Correspondence

A. F. Gowdy to Beriah Magoffin

1861-09-18

Date of Creation
September 18, 1861
Place of Creation
Campbellsville, Taylor County, Kentucky
Document Genre
Correspondence
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
MG21-387 to MG21-388
CWGK Accession Number
KYR-0001-020-1424
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
32209832
People
Gowdy, Alfred Franklin
Magoffin, Beriah
Wood, James C.
Cox, Thomas
Places
Campbellsville, Kentucky
Kentucky
Taylor County, Kentucky
Organizations
Taylor Circuit Court
Dates
1861-09-18
Download (XML) Download (PDF)
Citation

A. F. Gowdy to Beriah Magoffin, 1861-09-18, 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-0001-020-1424 (November 12, 2026).

[Page 1]

Campbellsville Taylor Co Ky
Seprt 18th 1861
To His Excellency
B. MagoffinEsqr
Governor of Kenty

At the present September Term of the Taylor Circuit Court, Mr James C Wood was convicted for assaulting & Cuting One Thomas Cox with intention to Kill and was Sentenced to Confinement in the Penitentiary One Year.

I have learned from good authority, The best citizens of our County that if the Convict Thad had a fair trail and all the evidence in the Case been laid before the Jury there would have been an acquital. There was one witness who would have

[Page 2]

proven that Cox assaulted the prisoner first but he could not be gotten before the Court The prisoners Counsel made a mistake in the witness who was to prove the assault by Cox on prisoner until after the trail Commenced.

There was much prejudice against the prisoner by Some of the witnesses Sworn on the Trial, and one his own Cousin whose evidence Convicted him when the absent witness would have sworn differently to his Cousin which prisoner Says would have been the truth.

If your Excellency will pardon the prisoner from the petition & facts presented to you, I have no doubt will be satisfactory to our Citizens and doing an act of Justice & Clemency to the prisoner which would

[Page 3]

be in your legitimate power to do so, Provided you are satisfied of the facts presented before you.

In this Case I have no personal interest no way, and I have but little acquaintance with the prisoner, his relatives are people of good Character & stand high as Citizens of our County

Yours &c
A. F. Gowdy