To his Excellency Beriah Magoffin govenor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky-

your petitioners John Morgan and A Hall respectfully state that at the July Term of the Mason Circuit Couty 1861 — they were fined the sum of sixty dollars each for keeping a 'Tippling House" — your petitioner John Morgan represents that he resides about seventeen miles from the city of Maysville and that for many years past that Barbecues and political meetings have been held and had at his house and most generally immediately preceding the August Elections — In July 1860 a Barbecue and political Meeting was had and holden at his house at which time he committed the offense charged — He having procured his Co-defendant Hall to assist him in all the labors and duties of host or Landlord connected with and incident to such an occassion: — — the state of the Thermometer physical, social and political, the distance from Maysville and the Ohio river

and the Importunate ^and^ (as to him unfortunate) thirst of both the political parties present, of his own friends and of the aspirants for office, all combined and all urgent and pressing and backed by necessity, enduced him to minister to and supply the spiritual wants of several of those present: Candor compels him to declare that to some extent in the commission of this offence his "Poverty not his will consented" and yielding to the circumstances by which he was surrounded he violated the Law he asks its pardon, and that of your Excellency — He is poor, he has a large family towit eleven children, and while poverty is no justification for the violation of the law, yet he hopes you will find in what he has stated, such extenuation as will (as to him,) induce your Excellency to remit this fine — your petitioner A Hall states that he was employed by Morgan, as his assistant upon the occasion alluded to, he supposed that Morgan had authority to sell, and the fine upon him is most unjust as he earnestly wishes your Excellency to remit the same

John Morgan
Abner Hall

The undersigned citizens of Mason County concur in the prayer of the foregoing petition

Mason Cir. Ct

Respite 12 mo
B. M.

$60 each } Tipling
Jno. Morgan & A Hall
Iss^dOct 10 1861