A. F. Gowdy to Beriah Magoffin

Accession Number

KYR-0001-020-1424

Document Genre

Correspondence

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

MG21-387 to MG21-388

Place of Creation

Campbellsville, Taylor County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

18 September 1861

Dates Mentioned

1861-09-18

Campbellsville Taylor Co Ky
Seprt 18^th 1861
To His Excellency
B. Magoffin Esq^r
Governor of Kenty

At the present September Term of the Taylor Circuit Court, M^rJames C Wood was convicted for assaulting & Cuting One Thomas Cox with intention to Kill and was Sentenced to Confinement in the Penitentiary One Year.

I have learned from good authority, The best citizens of our County that if the Convict Thad had a fair trail and all the evidence in the Case been laid before the Jury there would have been an acquital. There was one witness who would have
proven that Cox assaulted the prisoner first but he could not be gotten before the Court The prisoners Counsel made a mistake in the witness who was to prove the assault by Cox on prisoner until after the trail Commenced.

There was much prejudice against the prisoner by Some of the witnesses Sworn on the Trial, and one his own Cousin whose evidence Convicted him when the absent witness would have sworn differently to his Cousin which prisoner Says would have been the truth.

If your Excellency will pardon the prisoner from the petition & facts presented to you, I have no doubt will be satisfactory to our Citizens and doing an act of Justice & Clemency to the prisoner which would
be in your legitimate power to do so, Provided you are satisfied of the facts presented before you.

In this Case I have no personal interest no way, and I have but little acquaintance with the prisoner, his relatives are people of good Character & stand high as Citizens of our County

Yours &c
A. F. Gowdy

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