State of Kentucky
Carter County. SS
To His Excellency Thomas E. Bramlett Governor,

The under signed petitioners would represent to your Excellency that whereas John P Stephens was fined the Sum of $60 at the April Term of the Carter Circuit Court ^1865^ for Keeping a tipling house. Now Thisese isare the circumstances in which the selling was done Mr Stephens had a team Halling goods from Catletts burg Ky he being a merchant and among the goods he had a Keg of whisky in his waggon for his own use and some men went to the wagon from an Iron furnace and said Stephens Son was driving the team; the driver was about 15 years old; and they made or induced the boy by persuasion to Let them have a some whiskey against the, orders of his father who is now fined, Now Mr Stephens is a man of good character with a large family, Now as the selling was done by a trick by designing men; and the intention of halling the whiskey home was only for his own use and not to violate the Laws of the cuntry, as Mr Stephens is a truly a Loyal man and at all times done all he could to put down the Gurrillers and suffered very much for being a union man as all union men did in this cuntry Now we petition your exellency to remit Said fine and for such relief shall ever pray

Nov 1^st 1865