Category Archives: Crimes

Horse Thieves: Newspaper Articles And Other Tidbits

Posted on by

From the “Florence Journal” Florence, Alabama, Wednesday, 8 August 1866, page 3

Horse Thieves. On Saturday night last near Esq. Davis’ in Wayne county, Tenn, near the State line, two men were caught stealing horses, their names are Thornton and Ford. These men had resorted to a place where night preaching was being held, and agreed to give a negro man ten dollars to show them the two best horses on the ground. The negro showed them some horses, but took good care to tell the paties [parties] what was going on and whileThornton and Ford were untying some horses they were surrounded and captured. Thornton is the man that killed Mr. Broyles of Savannah, a short time since; and for whom a thousand dollars reward was offered by Broyle’s relations.
Capt. McFarland and Mr. Brooks have recovered the horses stolen from them some two or three weeks ago, but the thieves, we are sorry to say, are still at large.
A certain Col. McGill, that was here last fall, pretending to wish to buy cotton, but who suddenly left this region of the country with a fine horse belonging to Mr. Wm. Pettus, is now in jail in Memphis, and will soon, if Gov. Brownlow heeds Gov. Patton’s requisition, take rooms at Mr. Fry’s boarding house in this place.

 

Submitted by Pat Mahan

Porter Cobb – Suspension of Sentence

Posted on by

Benton McMillin
Governor of the State of Tennessee

To all who shall see these Presents, and more especially to the Sheriff of Wayne Co. Superintendent and Warden of the Penitentiary Greeting:

Whereas, At the April Term 18 1901of the Circuit Court for our County of Wayne Porter Cobb was convicted of Disturbing Public Worship and sentenced to undergo confinement for the term of Three months in Jail and fine of $50.00.

And Whereas, The said Porter Cobb has been recommended to me as a fit subject for Executive clemency: Defendant Cobb was convicted at the April Term 1901 of the Circuit Court of Wayne Co. 1900 and sentenced to three months imprisonment and $50.00 fine. He has served out more than the jail sentence imposed upon him is both poor and unable to pay the fine. Judge Holding and Atty Gen’l Boyd who tried the cause together with County officials, leading citizens and a number of the church members of the congregation where the offense was committed all urge his pardon on the ground that he has been sufficiently punished and that the object of the law has thereby been obtained. In view of these petitions and the representations made by the officials trying the cause I grant the pardon of the fine.

Now, Therefore, I, BENTON McMILLIN, Governor as aforesaid, by virtue of the power and authority in me vested, do hereby PARDON the said Porter Cobb of the said Offense, so far as relates to the term of imprisonment yet unexpired fine of $50.00, but in no other way interfering with the judgment and sentence of said Court; and I do further authorize and direct that the said Porter Cobb be forthwithliberated and put at large relieved of the fine $50.00.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State to be affixed, at Nashville, on the 1st day of August 189 1901. //s// Benton McMillin.  By the Governor, //s// Jno. W. Morton, Secretary of State.

Endorsed on the back; “Released August 5, 1901 //s// John H. Greeson, Sheriff.

Submitted by Edgar D. Byler, III

Tom May – Suspension of Sentence

Posted on by

Benton McMillin
Governor of the State of Tennessee

To all who shall see these Presents, and more especially to the Sheriff of Wayne Co. Superintendent and Warden of the Penitentiary Greeting:

Whereas, At the November Term 18 1900 of the Circuit Court for our County of Wayne Tom May was convicted of Disturbing Public Worship and sentenced to undergo confinement for the term of Six months in Jail and $50.00 fine and costs in one case and $50.00 fine and costs in another.

And Whereas, The said Tom May has been recommended to me as a fit subject for Executive clemency: Defendant May was convicted at the Nov. Term of the Circuit Court of Wayne Co. 1900 in two cases and sentenced to 6 months imprisonment and fine of $50.00 and costs in one case and $50.00 fine and costs in the other. He has served more than the jail sentence imposed upon him is poor and unable to pay the remainder of the fine. Judge Holding and Atty Gen’l Boyd who tried the cause together with County officials, leading citizens and a number of the church members of the congregation where the offense was committed all urge his pardon on the ground that he has been sufficiently punished and that the object of the law has thereby been obtained. In view of these petitions and the representations made by the officials trying the cause I grant the pardon of the fine.

Now, Therefore, I, BENTON McMILLIN, Governor as aforesaid, by virtue of the power and authority in me vested, do hereby PARDON the said Tom May of the said Offense, so far as relates to the term of imprisonment yet unexpired fines in each case but in no other way interfering with the judgment and sentence of said Court; and I do further authorize and direct that the said Tom May be forthwithliberated and put at large relieved of the fines in each case.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State to be affixed, at Nashville, on the 1st day of August 189 1901. //s// Benton McMillin.  By the Governor, //s// Jno. W. Morton, Secretary of State.

Endorsed on the back; “Released August 5, 1901 //s// John H. Greeson, Sheriff.

