John W. Christin to Beriah Magoffin
1861-05-28
- Date of Creation
- May 28, 1861
- Place of Creation
- Adair 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
- MG20-159 to MG20-160
- CWGK Accession Number
- KYR-0001-020-1064
- 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
- 32209472
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Citation
John W. Christin to Beriah Magoffin, 1861-05-28, 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-0001-020-1064 (November 13, 2026).
To His Excellency
Beriah MaGoffin
Governor of Kentucky
Sir
At the fifty Sixty dollars "for Keeping a tipling house"
I was not guilty, but did not make my defence because Mr. William Stewart ^an atty & counsillor at law^ advised me that it was not necessary for me to attend Court. The names of two persons named Curry & one named Orr were put down on the indictment ^as witnesses for the Comwth^ The two Currys had left the State & gone into parts unknown to the petitioner.
Mr. Stewart failed to observe that Orrs name was endorsed as a witness, & therfor believed that ther would be no trial. of the Case. The case was tried in my absence & I was filned $60. because no defence was made against the charge.
I Kept a little store in this (Adair) County. I never sold spiritous liquors upon the recomendation of Dr. Hector Owens I bought a Keg (ten gallons) of ginger wine. I never sold that wine except once & then to a man whose wife was sick.
I stat to Your Excellency that I never Kept a tippling house & never ^sold^ a gile of spiritous liquors
unless the ginger wine containd it.
These are the facts. I ask to be released from a fine for a offence which I have not commited.
John W Christin
We state that we arewere the nearest of neighbours of John W. Christin while he resided at the house in this county in which he has been convicted of keeping a tipling house. We certify that we were often at his Store & that so far as we [...]know or could observe he kept an orderly house — that he did not keep a tipling house. He did not keep disorderly company about him. We earnestly join in his prayer
Hector Owens
Benjamin,, Grant
Wm. H. Arnold
N A Thomas
Wm T Smith
A F Harden
N R Thomas
Wm Stewart
Kentucky Adair County
John W. Christin states that he believes the statement of his petition are true.
E S Willis, P, J, A, C, C
To Gov' Magoffin —
I know the gentlemen whose names are affixed hereto as men of honor and perfect reliance can be placed in their statements, From what I have heard I believe this is a meritorious case —
Truly Your Obdt Servant
Nat Gaither
Petition
Remitted
B. M
Issd