentenced to hang from assaulting and attempting to kill the overseer. A slave named Young from Coosa County was sentenced to death for assault with intent to kill his overseer. Among the petitioners was A.M. White, Young's victim, who asked that Young be pardoned on the condition that he be taken out of the state. Another assault case that generated much public interest was that of Francis Flanagan of Wilcox Co. who attacked Arthur Fant. Community members requested that Flanagan's five year sentence be waived due to his good character and ill health. Other crimes include assault, theft, especially of horses and slaves, forfeiture of bonds and gambling. One case of burglary involved two slaves from Tuscaloosa, John and Lewis. Both were sentenced to death for taking money from a store. A forgery case of note is that of Thomas Shaw who was convicted in Montgomery County for forging a pass for a slave. Shaw's family and friends in England asked for the governor's aid on the grounds that Shaw, a foreigner, was unfamiliar with the laws pertaining to slavery. Many of the less frequent crimes include rape, aiding a criminal to escape, adultery, illegal voting, distilling alcohol illegally, and several crimes concerning slaves, such as harboring slaves, cruel and unusual punishment, and helping slaves run away. Many of the more voluminous cases were those of convicted slaves. The counties with the most cases include Coosa, Greene, Marion, Mobile, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa.

2 cubic ft. (4 archives boxes).

Alabama Department of Archives and History