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Hoyt, John Philo

Governor of the Arizona Territory from May 30, 1877 to October 6, 1878. (October 6, 1841 – August 27, 1926)[1]

On November 19, 1877, Bret Maverick visited Hoyt's office in Prescott[2] to appeal the case of Jedd Ferris, whom Bret knew to be serving a life sentence at Yuma Territorial Prison for a murder he didn't commit. Bret had visited Hoyt's predecessor, Anson P. K. Safford[3] eight months earlier,[2] since Safford had commuted Ferris' sentence from hanging back in 1872, but to no avail.[3] Bret had hoped that, with Hoyt's legal background, he may be able to convince him of Ferris' innocence and get him freed, but Hoyt decided to abide by Safford's decision.[2]

See: The Long Hunt