Petition

G. W. Jones and W. H. Hays to Thomas E. Bramlette

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
Box / Folder
BR10-33 to BR10-34
CWGK Accession Number
KYR-0001-004-0674
Rights
This image and its transcription are freely available to the public. Images appear courtesy of Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Transcriptions and annotations were created by Kentucky Historical Society staff, volunteers, and interns. When referencing this document, please use our preferred citation.; The use of transcriptions, images, or annotations from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce any material on CWGK is required.
FTP Identifier
32203561

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Dates
1864-03
1864-04-14
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Citation

G. W. Jones and W. H. Hays to Thomas E. Bramlette, Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, https://discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-004-0674 (November 14, 2026).

[Page 1]

To His Excellency
Thomas E Bramlette
Governor of Kentucky!

Your Petitioners respectfully represent that on the [...] day of March 1864 the Kenton Circuit Court, sitting in Covington, imposed a fine upon them of Two Hundred dollars each and costs. The indictment upon which they were tried charged them with allowing gaming in their house in said City and the evidence consisted entirely in the testimony of one witness who stated that he had several times played cards in the house of the Petitioners for money. Upon Cross Examination, he said that he had been instructed by one of the Defendants that he must not play for money or anything else and that he did not know that either of the Defendants ever knew of his gambling in the house. In as much as the Statutes declare that the mere proof that gambling was carried on is sufficient evidence that the occupants of a house knew of it unless the contrary be clearly proved, the Jury felt themselves bound to find against your Petitioners. Your Petitioners at the time spoken of by the witness were keepers of a Coffee House in Covington for which they

[Page 2]

had the proper County and City Licenses, but since have abandoned the business and gone to other employments. They are men of but small means and make a livelihood by their own industry in various lawful occupations such as from time to time fall within their reach. The proportion of the fine that enures to the Commonwealth's Attorney is about sixty dollars from each or one hundred and twenty Dollars from both besides the ^which with the^ Costs in the case make a very heavy sum for them to pay and they respectfully petition that the remain- of said fine be released and that they may be pardoned of the same. And this they will ever pray.

G. W. Jones
Wm. [...] Hays
Attest John. P. Harrison

The statement of the testimony in the above petition is correctly stated and the facts as to the means & condition of the petition are as stated and the costs are as much as they can pay without distressing them

R B Carpetner
Comths Atty

[Page 3]
[Page 4]

Kenton Cir Ct
Petition of G. W. Jones and W. H. Hays.

remit except costs & fees
Richard T. Jacob
Lt. & Acting Gov

$400 —
Gaming
14th Apl/64