To His Excellency Thomas E Bramlett

Gov of Ky Your petitioner W^m J Higgins respectfully represents that the Grand jury at the September Term 18654 ^of the Knox Circuit Court^ returned an indictment in to court against him for "selling liquor as a Clerk without first taking the oath" and at the April Term 1865 of said Court he was tried & found "guilty" and a fine of $20 — assessed against him. He says that he came to Barbourville Ky on the 15" day of Feby 1864 to selling Groceries for John Higgins a Grocery keeper in Barbourville Ky. that he did not know that the law required Clerks to take the oath that sometime in March 1864 William Tuggle Clerk of the Knox Circuit Court ask your petitioner if he knew he was required to take the oath your petitioner informed him Tuggle that he did ^not^ & if it was necessary he would go there & take the oath which he did. that he did not intend to violate the law if he knew it.

He says that at the time the rebels occasionally had possession of the country & that the country was in a very unsettled condition, & that it was impossible to get information from any one who had the recent acts of the Legislature in regard to his duty. He says that he is & always has been a union man & has done all in his power to put down rebellion. He says that it was through ignorance on his part and the unsettled condition of the county that he was not advise to take the oath that as soon as he was allowed to do so that he done so instantly. He says that it is the first time he was ever indicted for any violation of Law & hopes it the last time. He says that it is hard for him to have the fine to pay

Wherefore he prays the interventions of your Executive clemency & he prays for a remission of the fine

W. J. Higgins

Sworn to before me by W. J. Higgins July 14, 1865

We the undersign citizens of Knox County Ky would respectfully request that your Excellency remit the fine against Mr. Higgins

sent for fee 20 July