Columbia Ky. Decr. 1860
To His Excellency, B. Magoffin, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

Your Petitioners would most respectfully represent. That during the past summer One James Collins of this (Adair) County, was prosecuted for Larceny — charged with Stealing $5 — or $6. from a country Store in this county, He was tried before an Examining Court & Sent on to further trial in the Circuit Court, and gave Bail in the Sum of $250 — with his father Thomas Collins Security, for his appearance at the Nov^r Term of the Adair Circuit Court.

And at the first of Said Court the accused attended bet before the cause was called for trial he had left, havingashis and upon the calling of the cause, he failed to appear & Surrender himself into the hands of the proper officers for trial &^c in consequence of which Said bond was forfeited. And unless arrested by Your Excellencys Clemency, Said father (the Said Security) will be compelled to pay the Said bond.

Your Petitioners state that the accused is apoor & ignorant young man — and that the evidence against him is wholly circumstantial, and that his Said father the Surity in Said bond, is a poor & industrious and good citizen, with a large family of children to See to & support. And if he is compelled to pay the amt. of Said bond it will bring ruin & misery on him & his

family — Your petitioners now after making these plain Statements of the facts without exagerration, and being acquainted with the parties & circumstances Surrounding the case, would most respectfully ask your Excellency to interpose, in behalf of Saidfather (Thomas Collins) if not of the erring Son, and through your clemency remit the penalty of Said bond, at least So far as to release the Security from it. Your petitioners feel assured that by so doing Your Excellency would do much to make Comfortable, & cheerful the family of a poor but highly respectable man,

Your petitioner Thomas Collins states that he was anxious & done all he could to procure & induce his said son to stand his trial believing he would come clear & Employed their lawyers at a cost of $50 each to make his defence in good faith & in good faith desired his son to stand his trial Your petitioner has 14 children & is not worth in all more than $500 in unsaleable property & has no money & owes the said attorneys fee & if he is compelled to pay the bail aforesaid his little helpless children will be reduced to want. Your petitioner is now getting old & not verry able to work at his trade (stone masonry) & appeals to his neighbors to say that he has always worked hard & been a good citizen & raised his children honerably setting good Examples before them. Eight of his children are daughters & most of them small & helpless & dependant he prays your Excelency to pardon the said forfeited bond so far as he is concerned & save his little children from want & their father from sorrow

Thomas Collins

William Harvey
Addison R. Sparkes
J K Strange
John Blakey
Isaac Miller
Jerry Powell
U U Well
W W Wilbern
J N Williams
Wm R M^cFarley
Michel
Michel grant
W T Jackman
Ja^s Duncan
alan bibey
James coffey

Adair Cir Ct
Remitted
B. M.
Isd Jay 23rd
$250. } Forfeiture