Research

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of five bound volumes of printed copies (with blanks filled in by hand) of respites and commutations, and one folder of original requests for respites by the governor to the secretary of state, under the provision of the state's constitution. The governor was granted the authority to grant pardons and respites. The respites concern stays of execution for individuals sentenced to death. Capital commutations are reductions of sentences from death to life imprisonment, while commutations are reductions of sentences. The respites and commutations normally include the name of the convicted felon, crime, date, court, original sentence, commutation and place of incarceration.