Will Jennings to Beriah Magoffin
1862-04-14
- Date of Creation
- April 14, 1862
- Place of Creation
- Richmond, Madison 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
- MG23-206 to MG23-207
- CWGK Accession Number
- KYR-0001-020-1825
- 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
- 32210233
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- Dates
- 1862-04-14
Citation
Will Jennings to Beriah Magoffin, 1862-04-14, 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-0001-020-1825 (February 12, 2026).
Richmond Ky
Gov Magoffin
A petition was presented me a few days since for the pardon of B. T. Richardson and J. C. Arvine which I cheerfully signed. The offense with which they are charged is the shooting Solon Harris [...]and believing there were circumstances attending the case calling for Executive clemency I voluntarily address you this private appeal in behalf of these men. I know them well and am convinced a pardon at your hands would not only meet the approbation of the community but would be a mercy to them. They are both clever honest upright men belonging to as good families as any in this county.
They are poor and have been annoyed by Civil Suits and prosecutions since the fight with Harris (who is a rich man) until they are nearly ruined.
Arvine has a large family and his wife I understand is by no means a healthy woman but almost entirely dependent on her husband. They had some property but all is gone. Richardson has no children but his wife I know to be a most estimable young Lady. Believing this to be a case in which the exercise of the pardoning power would be of great service to the accused and their friends and that the Laws would not suffer in its exercise I have made the above statements to your Excellency.
Respectfully
Will Jennings