To His Excellency
Thomas E Bramlett
Gov of Ky

We would respectfully represent that in May 1864 a horse was taken from Elihu Wells in Perry County & John Pace was suspected of stealing said horse. William Cooks ^Coats^ a young man who is a cripple was tr travelling from Harlan to Clay county on foot and Pace let him ride the horse & he was seen with it, there was but little proof against Pace & it was intended to use Coots as a witness but as he did not reside in Perry County the grand Jury of Said county returned an indictment against Pace & him jointly so that the Whole facts could be brought out, they were both arrested & previous to the present term of the Perry Circuit Court Pace died;

The prosecution & the Community are satisfied that Coots is not guilty yet he was seen in possession of the horse & can make no proof whatever as to how he came by him- Coots is a young man of good character is very poor- & it will of necessity

put him to great troube & expense to defend the case & as the whole object was to try to convict Pace who was the guilty party We Earnestly hope your Excellency will pardon the said William Coots.

Shadrach Combs
John A Duff
M L Rice
Rob^t Braddaus Jr
[...] Clark
Joseph Hill
John F. Begley
Johnny Yonger
[...] Combs
Wm [...]
John Dishman
[...] Lucas
William Baker
G W Davis
William Sizemore
W C Fields
G H morgan
Samuel Combs
[...] Lyttle
L A Ryner
Robert Hamilton

We are satisfied that the within named William Coots ought to be pardoned_

Granville Pearl
H. F. Finley
Josiah.H. Combs

Perry
Rejected
John Pace