Early Governors' Papers

To the honourable Sam Houston Govwernor of the State of Tennessee.

We the undersigned Petitioners would represent that at the last session of the Circuit Court for Wilson , that James Villums a citizen thereof was indicted and convicted for stealing and carrying some or three negroes of Thomas P. Holeman, and adjudged to die therefor. Now in consideration of the severe and rigorous punishment annexed to the offense the compassion of your Petitioners is aroused, but being well aware that this would be but afford but a feeble ground to call upon you for your interposition, your Petitioners would show that there is good reason to believe, and your Petitioners do sincerely believe, that it was with the connivance and through the instrumentality of one Noah Walker who had a good colour of title to the said negroes that said Villums took and carried them away. This then was circumstantial evidence intraduced to prove upon the trial, but it being clearly proven and indeed confessed that he did sell the negroes, and ^not being as clearly proven that it was through the instrumen =tality of Walker that they were taken, the jury contrary to their better feeings conceived themselves compelld to convict.