Petition

John H. Caldwell to Beriah Magoffin

1861-05-15

Date of Creation
May 15, 1861
Place of Creation
Crab Orchard, Lincoln County, Kentucky
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
MG20-96 to MG20-97
CWGK Accession Number
KYR-0001-020-1024
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
32209432

The Civil War Governors of Kentucky editors are working on annotations for this document. Check back to explore the people, places, organizations mentioned in this document.

Dates
1861-05-15
1861-06-24
1861-08-05
1860-09
1861-05-15
Download (XML) Download (PDF)
Citation

John H. Caldwell to Beriah Magoffin, 1861-05-15, 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-0001-020-1024 (November 13, 2026).

[Page 1]

Craborchard Springs
May 15th 1861
Hon B. Magoffin
Dear Sir

I send a pettion to have a fine remitted imposed on me by the Lincoln Circuit court you will please attend to it I know your mind is harrassed by matters far more important, but I hope you will ^attend to this^ immediately on the reception of this, as the execution is returnable on next monday.

Very truly yours
John H Caldwell

Remitted
Respited 12 mos.
B. M
IssdJune 24
Lincoln Cir. Ct
$500 } For Gaming
Jno. H. Caldwell
Remission Issd
Aug 5. 1861

[Page 2]
[Page 3]
[Page 4]

To His Excellency
Governor B. Magoffin

The undersigned John. H. H. Caldwell respectfully showeth to your Excellency that at the September term 1860 of the Lincoln Circuit Court, he was fined the sum of Five Hundred Dollars on charge of suffereing gaming in his house. He states that he is the keeper of the Hotel, known as the Crab Orchard Springs, a watering place, and being a large and [...] establishment, it is impossible for him to intently suppress gaming, even with the greatest vigilance, and under the law he is finable of gaming is committed without his knowledge. He states that he never ran the gaming going on, and he forbid gaming on his premises — He states that under the circumstances the law operates hardly on him and is oppresive, and in these times of trouble and financial disaster, it is utterly impossible for him to pay the fine.

In consideration of the previous he respectfully asks your Excellency to interpose and remit the hard fine and release him therefrom. He believes his case is one for Executive clemency and he earnestly & respectfully prays your Excellency for the exercise of it. And as in duty bound will ever pray &c — May 15th 1861 —

John H. Caldwell

We believe the above petition is true and join in the same and respectfully ask the Governor to remit the fine —

Jno Engleman
E. B. Caldwell