William E. Arthur to Beriah Magoffin

Accession Number

KYR-0001-020-1066

Document Genre

Correspondence

Repository

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Collection

Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862

Item Location

MG20-163 to MG20-164

Place of Creation

Covington, Kenton County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

29 May 1861

Dates Mentioned

1861-05-29

Covington Ky May 29^th 1861
Hon. Beriah Magoffin
Governor &c.
Dear Sir

The mother of the convict Hiram Alexander informs me that in a recent interview with you in Lexington, you requested her to procure a line from me touching the facts developed in the trial of her son. I respectfully submit a brief statement.

Hiram Alexander jointly with one Henry Slaughter was indicted and convicted of Stabbing with intent to kill one Henry Overhouse a German, They fled the night of the occurance and were subsequently arrested tried and convicted separately. Slaughter first and Alexander at a subsequent term.

The proof of the criminal acts was clear and conclusive, and unimpaired by any extenuating circumstances whatever. Overhouse with the other Germans in descending Bank Lick Street in this City about 9 & 10 o'clock one moon light night were assailed with curses by the men on the opposite side of the street. The latter crossed over to the side of the Overhouse party jostled them and put them to flight. Overhouse was pursued and being overtaken was knocked down, twice — and while laying
in the street upon his back was kicked, beaten & stabbed — the stabbing was done with a knife entering the body, some distance below the left breast and penetrating through ^into^ to the cavity of the body, inflicting a dangerous wound which might have resulted fatally to life — Overhouse bore a good character. He swore that Slaughter knocked him down, kicked him and that Alexander stabbed him that they began the assault and that no provecation or resistance to them ~~waswere~~ was offered. In support of this proof innumerable circumstances of corroberation were supplied by other emmintly credible and wholly disinterested witnesses —

The theory of the defence was that although Alexander was at the scene of the struggle he had no hand in it — that Overhouse had made contradictory statements as to who did the stabbing — sometimes saying that it was Slaughter — and at other times that it was Alexander & so on &c &c all of which lines of defence were triumphantly rebutted, — Such are the material facts

Alexanders reputation here is that of a drinking man who is quarrelsome and reckless when excited with liquor — His reputation in other respects so far as I know or have any reason to believe is free from blemish. He is a young man of good personal presence and his appearance and demeanor during the trial were manly and prepossessing — He persists in [...] his innocence and I am informed
that Slaughter, who ois in the Penitentiary, acquits him of the stabbing,

Alexanders parents are extremely poor — His mother seems to be a very worthy woman and very tenderly concerned for her son, whom she declares ~~[...]~~she relies upon mainly for her subsistence, I sincerely sympathise with her,

Official fidelity requires me to say that in this community I am aware of but little if any sympathy for Alexander: — there is however much felt for his mother and I earnestly commend her and her mission to the sympathy and respect of the Executive

Very truly your Excellency's
obedient Servant
W, E, Arthur
Atty Com'th
9th Ju, District

The foregoing letter speaks for itself — I have deep sympathy for the mother but know nothing of the son —

J. W Stevenson

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