Petition

Charles Eaves, R. S. Russell, and George M. Ewing to Beriah Magoffin

1861-06-18

Date of Creation
June 18, 1861
Place of Creation
Greenville, Muhlenberg 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
MG20-271-1
CWGK Accession Number
KYR-0001-020-1130
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
32209538

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Dates
1857
1861-06-18
1861-06-25
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Citation

Charles Eaves, R. S. Russell, and George M. Ewing to Beriah Magoffin, 1861-06-18, 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-0001-020-1130 (November 14, 2026).

[Page 1]

To his Excellency Beriah Magoffin
Govenor of Kentucky
Dr Sir

S. P. Love (who will hand you this) was indicted in 1857, in the Muhlenberg Circuit Court, for manslaughter, committed by Killing W. M. Little Mr Love has had two fair trials, in each of which the Jury were unable to agree. Two hung Juries ordinarily are sufficient ^basis on which to^ to hypothicate a reasonable doubt. am. I am & have been from the beginning employed by the friends of the deceased to prosecute Mr Love and did prosecute in each trial. A well grounded belief that no very verdict of guilty (perhaps no verdict at all) can be obtained induces me to recommend Mr Love to Executive clemency.

The Commonthwealths atty. (E P. Campbell Esqr of Priceton) declined entering a nolle prosequi, I did not urge him to do so, but told him if he chose to do so, it would meet my concurrence, on the grounds above indicated.

The evidence established that Little had made numerous threats of Killing love, and

[Page 2]

such was the condition of affairs between ^them^ I have no doubt each believed the other would Kill him on sight. Various member of the community on which the parties lived were much to blame for this state of things

I write this at the request of Mr Love

Respectfully
Charles Eaves
June 18, 1861 Greenville Ky

I fully concur in the sentiments and recomendations of the above

Respectfully
R. S. Russell

I was also employed to prosecute Mr Love & fully concur in the above statement Jun 25th 1861
Geo M Ewing