Edward P. Campbell et al. to Beriah Magoffin

KYR-0001-021-0033.xml

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Citation
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Accession Number

KYR-0001-021-0033

Document Genre

Correspondence

Repository

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Collection

Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Apprehension of Fugitives from Justice Papers, 1859-1862

Item Location

MG8-120 to MG8-121

Place of Creation

Princeton, Caldwell County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

16 June 1861

Dates Mentioned

1861-06-16

1861-06

1859-05-25

1861-08-26

Edward P. Campbell et al. to Beriah Magoffin, 16 June 1861, Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Apprehension of Fugitives from Justice Papers, 1859-1862, MG8-120 to MG8-121, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-021-0033, (accessed December 22, 2024).

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E. P. CAMPBELL,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
PRINCETON, KY.
Princeton, KY., June 16" 1861
Hon B Magoffin
Frankfort Kenty
Dr Sir

At the June Term of the Caldwell -- Circuit Court Wesley a Slave the property of the Estate of Jesse Williams Decd -- was tried on an Indictment charged with the Murder of Edmund Stevens and was found guilty by the Jury -- the evidence on the trial disclosed that Jesse Williams Decd was a violent reckless and desperate man and he entertained a grudge and hatred towards Edmund Stevens the Decd -- and Stevens was on the morning of the 25" day of May 1859 shot down while engaged at work on his farm -- and suspicion rested on Williams and his family as the persons guilty of the Murder of Stevens and after circumstances led to the detection and arrest of the Negro man Wesley
and after Wesley was arrested and committed to Jail he confessed to the Jailor and other persons that he did shoot and kill Stevens but he did it by the command and coercion of his master Jesse Williams Decd -- and stated that Williams was standing by him when he shot Stevens and -- One of the Comth witnesses to whom Wesley confessed the murder on the same day of the Killing of Stevens -- stated that about a week before Stevens -- was killed he heard Jesse Williams tell Wesley that if he Wesley did not Kill Stevens he Williams would cut his back all to pieces -- and stated that he was present several times when Williams started Wesley out with a gun to Kill Stevens and heard Williams tell Wesley to Kill said Stevens -- We are satisfied from the evidence that Wesley Killed Stevens through fear compulsion and constraint of his Master Jesse Williams and from no wish or will of his own and so --
stated in his confession to the Jailor and other -- we are of the Opinion -- that Wesley case demands the interposition of executive clemency in his behalf -- And we are equally opposed to his being granted a full pardon so as to let him go back into the possession of the family of Jesse Williams Decd -- We request and hereby urge of Your excellency to commute his punishment from death to confinement in the Penitentiary for life

Yours Very truly
E. P,, Campbell Atty
For Commonwealth
Tho C Dabney Judge
E. P. Watkins clk caldwell ct ct.
Jesse Stevens Sheriff
Jas A Johnson D S
James S. Lowey Jailor
L. Pepper

Caldwell Cir. Ct
Wesley -- Slave
Murder
Commuted to imprisonment for life
Iss^dAug 26. 1861

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