Correspondence

D. S. Hays to Beriah Magoffin

1861-04-10

Date of Creation
April 10, 1861
Place of Creation
Hopkinsville, Christian 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
MG19-462 to MG19-463
CWGK Accession Number
KYR-0001-020-0920
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
32209328

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Dates
1861-04-10
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Citation

D. S. Hays to Beriah Magoffin, 1861-04-10, 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-0001-020-0920 (November 14, 2026).

[Page 1]

Hopkinsville Kentucky
Apl 10th 1861
His
Excellency B. Magoffin
Governor of Kentucky
Dear Sir

Permit me to Solicit the Executive Clemency on behalf of Jonathan Greer who was convicted of man Slaughter at the present Term of our circuit court

I have been intimately acquainted with Mr Greer for over Thrity five years and he is far advanced in years and one of the most peacable and orderly citizens of our county, I am conversant with all the circumstances which had to this difficulty Mr Greer all the time has acted on the defensive endeavoring peacably to protect his family from insult from some drunken trifling men who but recently settled in his neighborhod,

In a general melee Jonathan Greer and son being first badly wounded, two men who brought about the difficulty, were killed, and had not the friends of those two run off Mr Greers most important witness I am Satisfied the Jury would have

[Page 2]

acquitted Mr Greer —

Mr Greer is respectably connected married the daughter of John Hopson one of the most pious men of our Country The Hopson family is very numerous and of high standing —

I speak from a full Knowledge of all the circumstances in Mr Greers case and Permit ^me^ to beg that I have never known a case more deserving of Executive Clemency

your friend &c
D. S. Hays

[Page 3]
[Page 4]

His
Excellency
B, Magoffin
Frankfort
Kentucky