Frankfort. Apl. 14/64
Dear Sir.

I have learned, with some surprise recently, that a minister of the gospel named Fairbanks is still confined in the penitentiary, upon the charge of stealing a negro in Ky. He has been there for many years, having first been convicted in Fayette, for the same offence, in which Miss Webster was sentenced. He was afterwards pardoned, on the earnest intercession of his father, who lost his life in our midst, with cholera. — He was again sent from Louisville on a similar charge some ten or twelve years ago, & has

several years yet to suffer, unless pardoned.

Now while high officials of the U. S. Government with the sanction of the president or by his orders, are doing the same thing or much worse, under the tyrants state plea of "Military necessity," — without entertaining any such conscientious opinions as influenced Fairbanks, I think it a most cruel farce to keep him in penal confiement, & hope you will pardon him.

Very truly,
Yr f^d &c,
Leslie Combs

To the Govenor of Kentucky —

Jefferson Cir Ct
vs

Pardoned for [...] ordered on the score of humanity the mans health being extremely critical
Richard T. Jacob
Lt. & Act. Gov

Calvin Fairbanks
15^th Apl 1864