Peter T. Phelps et al. to Thomas E. Bramlette

KYR-0001-004-2413.xml

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Accession Number

KYR-0001-004-2413

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

BR15-345 to BR15-346

Place of Creation

Richmond, Madison County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

12 September 1865

Dates Mentioned

1865-09-12

1864

1865-03

1865-09-16

Peter T. Phelps et al. to Thomas E. Bramlette, 12 September 1865, Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867, BR15-345 to BR15-346, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-004-2413, (accessed December 30, 2024).

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Richmond Kentucky
Sept 12^th 1865
Hon. Tho^s E. Bramlette
Governor of Kentucky

The undersigned citizens of Madison County Kentucky, respectfully represent that during the Winter of 1864 in a sudden affray Franklin Morris stabed Andrew Thomsburg in this County both being Citizens of the same.

At the March Term 1865 of the Madison Circuit Court Franklin Morris Ennis Morris and Richard Morris wereallindicted for the murder of Andrew Thornsburg.

The only weapon used as established by the proof ^at the Examining Court^ was a Knife -- no other weapon than a Pocket Knife has ever been seen. There was no proof that Richard Morris struck any blows, although he was present.

The reason for including him in the indictment is obvious.

John W. Thornsburg theFather of the man whowasstabed & from whichhedied, was Foreman of the Grand Jurythatindicted the Morriss -- By including Richard Morris in the indictment, Franklin Morris was cut off from the benefit of his testimony -- Besides being the Foreman of the Grand Jury, John W Thornsburg has also employed two able Lawyers to prosecute Franklin Morris.
The Morriss are very poor and being unable to give bail they have been lying in Jail for nearly three months. Richard Morris is between 15 & 16 years of age -- about 15 years of age when the difficulty occured

We are satisfied there is no proof tending to show that Richard Morris was guilty of the Murder of Andrew Thornsburg, or even participated in the affray -- He had no weapon of any kind & being small & slender he could have rendered no assistance -- Considering his extreme Youth we earnestly pray your Excellency to grant said Richard Morris an immediate Pardon & relieve him from the unjust indictment against him.

We Peter T. Phelps & W^m Williams who held the Examining Court for the trial of the Morriss state that from the Evidence before us Richard Morris is deserving more even of Executive Clemency than Ennis Morris.

Peter T Phelps one of the justices that tried the Morris's
W^m Williams one of the Justices that tried the Morises
~~R. D. Davis~~
James H. Embry
R. R. Harris
John Bennett
Wm. J. Walker
V B Norries
L, D, Mauprin
E G Broaddus

We concur in the prayer of the foregoing Petition.

L. N. Zimmerman
Editor Messenger.
Samuel Fox Esq^r

R. D. Davis D. C
Madison Cir court
Robert E Little D C
Madison Circuit Court
Geo^r Shackelford D C M Ct Ct
Benton Crooke
J. T. Shackelford
David Irvine
W, W, Embry
John G. Taylor
Charlie.C. Taylor
D M Bright
C F Moberly
W^m M Irvine
E. F. Miller
W^m R Letcher D. C.
G S Roberts
D Burk
Silas T. Green
S. S. Parker
John Taylor
Willard Davis

Madison Cir Ct
vs
Rich^d Morris
Indicted for Murder
Pardoned 16^th Sept 1865

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