Petition

William Wilson et al. 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
MG19-327 to MG19-328
CWGK Accession Number
KYR-0001-020-0845
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
32209253

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Dates
1860-09
1861-03
1861-03
1861-03-30
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Citation

William Wilson et al. 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-0001-020-0845 (November 13, 2026).

[Page 1]

To his Excellency Beriah Magoffin Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky

Your petitioners William Wilson, William Murphy, J. C. Wickliffe William H. Newman & J. W. Muir Respectfully represent that at the September term of the Nelson Circuit Court one Henry Smith was held to Bail in the sum of one thousand dollars to appear at the March term of said Court for the present year (1861) to answer an Indictment for murder and being a poor man — without any estate and a stranger in the said County without relatives or friends, and he having appeared at one term and surrendered himself into custody and was tried & there was a hung Jury, and the trial having developed the fact that the killing of which he was accused was done only after he was provoked to the attack by being first without his offending being fired upon with a pistol in the hands of the slain, the undersigned believing he was guilty only of justifiable ^or excusable^ homicide entered as his bail for his appearance to the March term aforesaid. The said Smith has since contracted an alliance with a young lady of respectability of Said County and with her has gone to parts unknown as is supposed with the intent to marry her which was in opposition to the wishes of her Family. This alliance no doubt has been the prime cause of his forfeiting his recognizance whereby your petitioners will be compelled to pay the sum of one thousand dollars unless relieved by the Executive Clemency of your Excellency & owing to the peculiar financial condition

[Page 2]

of the country, and the moderate circumstances of your petitioners (who are all young men with families to support) the payment of said Bail would be greivous burden to them and each of them

Wherefore your petitioners do most anxiously solicit Your Excellency to relieve them of the payment thereof

Wm Wilson
J. W. Muir
Wm Murphy
W. H. Newman
W. R. Grigsby
P. B. Muir
Tho W Riley
John E Newman
John L. Helm

[Page 3]

I was present at one trial of Henry Smith on the charge mentioned in this petition. There was a Hung Jury. I heard the trial and am of opinion Smith ought to have been acquitted

Tho W Riley

[Page 4]

Nelson Cir Ct
Respite 12 mo
B. M
$1000 } Recogn
Wm Wilson & Others.
IssdMar 30. 1861