Morganfield Ky
Decr 29. 1865
To his Excelency Thomas E Bramlette
Gov of the state of Kentucky
Sir

I feel that it is proper and just that I should make the following statement of facts in regard to a high-toned and honorable gentleman, who is desirous of your executive Clemency.

I have known Col John P Hall, for Eighteeen years, he having about that far back, worked at my father's house during his apprenticeship, at the carpenter's trade, since when, and up to the time he entered the milatary service for his country. I have known him to be an honest, industrious and able mechanic, and prosperous in his profession, in the town of Caseyville in this county — Previous to his entering the Service aforesaid about December 1857 he was tried in this town before a court of Inquiry, upon a charge of killing Dr. R W. N Taylor, and was committed to prison, where he suffered extraordinary hardships, from the hands of a drunken jailor for twelve months, when his case came on for trial, and the jury disagreeing he was admitted to bail, when he resumed his profession working by the day, paying the heavy attorney fees, he had contracted to secure a legal

defense, which he continued to do until 1861 attending court at each term —

At this time he entered the service of his country, first, attempting to raise a company in this County, for which he was persecuted and Compelled to flee the state. This was the first attempt of the kind ever made in this county — He then immediately entered the milatary service of the United States at Shawneetown Illinois, where I saw him soon after in the uniform of a private soldier — He remained absent from this county until Sept 1865 — during his absence I corresponded with him, and know of his being an officer in the army at Paducah Ky — at Corinth Miss. and at Vicksburgh, (where he was wounded) at Memphis Tenn — on a milatary commission — commanding a regiment in Alabama, Georgia, and in the great march of Sherman to the final surreder of the rebel armies; when he came with his command in the 15 A C army of the Tenn, to Louisville Ky, and went with the 2^nd Division 15 corps to Little Rock Ark, where he was honorably mustered out with his command in August last

I have seen his commissions from the Gov of Illinois
One as Capt of the 56th Ills Infty dated Feb 1862

One as Major in the 56 Ills Infty dated FebruaryNov 1862
One as Lt Col " " " " " Augt 1863.
One as Col " " " " " March 1865.
and his honorable discharge dated augt 1865

From conversing with the witnesses, and hearing the testimony in court, I have always, believed that Hall killed Taylor in self defense — And from the statements of men and witnesses, of matters, that that wasere ruled out upon the attempted trial — I am forced to the belief, that Hall suffered grievous and cruel wrong at the hands of Taylor, whose conduct produced a severance of that holiest of ties the relation of Husband and wife —

And lastly, from my intimate knowledge of the case, I am clearly of the opinion that its further continuance can only result in heavy and unnecessary expense to the commonweath, and oppression to the Defendant — and that the extension of the executive power in the immediate and final pardon of ^col^ Hall, would be simply an act of justice to a meriotrious and deserving man

Sam C Hughes

Hughes