img

Letter to Governor William H. Bissell from Judge David Davis Concerning a Pardon of John Hibbs.

Image -- Entire Page 150KB
Image -- Page One 135KB
Image -- Page Two 66.8KB

1

Danville, Ill
May 8th1857
His Excellency Govr Bissell,

Dear Sir-

John Hibbs was indicted in the Logan County Circuit Court for manslaughter - & venue changed to Sangamon - and at the March Term 1856, he was convicted, & sent to the Penitentiary for two years.

There was no motive for the killing proved, and none that was even reasonable suggested. The men were both living in the same neighbourhood and it was not intimated that there

2

was even a suspicion of illblood.

The parties were left in a field together & the deceased person found dead & probably killed by a small club & Hibbs was found at a house a small way off very, very drunk.

Hibbs & the deceased were seen last together.

As I understand, Hibbs does not profess to know how he killed him & does not know that he killed him at all.

Hibbs has already been in the Penitentiary about fourteen months. He has a wife small children, depending on him for support & they seem tenderly attached to him.

I am inclined to think that Executive Clemency would not be misplaced, in remitting the balance of Hibbs term.

With High Respect
Yr obt servt
David Davis

We defended John Hibbs, mentioned in Judge Davis' letter above; and we concur with the Judge, that a pardon now, after his having served about fourteen months of his two years, would not be improper.
A. Lincoln
John T. Stuart