Joseph Ricketts to Beriah Magoffin

Accession Number

KYR-0001-020-1172

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

MG20-334 to MG20-335

Place of Creation

Greenville, Muhlenburg County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

5 June 1861

Dates Mentioned

1861-06-05

1861-06-07

1861-06-06

Greenville Kentucky
June 5^th 1861
Beriah Magoffin Gov
of Kentucky

Dear Sir Several weeks ago I enclosed you the Petition of G W Bryant. together with proof &c asking your Excellency to relieve him from liability on a Recognizance for the appearance of Henry Taylor in the Muhlenberg Cir Court but as the Judgment was not then rendered I suppose you did nothing in the case. I inclose herewith copy of the Recognizance & Judgment & I Petition your Excellency to give the old man the relief asked that is ^a^ remission of the Judgment The facts are these. Taylor was confined in Jail on a charge of Larceny; he was a stranger here & a citizen of Illinois. He employed me as atty- to defend him & informed me that the Petitioner G W Bryant of M^cLean County was his uncle & besought me to send for him to go his Bail I did so Bryant [came] refused to go his Bail unless he would write home to his (prisoner's) father in
Illinois & if he requested the Petitioner to go the Bail he would do so. Taylor did write home & received a letter from his wife inclosing one as he said from his father directing ^his^ uncle to go the Bail. I sent again for Bryant he came saw the letter & went the Bail. Taylor was let out & has never appeared. The letter was forged by the Prisoner Taylor himself as we were afterwards informed by some prisoners in Jail. Taylor deceived me more than any client did no before. He made a favorable impression on the whole bar & on the Judge & it was said generally that he could not be a thief As I was the ignorant instrument of getting the old man into it I feel a personal interest in the matter. The Petitioner Bryant is a most estimable citizen & never would have gone into the business if it had not been for the forgery of the letter then matters were set forth in the papers I sent you & proven by affidavits of the Jailer &c but for fear you may have mislaid the paper I i~~nclude~~ have made the above Statements

Most resp yours
Joseph Ricketts
(See next page)

Greenville Ky June 5^th/61
Gov B Magoffin
Dear Sir

This is the case I explained to you when in Frankfort last and you told me it was not your custom to interfere until after judgement had bin entered- and as soon as it should be done in this case to send the papers up and you would attend to it

Your Respectfully
B J Shaver

June 7 1861.
Dear Sir

I have examined Judge Ricketts letter and he has Stated the facts in connection with the case, and I have no hesitation in Stating that this is One of the cases that Executive Clemency might be excercised with great propriety and hope you can exercise the Same and relieve old M^r Bryant concientiously

Your Obt Sert
Jesse N Reno Clk Cir Ct Court

Hon B Magoffin
Frankfort Kenty

June the 6th 1861
Dear Sir

Being in the Country at the time of this transporation in which this honest and Respectable old man G. W. Bryant was involved in the unfair case set forth in the letter of Judge Jo^sh Ricketts and being acquainted, with the circumstances &c I cheerful Join in the petition to your excellency for the exercise of your clemmency in the ~~Re[...]~~ Remission of the ~~unjust debt imposed upon him said Bryant~~old man of the unjust debt.

Yours Respectfully
H. H. Harris

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