Petition

William L. Stratton to Beriah Magoffin

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
MG19-181 to MG19-182
CWGK Accession Number
KYR-0001-020-0759
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
32209167

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Dates
1861-06
--03-24
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Citation

William L. Stratton to Beriah Magoffin, 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-0001-020-0759 (November 14, 2026).

[Page 1]

To His Excellency
B. Magoffin Governor of Kentucky

Your memorialist William L. Stratton would respectfully represent that at the June Term 1861 of the City Court of Louisville a Fine of Fifty Dollars was imposed against him for an assault and Battery committed upon the person of a German named Rait No defense was made by your Petitioner on the trial, the case having been called and tried whilst he was at Dinner & the fine is an exorbitant one.

Said Rait abused Petitioner & he struck him two or three light blows, & the next day he was about his work & exhibited scarcely any ^no^ evidence of violence. The cost with the Attorney's portion of the fine amounts to about the sum of $25. which your Petitioner thinks is ample punishment. He is almost entirely out of means & does not know that he will be able to pay the cost. He is the only protection for a Widowed Mother & if incarcerated in the City Work House she will loose his services. He feels bound in justice to her as well as himself to pray your Excellency that you remit the States portion of said fine- & will ever pray &c

Respectfully
W. L. Stratton

I know something of the circumstances attending Mr. Strattan's case as recited above & the statements made are true as I verily believe & I cordially ask your Excellency to remit his fine-

O S Strattan Clk C C L

[Page 2]

The undersigned citizens of Louisville respectfully recommend to His Excellency Gov. Magoffin a favorable consideration of the Petition of Mr. Strattan believing there is merit in the prayer of his Petitions.

F. B. Jones D. M.
F. M. Stratton M. D.
W R Hydes Marshall C. C. L
W S. Ward
John W. Allen
Wm Shryock
M. C. Bowell
A. Maas
G. W. Irving

W C Price
Pat Hawes
H. S. Johnston D. M
Hervey Seaton
Bernad McAtee
Charls Dunst
J R Goldsborough

The statements in the foregoing Petition are true. Mr Stratton is a clever Young man. The son of a Widowed Mother who is in Moderate circumstances & I have no doubt they could not pay the fine without in all probability denying themselves in a great measure of the present necessaries of life

Geo. W. Johnston.

[Page 3]
[Page 4]

Petition
Remitted
B. M
IsdMar 24