Catlettsburg Ky
April 26th 1864
Governor Bramlett
Dear Sir

We regret the necessity that impels ^us^ to address you these lines. C,, F,, Dyer has been tried and sentenced to the Penitentiary of this state by the verdict of a Jury of this County for the Period of one year, under a charge of Receiving Stolen horses= We are confident the evidence before the Jury did not warrant the verdict of Guilty; We ware present and heard all the Testimony and the case seemed so plain for the deft (Dyer) that his counsel & all others who we heard speak, thought an argument to the Jury was unnecessary and therfore none was made;

But his innocence has been more clearly developed since his conviction by affidavits and otherwise; but discovered

at a period to late to avail the prisoner any thing in this Court; The only hope now left us to save an innocent man both from suffering the loss of his liberty and the Odium to him and his children attached; Is in an appeal to your clemency, and ask you to exercise in his behalf your Constitutional Power of Pardon;

Governor we would not ask you to do this ware it not that we are under the most candid conviction that Justice demands it at your hands.

Believing sir that neither Justice or Mercy are strangers to your composition; we have hope in asking you to Pardin Mr Dyer, and save him and his motherless Children from the heritage of infamy a heritage thy do not deserve.

We are Governor yours with very high Respect
John M, Burns
L T Moore