R. F. Baird and J. Hobson Price to Beriah Magoffin

KYR-0001-020-0552.xml

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Accession Number

KYR-0001-020-0552

Document Genre

Petition

Repository

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Collection

Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862

Item Location

MG18-356 to MG18-357

Place of Creation

Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

22 January 1861

Dates Mentioned

1861-01-22

1861-01-23

1861-01-24

R. F. Baird and J. Hobson Price to Beriah Magoffin, 22 January 1861, Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862, MG18-356 to MG18-357, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-020-0552, (accessed November 21, 2024).

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LouisvilleJanuary 22^nd 1861.
His Excellency Beriah Magoffin Governor of Kentucky --

Your Excellency is advised that one William Stewart convicted upon a charge of Burglary is a Suitable subject for Executive clemency-

William Stewart is about twenty years of age of prepossessing manners and appearance and of great gentleness of deportment -- He has resided in this city about thirte^en^ years having no relative but a younger brother, both natives of Ireland -- He is poor and was dependent entirely upon his trade for a support --

During his residence here he has been very remarkable for his exemplary conduct, his amiability and his industry and assiduity in business. His honesty had never for a moment been suspected.

He is a Sign and house painter by trade! but when not engaged at his trade he had been engaged closely at his books and was an intense student -- His object was to support himself and brother, acquire knowledge and improve his mind --

About a year ago he was attacked so violently with inflam^m^ation of the eyes that he had to quit work -- This disease was perhaps caused by much reading by Candlelight or perhaps by lead-poison incident to his trade -- Having got better he resumed his business but the national calamities again three him out of employment and he was destitute -- Finding himself then indebted to a poor landlady with whom he had boarded and unable to pay he became melancholy, dejected and seemed to be verging upon insanity. Some of his Friends believed him insane --

Whilst in this mood and under these circumstances he entered a dwelling house in this city -- He was discovered and easily taken -- He told the parties who took him, that he
wanted to obtain money to pay his board. That he could ^not^ control his feelings -- that he was obliged to have money to pay his board --

The undersigned who defended him on his trial, believed him to have labored under a fit of temporary insanity -- If they could have obtained a Continuance of the cause they are advised they could have established the fact -- But a continuance was impossible. & his Jury however in Consideration of the possibilty of his derangement, and ^of^ his excellent character and habits, find his term of service in the penetentiary at the lowest figure due the crime of Burglary, three years --

His attorneys believe from every fact developed in the case that he was temporarily insane, and would have been as likely to have committed Suicide as Burglary -- Your Excellency is referred to the case of the celebrated Hugh Miller of Scotland, who during the last year, from intense study and a fixed melancholy, committed suicide. They further believe that this young man by proper treatment may be restored and become one ornament to his circle of friends -- They pray a pardon and will ever so --

R. F. Baird
J. Hobson Price} Atto^s -- for William Stewart --

We the undersigned members of Jury in the case of the aforesaid William Stewart ask your Excellency to pardon him.

Hiram McGehee
James Bobbit
Samuel l Brenttirge
William Huggins
Furtney Brown
N Stalbury
G P Williams

Alx Crutchfield
J D Seaton
John Downing Jr
Comd J Wilson
Wm J Cornell
Forman

I join in the above petition E. S. Craig atto fee Executed
State of Kentucky
Jefferson Circuit Ct.

I, James P Chambers clerk of the Jefferson Circuit Court in the State aforesaid do hereby certify that the Jurors named on the foregoing page are the same who found the verdict in the case therein mentioned

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand as clerk afs^d this 23 January 1861.

James P Chambers.

Jefferson Cir. Ct
W^m Stewart
Burglary
3 yrs. Penty
Pardon Iss^d
Jany 24 1861

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