Chaos in Johnson County, Indiana Sheriff's Office Leads to Delayed Execution

Collectibles : Historical

 

There was a great deal of confusion in the Johnson County, Indiana, sheriff’s office from 1844 to 1851. During that year alone, the county saw three sheriffs come and go. The confusion was so bad in 1847 that an execution order expired, as illustrated by this wonderful letter of content written by Sheriff Peyton B. Culver, a teacher turned sheriff although records are unclear about how long he might have been sheriff.

One page, 12” x 8”, angry letter written by Culver, responding to a letter from Attorney James A. Faye, who was admitted to the Fayette County Bar in 1839. Integral address leaf with 5 c handwritten postage. Creative spelling corrected. Punctuation added.

“I have the pleasure to answer your very strange letter. It seems from your letter that you are unacquainted with the providential acts that have occurred with the Sheriffs of this County. In the first place David Allen was elected by the people. He went to Mexico and died there and the person that he deputized went to Kentucky, which occasioned a vacancy. Then, the coroner deputized Mr. Davidson and in a few months after that the Governor appointed N. Hughes and he deputized me. And this is the reason, sir, that the business was not attended to that you sent to the Sheriff of Johnson County. I thought you understood these things or I would have explained them to you in my first letter.

“I wrote plainly to you that the Execution had run out before I came in office. You wish to know where this Execution has been all the time. Sir, I cannot tell you as I have not been in office only a week and a day. But I am informed that it has been in the hands of different Sheriffs only during the vacancy and then it was in the Clerk’s office. You want this business attended to if it is not too much to be expected from an officer of the state. One more Chance to do my duty! Sir, I have never had a chance to do this business and I do expect that my friends that has formerly been doing the business would do their duty as soon as you or any other sheriff and I am sure that they would, and I know that they would not write such an ungenerous letter as you sent to me and if you write to me any more, I want you to write of a man of refinement and taste. Yours with respect, Peyton B. Culver.”

Letter is in excellent condition.

Item ID: 00459