To his Excellency Beriah M^cGoffin Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky Your petitioner would respectfully state that at the May term of the Grayson circuit Court 1861 he was fined the Sum of Sixty Dollars upon an Indictment charging him with the offense of Keeping a Tippling house a copy of the virdict and Judgment are herewith inclosed he states that he was informed that the Legislature had passed an act Sabolishing the Spring term of the Court and that there would be no court held for Grayson county at the May term which commenced on the Second Monday of the Month & relying upon his information as a fact he did not on that account attend court that on friday night of the May term for the first time he learned that the court was in session but would adjoin Saturday morning before he could get to court he residing at a distance of Sixteen miles from the court house he States that the finding was against

him was upon the testimony of [...]one witness only who entertained unfriendly feeling towards your petitioner Your petitioner States that he never sold wine or any spiritous Liquors of any Kind in less quantity than a [...] Gallon & that he did not suffer it to be drank in his house or on his premeses or adjacent thereto but sold only to be taken home by the purchaser which he could ^have^ abundantly proven by his neighbours was his manner of doing business had he not have been deceived as to there being no court Your pititioner feeling a concieusness of his inocence and being a poor man and about 64 years of age and unable to work in justice to his family feels his duty to appeal to your Excellency for executive clemency and would most respectfully ask your Excellency to remit said find and as in duty will ever pray &c
May 20^th 1861

James Alvey

We the undirsigned concur in foregoing facts as stated by the petitioner and Join in the prayer of the petition believing as we his neighbours do his is a case well deserving executive aid.

Grayson Cir. Ct
James Alvey
Petition
Respite 12 mo
B. M
$60 } tipling
Iss^dSept 10. 1861