H. R. Littell et al. to Thomas E. Bramlette

Accession Number

KYR-0001-004-1736

Document Genre

Petition

Repository

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Collection

Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867

Item Location

BR13-239 to BR13-240

Place of Creation

Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

21 April 1865

Dates Mentioned

1865-04-21

1858-06

Hopkinsville Ky Apl 21' 1865
To his Excellency Governor Bramlette

The undersigned Citizens of Christian County Respectfully represent, that, on yesterday their fellow-Citizen Louis Elb, was fined by the Police Judge of the town of Hopkinsville Ten ($10) Dollars in each of three prosecutions in the name of the Commonwealth, & at the instance of the Board of Trustees of said town, for alleged violations of an ordinance passed by said Board inJune1858, prohibiting the opening of stores & the sale of goods therein on~~the~~ on Sunday in said town

Your Petitioners admit that a few goods were proved to have been sold by said Elb on each of the three Sundays as alleged in said prosecutions, but that said Sales were made, as well to accommodate his Customers as to profit himself, & Said sales Conducted in a very quiet manner & privately,

They state that it is a notorious fact that said Board of Trustees have silently acquies^c^ed in & permitted the violation of said ordinance for anumberofyears, not merely in the Sale in a quiet manner of dry-goods — as in the Case of said Elb — but in allowin Allowing Grog-Shops & drinking saloons to be opened & ardent spirits vended on the Sabbath day; Corrupting the Youth of the town to say nothing of its general evil tendencies,

Therefore Your petitioners would respectfully Submit, if, under these Circumstances, said Elb had not a right to presume, that said Ordinance had been abrogated by said Board, in effect, if not by direct repeal, After their long acquiescence in its open violation had they a right, an equitable, moral right to sue upon its violation without a re-enactment? and they would further submit, if ~~they~~ said Board should be permitted to single out said Elb, because, perhaps, of some prejudice against him, making a victim of him & allowing the entire escape from prosecution of those saloon keeprs,?

Your Petitioners, therefore, respectfully & earnestly solicit the intervention of Executive Clemency, & ask that Your Excellency interpose & remit each of said fines of Ten ($10) each amounting to thirty ($30) Dollars or so much thereof as you see proper,

Very Respectfully

H. R. Littell County Judge
A H Clark
Joab Clark clk. cir court.
G. H. Lawson " Co Ct.
D. M. Claggett
John Feland
Wm. M. Buell Surveyor C. C
D. S. Hays
W Evans

Christian Co
vs
Louis Elb
refused

Refused
Richard T. Jacob
Lt. & act. Gov
~~Chr~~

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