Correspondence

Ed Crossland to Beriah Magoffin

1861-01-14

Date of Creation
January 14, 1861
Place of Creation
Clinton, Hickman County, Kentucky
Document Genre
Correspondence
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
MG18-345 to MG18-346
CWGK Accession Number
KYR-0001-020-0546
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
32208954

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Dates
1861-01-14
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Citation

Ed Crossland to Beriah Magoffin, 1861-01-14, 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-0001-020-0546 (November 12, 2026).

[Page 1]

Clinton Ky Jany 14th/61
Govr Magoffin
Dear Sir

At the last Term of the Fulton Equity & Criminal Mike Sherran was tried under an indictment for murder &was found guilty of manslaughter &sent to the Penetintiary for three years. Col Lannon will hand you the evidence in the case certified by the Commonwealth's Attorney. You will see that the Evidence of the witnesses who prove that Sherman took any part in the fight is contradicted by several other witnesses who saw it &who swear that Sherran took no part in the fight & did not strike a single blow.

The evidence all together leaves

[Page 2]

very uncertain whether Mike struck a single blow or took any part whatever in the fight. The Evidence very clearly shows that George Mathews who was also convicted &sent for 10 years Killed the man. Therefore Governor I believe that Justice requires that mike sherran should not be further punished. I respectfully request Your Excellency to Pardon Sherran he is an honest hard working man & has always been a peacable citizen. The language and conduct of deceased was well calculated to arouse the passions of any man living in the south.

deceased was a miserable drunken vagabond from Ohio or Pennsylvania the constant associate

[Page 3]

of a drunken worthless free negro was nearly always in a brawl with some citizen on account of the sentiments he entertained in respect to slavery & negroes — I do not believe the proof made out any crime against Sherran

I am Respectfully your
ObtSt friend
Ed Crossland