Louisville Octo. 31^st 1864 —
His Excellency
Thomas E. Bramlette
Governor of The Commonwealth of Kentucky —

The undersigned would most respectfully request your Excy. to pardon James Pettitt now confined in the Penetentiary of the Commonwealth —

James Pettitt was some indicted in the Jefferson Circuit Court on the charge of killing his wife. He was tried for Murder. A coroner's Inquest had been held in this case, when the body was found. That Jury concluded that the woman died from inebriety. And the Jury was held in the grave-yard, and a post-mortem examination, was had, and that Jury concluded that the death resulted from wounds inflicted by her husband James Pettitt. On the final Trial the Jury convicted him of manslaughter and fixed his punishment at Five years in the State's Prison. Now, in our minds there is much doubt as to his guilt — And that

being the case we feel it our duty to ask your Excellency to pardon him — He was at all times previous to this charge an honest and industrious man — a timid and peaceable man; and we did believe him incapable and do now believeing him incapable of meditating and committing Murder or compassing the death of anyone — His ^wife^ was very intemperate and may have brought about her death by drunkenness — "Whohathwoundswithoutcause"? The wise man puts this question and gives us the answer — "They that tarry long at the wine" —

Believing then that James Pettitt is innocent of crime we the undersigned Pray your Excy. to pardon him —

Jefferson Cir Ct
vs
Jas Pettitt

Refused