Early Governors' Papers

State of Tennessee Rutherford County

January 13^th 1818

This day personally come Jeremiah Fletcher before me James L Rawlings a justice of the Peace of said County and made oath that on the night of the 11^th inst immediately on hearing that James Russ had broke the jail of said County of Rutherford I proceeded to the jail and exam.d the [?] and from what discovery I was enabled to make I am fully convinced that said Russ made his escape from said jail by the assistance of some combination to effect his liberation and who at this time are unknown-

I further more swear that I have no interest in keeping said jail but have only been called by the shff of said County to state my impression as to s^d Russ escape.

J [?] Fletcher seal

Sworn to & subscribed before me this 13^th Jan^y 1818 Jas L Rawlings Justice of the Peace

I sign the defendant's petition upon the express ground, that I do not believe the law was administered in his case. -

Tho^s Washington O B Hayes [Jno?] H Fletcher A. W. Goodrich Ephraim W. Hasten E. P. Connell