Correspondence

Ben Sparks to Beriah Magoffin

1861-03-29

Date of Creation
March 29, 1861
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
MG19-303 to MG19-304
CWGK Accession Number
KYR-0001-020-0828
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
32209236

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Dates
1860-09
1860
1861-03-29
1861-04-09
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Citation

Ben Sparks to Beriah Magoffin, 1861-03-29, 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-0001-020-0828 (November 13, 2026).

[Page 1]

To the Governor. of Kentucky

I Ben Sparks would respectfully state to your Excellency that at the September Term of the City Court of Louisvlle I was fined $500 on a charge of assault & battery committed on one [...] Taughen. The facts are as follows the prosecuting witness and myself had a conversation respecting the separation of my wife from me. I blamed him for the separation. He became very abusive, called me vulgar names, son of a bitch &c I became excited and struck him with a cane that I had in my hand, several blows but did him no serious injury. This is a full statement of all that took place. This took place in the spring of 1860. I would further state that I ^am^ a boatman, that I was employed on the River at the time of the trial, and was not present at the trial and was not represented by an attorney.

I returned to Louisville a few days ago and was arrested under a capias pro fine and put into the work house. I am not able to pay the fine. I have an aged mother who depends on me in a great measure for support

I pray your Excellency to remit the fine and I will ever pray &c

Ben Sparks

March 29th 1861,

[Page 2]

The undersigned unite in asking the Governor to remit the fine assessed against Ben Sparks mentioned in the within Petition

John Connell J, P, J, C
W. P. Campbell
J. H. Kellar M, D
H. C. Russell D M
William Hides m c c
Wm Mix Jr.
J R Thompson
M G Holmes Supt wtt
T H Crawford Mayor
W. A. Hundley
W, G, Reasor
John. J. Hawes
John M Moore
J, P, Gailbreath
Geo W Doans
C. W. Tiller
Ben selby
A. B. Fontaine
A H McKay
Wm Shyrock
J A M Turee
D Forsyth
Robt A Hamilton
C. C W. Alfriend

W C. Price
J D Stone
W. W Fry
Lucius P Little
Byron Bacon
W. G. Reasor

Ben Sparks,
Petition for remission of fine

[Page 3]
[Page 4]

Remitted as to $200, and respite 12 mo as to balance

B. M.

Louisville City Ct
$500 } Assault
Ben Sparks
IssdApr 9. 1861