Submitted by Edgar D. Byler, III

Mat Grimes – Suspension of Sentence

Posted on by

Benton McMillin
Governor of the State of Tennessee

To all who shall see these Presents, and more especially to the Sheriff of Wayne Co. Superintendent and Warden of the Penitentiary Greeting:

Whereas, At the September Term, 1899, of the Circuit Court for our County of Wayne Mat Grimes was convicted of keeping a house of ill fame and sentenced to under confinement for the term of 12 months in County Jail & fined $100.00

And Whereas, The said Mat Grimes has been recommended to me as a fit subject for Executive clemency: in this case the defendant was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment in the County Jail and $100 file. A petition numerously signed has been filed praying his pardon. Another petition signed by the Attorney General who tried the cause, the assistant counsel for prosecution, County officials & many other citizens recommend the “suspension of the imprisonment & fine during petitioners good behavior & future law abiding conduct”. The petition I comply with & suspend the other enforcement of the sentence of imprisonment during defendants good behavior. The object of the law is to enforce obedience to its provisions. Believing that the ends of justice have been attained when this is accomplished and believing also in the propriety of giving an opportunity for reformation to those are unfortunate in the law’s violation I determine to give the defendant another chance at citizenship.

Now, Therefore, I BENTON McMILLIN, Governor as aforesaid, by virtue of the power and authority in me vested, do hereby suspend the sentence of imprisonment PARDON the said Mat Grimes of the said offense, so far as relates to the term of imprisonment yet unexpired, but in no other way interfering with the judgment and sentence of said Court; and I do further authorize and direct that the said Mat Grimes be forthwith liberated and put at large.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State to be affixed, at Nashville, on the 19 day of June 1900. //s//Benton McMillen. By the Governor: //s// Wm. S. Morgan, Secretary of State.

On the back is the endorsement; “Mat Grimes Released by W. P. Clark, Special Judge, July 3, 1900. //s// John H. Greeson, Sheriff.”

Submitted by Edgar D. Byler, III

Fielding Churchwell – Convict Record

Posted on by

From Wayne County. Convicted of Grand Larceny and sentenced to three years from 14 June 1842. Rec’d 15 June 1842. He is 24 years old, 5 feet 8 inches in height, weighs 162 lbs. born and brought up in Wayne County about eight miles from Mount Jasper Furnace and 15 miles northeast of Waynesboro. He has a wife and two children living with her father Jos. Staggs two miles from Mount Jasper Furnace on the waters of 48 Mile Creek. He has two sisters in Hardin County about six miles from Savannah near the road leading to Purdy. One married to a man by the name of Blanton, the other to a man by the man of Brumley. — (Record of Convicts, Rec. Group 25, Vol. 45, p. 162. TSLA)

Fielding Churchwell, age 24, born in Tennessee. Occupation: labourer. Convicted of Grand Larceny by Circuit Court in Wayne County and sentenced to three years in the Penitentiary. Received 14 June 1842, discharged 21 Apr 1845. Pardoned under the act of 1836. — (Convict Record, Rec. Group 25, Ledger 86: 534. TSLA)

Submitted by Edgar D. Byler, III

 

Riley H. Melton – Convict Record

Posted on by

Riley H. Melton. From Wayne County. Convicted of Petit Larceny by Circuit Court, Wayne County. Sentence: 3 years. Rec’d at State Penitentiary 14 Oct 1841. He is 19 years old, weighs 117 lbs., 5 feet 6 inches high. Born in Bedford County 12 miles from Shelbyville, three miles from Fishing Ford on Duck River. His father, John Melton now lives in Wayne County, 12 miles from Waynesboro on the Florence Road. He has fair hair, blue eyes, and fair skin, tolerable good countenance.
(Record of Convicts, Rec. Group 25, Vol. 45, p. 120. TSLA)

Riley H. Melton, age 19, born in Tennessee, occupation: labourer. Convicted of Petit Larceny by Circuit Court, Wayne County and sentenced to 2 years in the Penitentiary. Received 14 Oct 1841, discharged 14 Oct 1843. Conduct fair.
(Convict Record, Rec. Group 25, Ledger 86: 534. TSLA)

Submitted by Edgar D. Byler, III

Matthew Murphy – Convict Record

Posted on by

Matthew Murphy from Wayne County – Offence Larceny

Sentence 3 years. Received at State Penitentiary March 26th 1839. He is 28 years old, weights 167 lbs. 5 feet 10 inches high. Born and brot up in Lawrence District S. Carolina. his father John Murphy lives in Lauderdale County Alabama 13 miles north of Florence. his wife and one child is living with his father. he has 4 brothers and four sisters. the all live in Lauderdale County Ala. he is a farmer by profession.
(Record of Convicts, Rec. Group 25, Volume 45, p. 114. TSLA)

Matthew Murphy, received 27 Mar 1839, Grand Larceny from Wayne County. 28 years old farmer, 3 year sentence. born SC. Released 12 Feb 1842. Pardoned by Gov. Jones. — (Convict Record, Rec. Group 25, Ledger 86, TSLA)

The trial of Matthew Murphy on an indictment for Grand Larceny was held in Wayne County Circuit Court 1838. He was convicted and sentenced to three years. Case was appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court but not record of case found in Supreme Court records. Minutes of the case are lost. Only record in Wayne County is the Docket Book for 1836 – 1842 which lists the case.

Submitted by Edgar D. Byler, III