Petition

William Griffin to Beriah Magoffin

1860-12-20

Date of Creation
December 20, 1860
Place of Creation
Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky
Document Genre
Petition
Repository
Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
Collection
Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862
Box / Folder
MG17-231 to MG17-232
CWGK Accession Number
KYR-0001-020-0259
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
32208669

The Civil War Governors of Kentucky editors are working on annotations for this document. Check back to explore the people, places, organizations mentioned in this document.

Dates
1860-09
1860-12-20
1860-12-29
Download (XML) Download (PDF)
Citation

William Griffin to Beriah Magoffin, 1860-12-20, Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, https://discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-020-0259 (November 14, 2026).

[Page 1]

To his Excellency the Governor of Kentucky

Your Petitioner William Griffin states that some time in Sept 1860 he was tried in the Police Court of Louisville upon a charge of selling spirits & fined $20 — & costs & also fined $2 — & cost for prohibiting an Irishman from beating a man at his house He states that he was not guilty of the charge of selling the spirits He states that the only witness against him was a drunken Irishman who this affiant had had a difficulty with he states that said witness swore falsely, & has long since left this place. He states that he told his Atty to take an appeal in the cases & suffered & believed it had been done untill yesterday when the town Marshall called on him for said fines, whom greatly to his surprise he found no appeal had been taken, & the time had expired for an appeal. He states that the fine of $2 — was imposed upon him because he kept said drunken Irishman from beating an old inoffensive drunken man that he used no other or greater force than was necessary to protect the helpless, though said witness swore differently & falsely too. He states that in

[Page 2]

consequence of the failure of his Atty to take an appeal in said cases he is now remedyless & he therefore prays your Excellency to remit said fines as in duty bound will ever pray

William Griffin

subscribed & sworn to before me by William Griffin this the 20 day of Dec 1860

F. T. Fox Jr
Notary Public

[Page 3]

Dear Gov

I was the counsel of Griffin & I neglected to take the appeal for him. The Court did right under the proof to fine Griffin, but the drunken fellow who swore against him did the same through spite & has since left the county This is a meritorious case, & I feel as if I am to blame for the condition the thing is in. I know you are annoyed very much fr with matters of this kind but you must for my sake remit these fines. I hope you will do so. Your proposition to the various Governors meets my approval. I hope you are well

Yours
M. I. Dunham

[Page 4]

Danville Po. Ct
Respite 6 mo
B. M.
$20. } Selling liquor
Wm Griffin
IssdDec 29 1860