Telegram from Gov. Ransome Williams to James W. Thornton

Gov. Ransome Williams sends a telegram to Mr. James W. Thornton of Aurora, IL. The telegram illustrates the role of the state constabulary chief in working under the governor on law enforcement matters. In this case, the law enforcement task involved a request for the arrest of a wanted suspect believed to be out of state. Before police teletypes and modern information-sharing systems, the governor sometimes interceded with messages about wanted persons and extraditions on behalf of law enforcement authorities. Facilitating such exchanges is a task that was likely a responsibility of the state constabulary and one that continues under SLED.