Petition

Thomas Edwards to Thomas E. Bramlette

Place of Creation
Mercer County, Kentucky
Document Genre
Petition
Repository
Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
Collection
Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Apprehension of Fugitives from Justice Papers, 1863-1867
Box / Folder
BR7-202
CWGK Accession Number
KYR-0001-005-0130
Rights
This image and its transcription are freely available to the public. Images appear courtesy of Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Transcriptions and annotations were created by Kentucky Historical Society staff, volunteers, and interns. When referencing this document, please use our preferred citation.; The use of transcriptions, images, or annotations from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce any material on CWGK is required.
FTP Identifier
32206387
People
Bosley, "Bud"
Lawson, James
Edwards, Thomas
Bramlette, Thomas Elliott
Places
Mercer County, Kentucky
Organizations
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Mercer Circuit Court
Dates
1865-11-23
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Citation

Thomas Edwards to Thomas E. Bramlette, Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Apprehension of Fugitives from Justice Papers, 1863-1867, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, https://discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-005-0130 (November 12, 2026).

[Page 1]

Mercer County Sct
To the Governor of Kentucky

Your Petitioner Thos Edwards states he is County Judge of Mercer County that James Lawson is indicted in the Mercer Circuit Court for feloniously murdering one Bud" Bosley & has fled from justice & is now running at large to the great terror of the good citizens of this Commonwealth

The killing of Bosly by Lawson was without any provocation whatever & was in law & fact a most outrageous murder — Lawson is a desperado who defies all law civil & military

The ends of justice cannot be satisfied without his arrest which cannot be accomplished without a reward of at least the full amount authorized by law being offered- Peace has come but order cannot be restored till those who are lawbreakers are made to feel the penalties of the Law, I most humbly but most earnestly petition

[Page 2]

Your Excellency to offer a reward of Five Hundred Dollars for the apprehension of this despeate outlaw & his delivery to the Jailer of Mercer County to answer this most flagrant Murder — & as in duty bound will ever pray &c

Thos Edwards
Presiding Judge of Mercer County

Reward of $300.
Jas Lawson for murder of Bud Bosley
Mercer Co
23d Nov/65