Trial: Jess the Slave owned by William Griner 1846 Fannin County Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sara A. Rollins SRol786334@aol.com ****************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any organization or persons.Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, mush obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************** To the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Texas The petition of William Grinder a citizen of the state of Texas showeth that herefore to wit in the year 18.. The only Negro slave which he owned and possessed and was of the value of eight hundred dollars was tried by the District of Fannin County for the murder of one Morgan Meeks, found guilty condemmed and executed - all of which will fully appear from the transcript of the record of said court had in said case herewith filed and that that petitioner is now poor and compelled to labor in his old age for a support by reasons of the ?????? to public use of his af???? said slave. there fore he prays the passage of and act in some manner remuneration him for the cost of his property and as in duty bound ???? ??? ????. William Grinder Monday November 9th AD 1846 Be it remembered that the Honorable ?? District Court for the County of Fannin within the 8th Judicial District of the State of Texas met ???????? to adjournment at the Court House in the town of Bonham on Monday the 9th day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and forty six present the Honorable John T, Mills ??????? William C. Young P??? attorney ??????? G. Henanick clerk and Thomas A. Dagby Sheriff and on Tuesday the 17th day of November A,D, 1846 the following cause came on to be heard and this following proceeding ??? had therein ???. Tuesday November 17th A.D. 1846 The State of Texas VS Indictment for murder Jess (a negro slave) Now at this time comes the attorney prosecuting the pleas of the state and this defendant Jess a negro slave, was brought into court by the sheriff and arraigned upon the charge of murder as specified and set forth in the indictment herein who for plea therein says he is not guilty as charged in said indictment and for his trial put himself upon the county and the issue being made up herein thereupon came a jury - to wit Samuel McFarland, foreman, William Gamble, Mark R. Roberts, Wilson B. Allen, John Kitchings, Garrett Fitzgerald, Edmund Sheacley, Edmond H. Todd, William G. Abbott, James Baker, Robert Madden and William Fore- twelve good and lawful men and householders who being resident citizens of Fannin County in the State of Texas who being duly elected tried and sworn will and truly to try the issue found him after hearing the indictment read- the evidence produced in this cause the argument of the counsel on the part of the defendant as well as for the State and the charge of the Court retired to consult their verdict, and after some time spent in deliberation therin came and returned into court the following verdict to wit " We this jury find the prisoner at the bar, Jess guilty in the manner and form as set forth in this bill of indictment - Samuel McFarland foreman and thereupon the prisoner Jess being called upon by the court to say if ought he had to say why sentence of death should not now be passed upon him and the prisoner standing mute the court proceeded to sentence the prisoner to be hung by the neck which sentence was delivered in the following words "Jess you have been charged with and convicted of the murder of your fellow creature Morgan Meeks. It is uncecessary for me to say ought to you at this time as to the enormity of the offence of which you have been found guilty. Your conscience and the inate feeling of right and wrong at this time is harmony? your soul more than any words of mine could do. It is therefore ordered and adjudged by the court and you are hereby sentenced to death. The Sheriff of the County of Fannin will on the last Friday of the present month take your body from the common jail of this county to some convenient place to be by him selected within one half mile of the Court House of Fannin County and them upon this gallows he shall between the hours of 12 m and 2 pm hang you by the neck until you be dead and may God have mercy on your soul. These are therefore to command you that on the last Friday of this present month between the hours of 12 m and 2 pm you take this slave Jess to a gallows within one half mile of the Court House of Fannin County and then and there you execute this above and foregoing judgement directive and decree as therein specified. And make due return of this warrant to this court according to law. Witness H.G. Hendricks, clerk of the District Court of Fannin County and this seal of said Court hereto L.S. impassed this 20th day of November A,D, 1846 ??? H.G. Hendricks Clerk Dist. Court J.C.