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[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 marri-
age 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