Petition

James Donahue et al. to Beriah Magoffin

Place of Creation
Louisville, Jefferson 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
MG22-330
CWGK Accession Number
KYR-0001-020-1665
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
32210073

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Dates
1862-02
1862-02-14
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Citation

James Donahue et al. to Beriah Magoffin, 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-0001-020-1665 (November 13, 2026).

[Page 1]

To His Excellency Beriah Magoffin
Governor of Kentucky

The Petitioner James Donahue States that at the February Term 1862 of the City Court of Louisville he was fined the sum of $20: upon an Indictment in said court charging him with committing an assualt on James Johnson — He states that Johnson was the only Witness who testified in the case against him & who stated that I met him in the city that no person was present, that I knocked him down & Kicked him several times, I state positively that I had no difficulty with him on the day he stated I had. That I did not on that day strike him or kick him we had some words together on that day & On the following day as I proved in Court said Johnson & Myself had some words again & he drew a knife & advanced upon me & I then struck him, as I had a right to do in self defense I was not Indicted for this assault & the prosecuting attorney relied alone on the proof made by Johnson of an assault committed the previous day. which I say was not true — Petitioner is a verry poor man a day laborer with no property — her wife He has an aged Mother, and two Infant Daughters of a sister to support which requires all the means he can possibly Earn & unless your Excellency will remit said fine he wil be committed to the Work House & his aged Mother & his two Neices must suffer for the necessaries of life — He prays your Excellency to remit said fine & he will &c

James Donahue

[Page 2]

We are acquainted with James Donahue & state that he is a Day laborer, verry poor & supports his Mother & two Nieces & we unite with him in asking a remission of his fine

M. Casey
Thomas, Crowe
John Houck
Charley Cain
[Crist.] Miller
N. [Hendenreder]
Horace Dewitz
Michael Lyns
Terry Owen
Henry Wintercorn
C S [Hill]
John Cavanaugh
[Michael] gill
Patrick Donohue
Michl Donahue
John Buckley
A. Hearking
J P McMahon
Patrick [Scully]
James Whelan
Philip[...]

Philip Donahoe
Bryan Murray

Louisville City Ct
Respite 6 mo
B. M

$20. } assault
Jas Donahue
IssdFeby 14 1862

Respite 6