Petition

J. H. Price and Robert F. Baird to Beriah Magoffin

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
MG23-74 to MG23-75
CWGK Accession Number
KYR-0001-020-1749
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
32210157

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Dates
1861-06-12
1862-03-31
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Citation

J. H. Price and Robert F. Baird 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-0001-020-1749 (February 13, 2026).

[Page 1]

To His Excelency Beriah Magoffin
Govenor of Kentucky

Your petioners J. H. Price and Robt F. Baird would respectfully state that on the 12th day of June 1861 they went upon the bail bond of Henry Lewis indicted in the Jefferson Circuit Court for grand Larceny. The Sum in which said Lewis was held was $600 — Your petioners were received as bail, & said Lewis not appearing a forfeiture was declared wheron a scirefacias was issued & Judgment had, & now an execution is against your petioners.

We would further state that we were not indemnified, but were induced to go upon the bond from other considerations. To wit; that we had previously known the accused, that we held him as an honest man, that he was young & full of promise, & altogether an open frank appearing young man: That we were his Attorneys in the examining court, & from his hearing on the trial, & the evidence give before the court not clearly showing his guilt, appealed strongly to our sympathies.

Your Excelency will bear in mind that many innocent persons are held to answer by Police Judges & Magistrates, and that Grand Juries generaly hearing only the evidence for the Commonwealth readily find an indictment. Our City Judge will hold a man to answer

[Page 2]

when there is proberable cause to suspect that the accused is guilty of the crime charged; but when the case is tried by Jury. they must acquit should they entertain a reasonable ^doubt^ as to the guilt of the party. In our humble Judgment an acquittal would have been the result of a Jury Trial.

Your petitioners believed that when they went upon said Lewis' bond to answer, that he would appear & stand his trial, & even now, they are of the belief that he is either dead or detained from coming. We would respectfully inform your Excelency that about the Time said Lewis left Louisville, that men advocating The Union or Secession were liable to arrest & imprisonment & may be he is now, from one or the other cause, do deprived of his liberty that he could not appear & answer the bond.

Your petioners humbly pray your Excelency to remit the forfeiture of said recognisance

Respectfully
J. H. Price
Robert F. Baird

[Page 3]

Jefferson Cir. Ct
Remitted
B. M.

$600. } Recog
J. H. Price & Robt F. Baird
IssdMar 31, 1862