Letter from J. P. Matthews to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn; October 4, 1870

Lallatin Copiah County Miss Oct 4/70

To Your Excelency

Gov J. L. Alcorn

Your letter was handed me on the morning of the third Inst our court being in session I immediately sent my deputy to Mr Wheeler he was absent and on the 4^th_" he found him and Wheeler says that he has never refused to give up the goods in question but my deputy says as Mr Maddison came up Wheeler made at him with a stick and struck ^several licks^ him and he run up and caught him ^as quick as possible^ and Wheeler pulled loose and hit one more lick before he could get hold of him again and that he called upon Mr Cason that was present to assist him but he refused and he arrested Wheeler and started to bring him to Gallatin but the Mayor of Beauregard demanded him and insisted that he had the authority to try him and my deputy Mr King being a lawyer left him (Wheeler) in the custody of the town authorities Maddison started on and said he did

not want his things then he would go and report him these are the facts as I have learned them

Your obedient servant

J.P. Matthews