Bracken Criminal Ct
vs
W D. Ratcliffe

To His Excellency
The Governor of Kentucky

The undersigned citizens of Bracken County, represent to y^r Excellency that at the recent Term of the Bracken Circuit ^Criminal^ Court, W. D. Ratcliffe, was indicted by the Grand Jury for said County, for the Crime of murder, committed by killing James M. Cullen.

We understand that a petition is in Circulation (under the auspices of the Counsel & friends of the prisoner, men of influence in the County) for signatures, praying y^r Excellency to pardon the accused.

We the undersigned impartial citizens of said County, beg leave most respectfuly but most earnestly to remonstrate, against the exercise of Executive Clemency, in the present case, in advance of Van a judicial investigation, & the action of a jury of the Country upon the Case. We will not anticipate this inquiry & action of the Court & jury; it is certain to be discreet & impartial, but we beg leave to assure y^r Excellency, that to interfere in this case, in advance, would shock the public sensibility, & serious impair the confidence ^respect^ of the people of Bracken for the great & wise power of pardon, vested in the Chief magistrate of the Commonwealth We are most respectfully, & dutifully

Y^r Excellencys obedient servants &c
J. R. Askin
C T Helvy
Charles Gusnegen
Hugh Kennedy
L N Gallaspy
H Bebley
Evan.T. Howard
W^m Hitt
J C Jeffeson
J S Hitt
J T Hitt
F Kyeblan
G W Butler
Wm Bubler
A. H. Bratton
James Mclane
John Bratton
J A. Pointer
William owens
William Brown
B Daley
B Walkk
Daniel Jusko
Z. P. Trueax
A P Culp
N. R. Culp
Robison Kerns
O. A. Cleveland
Riley Prewitt
Benjⁿ.O. Calvin

Bennet Colvin
W. H. Routt
James Breye
Jos. F Hamilton
John Candy
W^m Gillespie
John K Miller
John F. Williams
Wm H Lemmons
J W Mclanahan
Eli Watson
N. D. C. King
James Cermody
S E. Marshall
L H. Denman
W. C. Printy
Geo. W. Printy
J. W. Marshall
P R Lucas
Geo Hamilton
William Nesbit
B Gihirty
S Shuwater