James Blakeman to Beriah Magoffin
1861-03-02
- Date of Creation
- March 2, 1861
- Place of Creation
- Green 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
- MG21-122 to MG21-123
- CWGK Accession Number
- KYR-0001-020-1253
- 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
- 32209661
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Citation
James Blakeman to Beriah Magoffin, 1861-03-02, 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-0001-020-1253 (December 10, 2025).
To his Excellency Beriah Magoffin Esquire Governor of Kentucky
Your petitioner James Blakeman would most respectfully represent that at the
He states to your Excellency that under the evidence in the cause he supposes the Jury could have done nothing else than fine him as he had no witnesses in his behalf Judgement was rendered agianst him without defence, He was unable to have his witnesses at the trial. he denies that he was guilty of the Offenses charged. he admits he had some weapons in his possession at the time charged and he admits he had a Difficulty with the parties mentioned in the Indictment, but he had his weapons merely for Self defence he had been frequently threatened by these parties. that he was to be whipped on Sight. and that if he dared to resist they would kill him. and on this account & in order to protect himself he admits he did on the occasion, have weapons to defend himself but for no other purpose. he was overtaken on the highway by these parties he alone. they began the difficulty with him and greatly abused him. and illtreated him and in self defence he Exhibited his weapons and defended himself the best he could, but
he did not use his weapons in any other way he hurt no one and done nothing but defend & try to keep off his assailants.
For this he was brought before the Grand Jury, the parties who had thus maltreated him were the only witnesses & upon whose evidence he has been fined
He could have proved the threats agaisnt him and the Combination made to beat and kill your petitioenr but he was forced into trial, & a continuance denied him because it was supposed he had not used dillijence to get his witnesses but he says he did use all reasonable dillijence and had the promise of his witnesses to attend. but they did not come in in time for the trial
He states to your Excellency that this fine is grievious and hard upon him he has not the means to pay said fines it is unjust & oppressive. he is a poor young man he is living with an aged mother who is to a gret Extent dependent upon him for assistance in making a living, his father recently died and left his family in a despondent condition. & your petitioner is the chief help of his mother &
He prays your Excellency to take his case into your favorable consideration, and release him from the payment of said 2 fines H for which he will be ever grateful and thankful. he states that he is a law abiding good Citizen and if it were needful he could obtain the evidence &
approval of all his neighbors and acquaintances
He submits his case to your Excellency
James Blakeman
Sworn to before me by James Blakeman this
S A Spencer J P G C
Greensburg Ky
To His Excellency Governor Magoffin
In behalf of the poor young man I send you his petition, accompanied by ^the petition of^ a respectable portion of his neighbors & acquaintances asking your Excellency to remit & release him form the 2 fines assessed against him one for an alledged assault, of $50 and one for a Breach of the peace for $10. making $60 in all
The Petitioner is a poor young man with no means to pay said fines and if taken to Jail as he will be it will not only, not pay the fine, but will deprive an aged and deserving old Mother from the benefit of his Service Which She now so much needs. his father, (recently died) a soldier in the war of 1812 recently did an indigent circumstances, leaving his wife the mother of the Petitioner in a helpless condition. and dependant upon her children for support
It will be an act of charity & humanity to release this poor fellow from the Judgements & will ever be held in Grateful rememberance by his poor mother
I have the honor to be very respectfully
your obt servt
S. A Spencer
Green Cir Ct
James Blakeman
To } Petition To Governor
B. Magoffin Esq
Governor of Kentucky
Respite 12 mo
B M
Isd
From Greensburg
Green County Ky
