To His Excellency, the Governor of Kentucky

The Undersigned Ctizens of Caldwell County would Respectfully Represent unto your honour, that at the late term of the Caldwell Circuit Court, a judgment was rendered against Benjamin Armstrong for $400. upon a forfeited Recognizance of his son Joel H. Armstrong who was charged with larcenys The Circumstances are these: Joel H Armstrong & student of Cumberland College at this place last fall was arrested on the charge of Stealing Money from some of the Students, was brought before an examining court and Recognized in the sum of $400. for his appearance at the last Nov^r Term of the Caldwell Circuit, his father Benjamin Armstrong going into the bond for his appearance under the assurance of his son of his innocence of the charge, agreeing to go home with his father and attend the trial of the case, but deceived him & without ever going home, left the Country and the old man, his father to foot the bill. —

Now the undersigned believe this to be a case worthy of consideration by Your Excellency, and a most proper case for the interposition of Executive Clemency.

Mr. Armstrong is now an old man, probably 70 years of age, has now a considerable family on his hands (having married the second time) is a poor man, having a little home & no more personal property than is

barely sufficient to enable him to support his family- and if this judgment should be carried into execution, it would leave the old man and his family in truly a deplorable condition — Wherefore Your Petitioners would Most Respectfully and earnestly Pray Your Honuror to Remit said forfeiture — and Send joy & gladness to the hearth stone of the old man & his family.
Princeton Ky June 20^th 1861.