Beriah Magoffin, Warrant

KYR-0001-020-0248.xml

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Citation
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Accession Number

KYR-0001-020-0248

Document Genre

Legal/Financial

Repository

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Collection

Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862

Item Location

MG17-215 to MG17-216

Place of Creation

Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

December 1860

Dates Mentioned

1860-07-14

1860-09-14

1860-10-22

1860-12-14

1860-11-10

1860-12-13

1860-12-10

1861-12-21

Beriah Magoffin, Warrant, December 1860, Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862, MG17-215 to MG17-216, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-020-0248, (accessed November 4, 2025).

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Commonwealth of Kentucky
Executive Department

Whereas it has been made known to me, Beriah Magoffin Governor of The Commonwealth aforesaid. That Jane, (a slave) has been convicted for the Crime of Murder, and Judgment of death has been pronounced against her by the Circuit Court for Owen County a copy of which is in the words of following, viz.

"Owen Circuit Court
July Term 1860 July 14

The Comth. of Ky Plff
vs
Jane Deft

The court being about to adjourn the defendant this day brought into Court, and being informed of the nature of the indictment, plea and verdict was asked if she had any legal Cause to show why Judgment should not be pronounced against her and none being shown it is adjudged by the Court that the Defendant be taken to jail and there safely kept until the 14^th day of September 1860 in which day between Sunrise and Sunset the Sheriff of Owen County Shall hang her by the neck until She is dead

A Copy
Attest Leslie Combs C. C. A"

And whereas upon an appeal duly prayed and granted the Court of Appeals of
Said Commonwealth in Said Case has affirmed Said Judgment of death against Said Jane, as I have been informed by a certificate of the affirmance which is in the following words
viz:

"The State of Kentucky
Court of Appeals } 22^d October 1860

Jane (A Slave) Appellant
against } Appeal from a Judgment of the Owen Circuit Court
Commonwealth Appellee

The Court being Sufficiently advised, it Seems to them that there is no error in the Judgment herein.

It is therefore Considered that Said Judgment be approved.

Which is ordered to be certified to Said Court.

A Copy -- Attest
Leslie Combs C. C. A."

And whereas the day fixed by the Judgment of the Circuit Court aforesaid has past.

Now in obedience to the law in Such cases, made and provided. I Beriah Magoffin, Governor as aforeSaid, Send this my warrent of Execution to the Sheriff of Said County of Owen and hereby Command him, that on the 14^th day of December next between Sunrise and Sunset
of that day, that he the Said Sheriff of Owen County do execute the Judgment aforesaid by hanging the Said Jane by the neck, until She is dead.

{SEAL OF KENTUCKY
UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL}
In Testimony Whereof I have herewith Set my hand and Caused the Seal of the Commonwealth to be affixed. Done at Frankfort this 10^th day of November A.D. 1860 And in the 69^th Year of the Commonwealth.

By the Governor. B. Magoffin
Tho. B Monroe Jr. Secretary of State
By Ja^s W. Tate Asst. Secy:

By virtue of the within warrant I Did on the 13^th Day of the prsent month Demand of the Jailor of Gallatin County Ky. the body of Jane (a slave) mentioned herein, she being there confined, Exhibiting to him this warrant upon which he informed me that the said Jane had escaped from custody, by breaking Jail on the night of the 10^th Inst. and he was thereby unable to comply with the Demand. The Statement of Said Jailor, in writing, is filed herewith, and refered to as a part of this return, And in consequence of such escape, I am unable to execute the judgment of the Court as herein Directed --

December 14^th/60

J. R. Mordoff D. S. For
B. F. s. c. O

Owen Co

Return of the sheriff upon the Governors Warrant of Execution of Jane a slave

Return not executed
Dec. 21. 1861

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