Petition from R. M. Johnson to Mississippi Governor John M. Stone; May 1876

[Seal]

May 1876

To J.M. Stone, Govenor of the State of Mississippi.

The undersigned Citzens of Your County + State aforesaid, respect-fully state unto Your Excellency that at the May Term 1876 of the Circuit Court of the County aforesaid, Frank H. Russell was convicted by a jury upon the charge of the murder of one Chas E. Faure, of said county, + under the verdict of the jury and the law in such cases -- was sentanced to the Penitentiary of this State for the term of nintey nine years, which sentance + judgement is still in foree + the said Russell confined in the Penitentiary by reason thereof. That said Russell + said Faure had been on friendly + business relations for some years + never had any strife, fend or quarrel, before the killing nor any quarrel at that time. He had been raised in Yazoo County + City + had just arrived at about the age of [gap] years, + had but a few months before married a most lovely + highly respectable young lady of Yazoo, by which marriage there is now an infant child. Said Russell was a man of exemplary [morals?], habits, + business qualification + qualities. He was poor + dependent for the support of himself + family upon his personal labors for the frugal comforts of life. His father was an educated + business man of a high order + held many places of trust + confidence in business life. He has recently died, leaving a most worthy widow in advanced life + feable health, with three minor children, + the wife + child of Frank as her household + family almost in destitution. Frank, although subject to occasional mental abrations + fits of Epilepsy had made himself a good Druggist + Booze Keeper + commanded as such, in each the best employment, always retiring temporarily when he felt the premonitory symptons of Epilepsy stealing upon him