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Date Original
1826
Description
This is the prosecuting attorney's indictment of Charles Hatcher for committing perjury during the 1825 trial of Joseph Hardin versus John Findley.
Biographical/Historical Note
Deception is one of the oldest crimes recorded. Charles Hatcher was called on behalf of Joseph Hardin during his suit against John Findley in 1825. Hatcher lied while under oath helping to ensure a verdict in Hardin's favor. Hardin was a man with a tough reputation; he had several assault charges against him and at the time of the suit, he was serving as Lawrence County sheriff. Maybe this influenced Hatcher's choice to commit perjury!
Transcription
United States of America
Territory of Arkansas
County of Lawrence
In the Circuit Court in and for said
County of February Term in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and twenty six
The Grand Jurors of the United States im
-pannelled charged and sworn to inquire in
and for the body of the County of Lawrence aforesaid
upon their oath present that whereas on the
fourteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and twenty five at the
Township of Spring River in the County of Lawrence
and Territory aforesaid a trial was had and
determined in a suit before Henry Sanford a Justice of the
peace in and for said County and Territory wherein
Joseph Hardin Sheriff of Lawrence County was
plaintiff and John Findley defendant as by the
record thereof in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit
Court will more fully appear, that at the said
trial one Charles Hatcher late of Said County
on the Same day and year and at the place
aforesaid before the Said Henry Sanford a Justice of
the peace in and for said County of Lawrence and Territory aforesaid took his corporal Oath as a witness in
said Suit in the part of said Joseph Hardin the
plaintiff therein and did then and there wilfully[sic] and
corruptly commit perjury by swearing and testifying
that Said John Findley's wife did bring out a Band
box of Bonnets and offered to Sell or vend them to
him Said Charles Hatcher, and his wife knowing
the Same to be false, he the said Henry Sanford
having - competent authority to administer an
Oath to the Said Charles Hatcher in that behalf
And the Grand Jurors aforesaid upon their Oath
aforesaid further present, that [crossed out Said Charles Hatcher at the time]
the facts above Set forth as wilfully and corruptly Sworn to by Said Charles Hatcher on the
trial were material in the issue of Said trial and
greatly to the prejudice and injury of Said John
Findley, Let the Said Charles hatcher knowing
the Same to be false did then and there wilfully[sic]
and corruptly commit perjury by stating as in manner
And form Aforesaid that Said John Findley, wife did
bring out a Band Box of bonnets and offer to sell
or vend them to him Said Charles Hatcher and
his (Said Charles Hatcher's) wife Contrary to the form of
the Statute in Such case made and provided
and against the peace and dignity of the United
States and of this Territory
T Dickinson
prosecuting Attorney
Physical Description
Document, 8" x 12.5"
Subjects
Documents; Manuscripts; Law; Crimes; Oaths; Trials, litigation, etc.; Witnesses; Law enforcement officers; Corruption
Contributor
Townsend Dickinson
Geographical Area
Spring River, Lawrence County (Ark.)
Language
English
Identifier
MSNE.0070, Box 11, Folder 857
Resource Type
Text
Collection
Lawrence County (Ark.) Circuit Court records, MSNE.0070
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives
Recommended Citation
Perjury: United States v. Charles Hatcher, Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives, Powhatan, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Disciplines
United States History
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