Joseph Shenneberger to James F. Robinson

Accession Number

KYR-0001-029-0380

Document Genre

Correspondence

Repository

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Collection

Office of the Governor, James F. Robinson: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons, Remissions, and Respites, 1862-1863

Item Location

R4-113 to R4-116

Place of Creation

Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

13 May 1863

Dates Mentioned

1863-05-13

1863-05

1863-05-14

His Excellency
The Gov^r of Kentucky

The undersigned petitioner would most respectfully State, that at the present term of the Jefferson Circuit Court he was tried upon an indictment in Said Court charging him with the Commission of a Robbery upon one M^rs Elizabeth Newton, in Connexion with one Elisha Applegate, — Now your petitioner would State (and the proof in the case shows it) that Applegate is an Entire Stranger to petitioner, form the proof there is no doubt but that Applegate did rob the house of M^rs Newton, and there is no doubt but that at the time Applegate Committed the offense that Some other person was seen near the house when the offense was Committed, the proof showed that that other person was not nearer the house than 34 yards, the offense was committed in the dead hour of the night and the only proof that connected me with the crime was that of a young Lady a Granddaughter of M^rs Newtons who said she looked out of the door & Saw me standing near the yard gate and recognized me, and that was the only proof against me, now your petitioner would most solemly avow in the presence of that God to whom he has to account in another world for all the deeds done in this life, that he knew nothing of the matter, and had nothing to do with or any Knowledge of the matter whatever, and that the young lady is Mistaken in my identity.
I have lived in Jefferson County Ky many years and during the whole time I have honestly tried to make a living for myself and family by hard labour, I have a wife & children, and I assure your Excellency that death would have been far preferable to me than that Such a charge should have been made against me, but all I can now hope is that your Excellency will Extend to me that mercy which I know I am Entitled to, that you will remit the finding of the Jury in my case and let me show the public by my acts that I am still an honest man, and as in duty bound I will Ever pray &c

Louisville May 13^th 1863
Most Respectfully
Joseph Shenneberger

We the undersigned petitioners are acquainted with the above petitioner Joseph Shenneberger Know him to be a man of truth, believe his statements are true and cheerfully unite with him in asking your Excellency to grant him a pardon, believing as good citizens that Justice demands the Same

Mike Goss
Jakob Shangenbarker
Jacob Sheidel
Joseph Ross
Patrick Minihan
C. Rodes

W C Price
Tho W Gibson
Jeff Williams
Michael Snyder
Lois Beser
N. Eiker

[...][...]
John Tann
John Wilbers
Jacob Becker
Aleck Gretzer
S. D. Sebagh
Piller Nechler
E D Standiferd
John Colerem
John Rupp
[...][...]
[...][...]

I sign the within Petition upon the recommendation of the Jury

W^m W, Twyman
Ja^s J. White
E R Seeler
F. Jack Comm Clk Jeff County Court
A W Norton
L A Wood
Jno Talbott Esarrow J. C.
Thomas Melvogue
M G Holmes
D. W. Hinderson
H C Hoffman
O B Church Clek of Police
W R Hydes Marshal City of Louisville
Jo^s Clement Justice of the Peace Jeff Co Ky.
A. M. Gazlay

Since the ~~Examining~~ trial in the City Court of Louisville of the petitioner, many circumstances favorable to the accused have been developed, & the Jury having asked that he be pardoned, & knowing them to be prudent and Just men, I cheerfully unite in his prayer --

E. S. Craig W, G, Reasor City atto
Phil Toppert Jr. Clerk
Member of City Council
H [SuKamp]
Jos Waissel
BoB. J. Hamilton
John Hunt
Joseph Ruhr
J D Seaton
Geo Whinney
Police officer of Louisville
Tho^s L Shank D S —
Lee Chambers
J. H. Price

Thos. M^cDavid
John O'Bryan
Jacob Ott
J. Marshall
Wood of Woodface
Henry Wallace
Samuel Hardin
Mat, Pyles M ,D
Jacob Pfeiffer
Jno, Vetter
Sturt Surveyer of Louisville
Jas M^cCormick
W^m M^cLaughlin
A C Hemos
Cha^s J. Vander Esqr
Vice Consul of Belgium
James. H. West
D B Grable
Burtan Tarner Deputy Justice Jeff Co

The following is a copy of the vertict of the Jury, who tried and convicted Joseph Shoenberger (indicted with Elisha Applegate) at the May Term 1863 of the Jefferson Circuit Court, towit.

We of the Jury find the defendant Joseph Shoenberger, guilty as charged in the within Indictment, and say he shall be confined in the Jail and Penitentiary House of this Commonwealth for the term of Three years, but at the same time, as a body would earnestly and most respectfully recommend him to the clemancy of the Executive

John Gill, foreman
May 14^th 1863 A copy
att Jas P Chambers clk

The undersigned members of the jury who tried Joseph Shoenberger respectfully but earnestly recommend him to executive clemency and pray that his sentence may be remitted by the Governor — His previous character was excellent. The testimony was conflicting, and depended upon the recognition of the prisoner in the night time by a young girl ^of seventeen years old.^ at a distance of thirty five steps — she being in ~~the~~door way house and the prisoner out of doors ~~which~~ ^~~cause~~^ ~~[...]~~of ~~[...]to doubt whether the recognition was complete~~

John H Thomas
Tho. B. Overton
Joseph Griffith
John D. Atter
F O Smith
J. M. Buchanan
T,, Neel
Geo. A. Hood
John A. Carter
A L Harding
E Cook
John Gill
Foreman

The foregoing are the names of the jurors in the case of the Commwlth vs Joseph Shoenbergher May 14 1863

Att james P Chambers

J M Baine
M J [...]
James L Himel
H G Coffey
W F Taylor
Z. B. Willingham
J M Ceanlass
W. G. Black
Henry Farmer
C T Atherton --
E Milliken
L M Stafford
N L W Balliness
George W, Stovall
J W. Dutton
George Hinkle
[...][...]
J. D. Ferguson
C M Hall
W H Runes
I C Cards
J, M, Unsell
Jacob Edwards
A, W, Nielett
J Jeter
S Overby
W S Stahe
G W Shelton
A Jonas
John Simmons
Gerett Ariel
Jas,, C,, Stovall

W, B, Middelton
A Cruse
W, H, Penn
J T Taylor
Thomas Flood
J A Parker M D
W S Watson C B C
Jas Z Terrell Jr
G, W Utterback
J. N. Ashbrook
Henry Unsell
J, C, Parker
James E. Weaver
A Penn
Wm Hughes
Elias Lanham
Samuel Duncan
Moses Unsell
N C, Thomas
John Right
Henry Sulivan
Joseph Loire
L C Ray
W^m Duris
Z, Helton
W P Harpless
David Miller
John Rutten
Augustin Woolfolk
D L Lee
G B Wray
F M [Pennebaker]

Isaac Edging
Felix W Underhill
Sam^l H. Jenkins
G W Tate
H Edwards
B A Lane
B H farmer
John Whitt[...]
A Coil
W D Hoosr

Joseph Shoebergher
Pettn for Pardon from Louisville
(Refused)

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