To His Excellency Beriah Magoffin
Gov^r of Kentucky

Your petitioner John Ferguson would respectfully state, That he was fined in the city court of Louisivlle Aug^t Term thereof Fifty dolls. for an alledged Assault & Battery committed upon [...] under the following circumstances, He & friends came out of a recruiting Federal office, where they had been to see what was doing there, & as he came out he saw three men standing nearbye they were talking politicks, When petitioner engaged in the conversation & was treated insultingly, he struck the man & after some struggling was victorous, he believes he

the Jury were opposed to him on account of his politicks as the only reason for their imposing so large a fine there was no crowd around the affair was quietly performed no serious injury done the public peace, he is a man of family has been turned out of the fire department because of this affiar & his politicks & he prays y^r Excellency to remit his fine he is convinced no one who is willing to defend his state & thinks & acts as he does can have justice in the courts! therefore must of necessity appeal to his Gov^r whom

he feels assured will not let him be borne to the ground when defending a cause just & holy with the greatest respect

he is y^r devoted serv^t

John Ferguson

Most respectfully I concur in the foregoing statement & pray y^r Excellency to remit John Ferguson's fine

John Joyes

11^th Aug^t 1861

Louisville City Ct
$50 } Assault
Jno Ferguson

Iss^dAug 15. 1861

Respite 12 Mo
B. M