The Governor is the chief executive of the state whose function is to administer the laws of the state. The governor has the authority to grant reprieves or commute a death sentence to imprisonment in the penitentiary or to hard labor (Ala. Code, Chapter 202, Section 5129 [1923] and Ala. Constitution, Amendment No. 38, [1939]). This series consists of case files documenting the process of requesting and gaining a clemency hearing before the governor in order to obtain a stay of execution, reprieve, or commutation of a death sentence. Typical records included in these files are correspondence from convicts requesting a hearing to grant a reprieve or commutation of sentence, correspondence and telegrams from the public for or against the execution of the death sentence, Department of Corrections statements of sentence, newspaper articles announcing a clemency hearing, copies of executive orders denying clemency, correspondence requesting attendance at hearing at convict's request, statements of trial judge, and convict identification forms. The front of each folder gives the name of the convict, county, crime committed, sentence, date sentenced to execution, beginning date of the sentence, date of hearing, and action of the governor. Many files have the date of execution noted on the file.
