To His Exellency Thomas E Bramlette
Governor of the Commonwealth

Your petitioner William C Bates respectfully states that he was indicted for Keeping a tipling house and at the October term of the Wayne Circuit Court Judment was taken against him for said offense for sixty dollars,

He states that at the time he Kept said tipling house. there were no courts held in his County and that he could not obtain license as required by law — that the only Kind of license granted was military license which he was told that as the state was under martial law was all that was required — and which he preparatory to commencing business procured,

He states that the failure to get license was not from any neglect on his pardt or from any disposition or intention of evading the law — but That the procured the military license in good faith — and was assured that after having obtained them it that he had done all that was required of him —

He prays that his fine may be remitted,

Monticello Ky Nov., 27^th 1865
To the Hon" E. L. Vanwinkle
D^r Sir

I have the pleasure of recommending M^r Bates M to the clemency of his Excsellency the Gov. It seems from what I can learn that said Bates was not in fact guiltiy of any violation of Law. from the fact that there was no court in his county but that the whole country was under miliatry rule & he your petioner ask nothing at the hands of the government he haveing served his time in the military service for which he has an honorble discharge.

In conclusion I would ask that an honorable soldier be dealt with as kindly as the Law permit

Your frind
Ja^s D. Martin

Wayne Cir Court
vs
W^m C Bates
$60
Tipling
2^d Dec /65
Remit
Fee [...]