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

Your petitioner Frederick Keck was tried in the city court of Louisville for cutting a man with a pen knife about 3 weeks ago, there was but one witness examined & he was the party cut He stated that Keck & he had been together for 2 or 3 hours ^late at night near 12 Oclk^ drinking Keck had been turned out of a coffee house struck & kicked by the keeper & he told Keck that he had acted basly & cowardly in not resisting it this kind of conversation had been kept up for several squares perhaps half a mile when Keck told him that he nor any other should ever do so again with impunity & advanced to the witness who pushed Keck against a fence or wall violently, a fight then ensued Keck was knocked down with a leaden loaded stick which was broken & he had several severe wounds upon

his head, the witness had a small cut upon his left arm near the elbow where Keck was down, the witness ran towards his home & Keck was arrested upon the complaint of witness & kept in jail 1 or 2 days before his case was enquired into, he is now in jail by the order of the court two of the Jury refused to render a virdict of guilty only upon the agreement that all would forthwith sign a petition to y^r Excellency for full pardon & they say that they have been deceived or no verdict should ever have been given

I think this a meritorious case for the Executive interference in favor of Fred: Keck who is now in joial I send the petition as signed by the jury that I could find with this with the greatest respect

I am sir y^r obt Serv^t
John Joyes

Fred Kecks
Petition
To The Gov^r of Ky

Remitted
B. M.

Louisville City Ct
$50 & 6 mo. Imp^t

Fred^k. Keck

Iss^dJuly 18. 1861