Winchester Kentucky
May 24^th 1864.
Hon^l Thomas E Bramlette Governor of Kentucky
Dear Sir:

I am well acquainted With the case of the Commonwealth of Ky. against Albion T Ryon, The Killing of Francis M^cDonald by by said Ryon took place shortly after the August election in 1854 nearly ten years ago. Young Ryon was bailed, by Samuel W Chiles, Caleb Parrish, Richard M Webb and Joseph Jones & perhaps some others. Ryon stood one trial and the Jury hung. He afterwards absconded and his recognizance was forfeited, leaveing his sureties to pay the Bond. The community here were so well satisfied that a petition the sureties had no hand in geting Ryon to escape and ^they^ being of the opinion that Ryon would Stand in trial. That a petition was very generally signed requesting His Excellency the Governor to interpose executive clemency in behalf of Ryons sureties on his bail bond and the Governor did remit the greater part of said forfeited Recognizance and respited the residue — And so matters stood until recently by act of the Legislature the agent of the Auditor is empowered to cause execution to issue upon all such bonds —

Caleb Parrish one of the Sureties in said bond is now

dead — leaveing a widow and children to be supported and educated, and the enforcement of the collection of said bond would operate as a hardship upon them. I believe the gentlemen named Were none in said bond were none of them related to Ryon. They went upon the bond as neighbors and friends, believeing that young Ryon would appear and stand his trial, as He had on all occasions declared his innocence of the charge of murder for which He was indicted allways declareing that he committed the act in his own self defence. Ryon was very poor and his father at the time was and had been for some time before insolvent The family were of good standing and young Ryon as I personally knew had sustained a high character as a gentleman and business young man and as deputy Clerk of the County Court was popular. I am sure that if the facts of this case together with its surrounding could be properly presented to you, that you would see that this case is one of that class of cases that demands the interposition of your executive Clemency for the relief of the sureties of Ryon and that in the exerciss of it for the benefit of said sureties your action would be hailed with perfect satisfaction by all of our Citizens including the family & friends of the deceased,

Francis M^cDonald. I have no interest or feeling in this matter except that I desire to see the parties to said bond released for the reasons assigned believeing it would meet with general favor in our community. I am my Dear Sir your most obedient servant

James H G Bush

To His Excellency Govr
Tho^s E Bramlette