William D. Mitchell stands indicted in the Henry Circuit Court for the killing of Flint Goodridg in the year 1862 — It was done while Mitchell was attempting to arrest him under orders from his Commanding officer Cap^t Sparks And which Goodridg was violently resisting He was killed in the act of attempting to shoot Mitchell in the discharge of his duty. Mitchell has faithfully & honorably Served his term in the United States Service And has always been an honest, upright peacable Young Man — He is in limited Circumstances: and unable to bear the expenses of trial which trial must inevitably result in his aquittal. We the Undersigned respectfully ask of the Governor of Kentucky to extend him a pardoPardon so as to save him the expense and labor of a trial — We believe that it would promote justice and be an act of clemency that Mitchell Merit and deserves

Walter C. Whitaker
George D. Prentice

Pardon issued
E L V

H^d Qrs Dept of Kentucky
Louisville Oct 24 /65

Respectfully forwoded to His Excellency Governor T E Bramlette with the information that I have concerning the facts of this case into attention and while I do not agree with Genl Whitaker that the aquittal of the party upon trial is certain I do believe that at all events he is a very proper case for pardon so is quite likely that upon the facts of the case a fair trial is quite uncertain I recommend a pardon

John M Palmer
Maj Genl
Cmdg