James H. Lowry states that he was one of the Justices of the Peace who presided at the examining trial of John J. McAfee on the 9^th day of August 1861-in the town ofNicholasville Ky — under a warrant for shooting with intent to Kill = and that in affixing the Bail of said M^cAfee at the sum of $4000 he was in a great degree influenced by the Consideration & fact that the Wm McDowell the person charged to have been shot by said M^cAfee was at the time of said trail in a doubtful Condition — it being then supposed & feared he would die-but still survives with a prospect of recovery — & the further fact & Consideration of the great excitement & political prejudice as well as personal enmity existing in the Community against the said M^cAfee = ^in consequence of the occurrance^ & the outside threats and demonstrations indicating mobocracy toward M^cAfee = he was inclined to the opinion & belief that it was to the interest ^of & the peace of the Community at large — to affix said Bail as high as he did = & but for these Considerations he should not ^have^ affixed the Bail so high ashedid — & for these reasons he thinks the securities of said M^cAfee are entitled to the Clement Consideration of the Executive of this state —
September 16^th 1861 —

Ja^s H. Lowry