1

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.