Eddyville, Ky June 3^d/61
Gov. MaGoffin
D^r Sir

I take the liberty of writing to you as an acquaintance & an old friend in behalf of three of my clients who petitioners for executive clemency & although they are clients yet you know me well enough to know that I would not say to you an untruth

M^r D. a. Butler, [...] Lowry & [...] Travis were fined in the Crittenden Court at its last term on a charge of whipping (assaulting) Spellman Woodside's & fined respectively $500 for the two first each & 250$ for the last — the defendants are known and recognized as clever gentlemen but keen shrewd traders — the evidence before the Jury was positive, yet but few believed the main witness told the truth, though there was no way for the defendants to assail him & so his testimony had to be taken as true & therefore the finding of the Jury — from the whole case & I am well acquainted with it, I do really think it one deserving of executive clemency, I I sometimes sign petitions without noticing them but will never write a letter of this character without I feel the case & the cause of Justice demands it — the defendants deny the assault & no witness but the man assaulted from it & he certainly from outside evidence which could not be got before the Jury must have told falsehoods

Yours &c
P D Yeiser

Gov B MGoffin
Frankfort
Ky