To His Excellency Beriah Magoffin
Gov^r of Kentucky
Respected Sir

Your petitioner Dennis C. Kelly would state That he is Bail for his brother P E Kelly in the sum of six hundred doll^s for his appearance in the circuit court of Jefferson County- which Bail bond was forfeited by the non appearance of s^d P E Kelly at the May Term of s^d Court. Your Excellency granted a respite for 12 months which has not expired, Your petitioner is now informed that his brother, is in the army of the southern convictionfederacy enlisted during the war as a soldier, & there is no prospect of his return for some time Your petitioner has a wife & five children to support all the children too young to work, or to be of much service, he is without a trade & has a house & lot now of no great value but is still a home, to pay this would entirely ruin him & place it out of his power to render the assistance to his family, they so much need

If y^r Excellency in view of these facts could possibly remit the penal bond, over which you have Executive controul you would save a helpless family from ruin & in no [win] injure the state over which you preside with so much merited abilities with the greatest respect y^r obt serv^t

D, C, Kelly

I know Mr Kelly to be an industrious sober & correct man & believe his statement correct & therefore join in the prayer to remit his bond

very respectfully y^r Excellencies obt serv^t

John Joyes