James, Richmond Daily Register, March 17, 1921

Governor to Hear Jailer’s Plea on 23d

Woodford Official From Whom Mob Took Prisoner to Lynch Says He Wasn’t at Fault

Frankfort, Ky., March 17– John H. Edger, Versailles, who was removed from the office of county jailer of Woodford County by Governor Morrow following his surrender of the prisoner, Richard James, negro, to a mob which lynched him, has filed his petition with Governor Morrow for reinstatement. The governor set the hearing for March 23 at 10:30 o’clock.

The petition follows:

“Your petitioner, John H. Edger, respectfully represents that he is the same person who has been removed for mthe [sic] office of jailer of Woodford County, Kentucky, by proclamation of the governor following the lynching of one Richard James while in custody of petitioner as such jailer.

“Your petitioner respectfully represents that his loss of the custody of said James and the subsequent lynching of said James by a mob was wholly without any failure on the part of this petitioner to perform his duty and wholly without any neglect of duty on his part, and your petitioner therefore respectfully requests that the governor of the commonwealth by proper order reinstate the petitioner in his said office as jailer of Woodford County, Kentucky.

“Your petitioner avers that the lynching of said James, his prisoner, was not in any degree anticipated by the petitioner and he was wholly without any fault in the matter and he avers that he did everything in his power to protect the life and and person of said prisoner and in no way neglected or failed to perform his legal duties and respectfully requests that the governor fix a time for hearing the evidence in regard to the facts and that such evidence be permitted to be given orally, as petitioner desires only to have all the facts known and wishes to be fully interrogated himself by the governor and the legal representatives of the commonwealth.”